Next to the care of the sick, the most pressing problem, medically speaking, has always been the training of doctors.
In this respect, Louisiana has been more fortunate than most states in that it has two schools which train physicians for practice in the state and throughout the South.
Of these the younger is the Louisiana State school of medicine which in its 19 years has trained an impressive total of 1215 doctors for practice almost exclusively in Louisiana. In ad* dition, it has offered post-graduate instruction to hundreds more.
Born in a turbulent policial era, the school nevertheless always adhered to the highest principles of medical teaching. Today it is a potent factor in the medical picture in the South with application for admission numbering into the thousands each year.
Last fall the school increased its enrollment by 25 per cent and today under the leadership of its young and able dean, Dr. William Frye, the school is looking forward to an even brighter future.
With the recent appropriation of some $2,000,000 by the state legislature for an addition to the medical school, it is hoped that there will be enough facilities to meet the ever expanding needs of the school's instruction and research programs.
The first feeble efforts to establish a state medical school were made in 1866 when the state "Seminary of Learning" reopened following the civil war. Dr. J. W. Wilson was appointed surgeon to the school and also professor of anatomy, physiology, and hygiene. The board also appointed Dr. John R. Page professor of Materia Medica.
With this as a beginning faculty, the Special School of Medicine as it was called, opened its doors for the 1866-67 session. It was doomed to failure and closed a year later.
The "right and duty", of Louisiana State university to operate a school of medicine was specifically set forth in the legislative act of 1877 which is the charter o£ the present institution.
However, it was not until December* 1930, when plans for the present medical school were announced, that the university was able to undertake the training of doctors.
The 10-story, medical science building was erected in New Orleans because of the teaching facilities offered at Charity Hospital. It was opened in 1931 with Dr. Arthur Vidrine, then the superintendent of Charity Hospital, as its first dean.
The 64th General Hospital unit composed of 54 members of the faculty served with distinction during World War II. Organized largely through the efforts of Dr. Urban Maes, then professor and head of the department of surgery, the unit included Dr. Ben R. Henninger, chief of the medical service, and Dr. Charles Miangolarra, chief of the surgical service.
The unit served in Africa and Italy. During the war most members of the student body were in uniform.
After the war, the school began a program of strengthening ife faculty arid increasing its research activities which include investigative work in the basic sciences as well as in the clinical subjects.
The important field of postgraduate instruction begun by Dr. James T. Nix in 1935 was considerably expanded.
The vigorous growth of the school during the past two decades show every sign of continuing to the ever increasing benefit of the people of the state.
