Sixty years ago, when the revolutionary ideas of Lister and Pasteur were beginning to gain credence, there was no medial school in the U. S. worthy of the name. American students went abroad to do research, learn surgical and laboratory technique. In 1883 Daniel Coit Gilman, head of Johns Hopkins University, heartened by a $3,228,000 bequest from the Quaker founder of the school, began scouting for distinguished professors who would form the nucleus of a great U. S. medical faculty.
First to be found was courageous, charming, young William Henry Welch, who became professor of pathology. Dr. Welch brought in William Osler, a Canadian then practicing in Philadelphia, and William Stewart Halsted as professors of medicine and surgery. Osler, in turn, asked a brilliant young surgeon, Howard Atwood Kelly, to be professor of gynecology.
In 1893 these four famous men opened the Johns Hopkins Medical School college, an institution which set the standards and pace for medical schools all over the country. Great glory was brought to Johns Hopkins by "The Big Four," and in 1905 John Singer Sargent painted the famous group. The painting now hangs in Welch Medical Library.*
In 1919 Sir William Osler died, broken-hearted by the death of his son, Revere, in the War. Halsted, who had once been addicted to cocaine but heroically broke himself of the habit, followed in 1922. Four years ago, at the age of 84, William Henry Welch died of cancer of the prostate in Johns Hopkins Hospital. Still hale & hearty at 80 is the last of the Big Four, Howard Atwood Kelly, father of the modern science of gynecology. Long retired from active practice, he has entrusted his work to several generations of professional sons whom he brought up.
Most famous of these is his direct heir, Thomas Stephen Cullen, author of several classic texts on gynecology. Easygoing Dr. Cullen is famous for his work on cancer of the uterus and diseases of the umbilicus. Drs. Kelly and Cullen have grown old together, and next week on November 19 the Hopkins staff will celebrate Dr. Cullen's 70th birthday. Any tribute to diplomatic, sociable Dr. Cullen can scarcely fail to be a tribute to Howard Atwood Kelly, so close has been their association for almost half a century. Hopkins men know that at the jolly, informal dinner, Dr. Cullen, who has taught every class in the Hopkins Medical School, will modestly hand over most of his laurels to Dr. Kelly. For he constantly says: "Although I now occupy the chair that Dr. Kelly formerly held at Hopkins, Kelly will always remain my beloved chief."
Young Howard Kelly went to the Hopkins in 1889, remained there until 1919 when he resigned as professor emeritus of gynecology to devote his time to Baltimore's Howard A. Kelly Hospital, which he had founded in 1892. During his 30 years at Hopkins he achieved fame as the inventor of various modern kidney, uterine and ovarian operations, as a pioneer in the use of cocaine anesthesia, as the inventor of the Kelly cystoscope and proctoscope, instruments for examining the bladder and rectum.