Dr. John Stephen Sennott
At the age of 22, John graduated from St. Louis Medical College on Wednesday, 7 March 1883. The commencement took place at Mercantile Library Hall. It was described in the St Louis Globe Democrat on Thursday, March 8th. "The stage was bordered with a rich collection of potted plants, which formed a dark background to the brilliant line of floral offerings, in tasteful and novel designs, that were presented to the graduates." The hall was "filled with the friends and relatives of the graduates, who testified their appreciation of the remarks of the different speakers by frequent applause." Mary Ann Newsham Sennott, John's mother, was probably among the family members attending. Professor J S B Alleyne, the Dean of the University, gave the main address, "on the importance of their duties in afterlife and foreshadowed the years of toil and care that awaited the members of the medical profession. He urged them to assiduous application and faithful attention to their patients, and after administering more equally sound advice, conferred the degree of M.D." on the 39 graduates included John.
John's education began at the public schools in Waterloo, Monroe County, Illinois where he was born and grew up. On the first Monday in September, 1874 John started classes at St. Louis University in the four year Commercial Program. His classes that year included English grammar, US history, geography and elocution, practical and mental arithmetic, penmanship and catechism. John excelled at his studies and received special notice for distinguished diligence in his studies, the first premium for Christian Doctrine, a distinguished rating in English grammar, second premium in history and geography, and first premium in arithmetic.
In his second year, John studied English grammar, epistolary composition, Bible history, geography and elocution, math, penmanship and catechism. 1875-76 was another good year for John he again distinguished himself at diligence and received a distinguished rating at arithmetic. He excelled a the semi-annual examinations for a second year in a row.
1876-77 was John's third year at St. Louie U. He studied higher English composition and rhetoric, essays, debates, modern history and continued geography, book-keeping, arithmetic, algebra and Christian doctrine. John received a distinguished rating in book-keeping and excelled again at the semi-annual examination.
1877-1878 should have been John's final year and he was listed in the records as a student from Illinois, but he did not graduate. The records don't indicate if he began the year and dropped out or never attended during that year. No other records have been found to shed any light on what happened.
We
don't know why John dropped out of St. Louis University without graduating. The
final disposition of his father's estate was dated June 30, 1877 so it might
have been related. The executors of James's estate were Steven Miles and JW
Drury. In a letter to his son, Harry, John talked about Stephen Miles. Stephen
was the brother of Amanda Miles who was the first wife of James Sennott. John
said that Mary Ann Sennott trusted Stephen after James's death. "He did
not prove to be a friend and cost us a lot of money almost bankrupting Mother
and me." There was a dispute over land left to James Sennott when Amanda
died. The land was given to the couple by her father, Stephen W. Miles, Senior.
According to John, they lost the land dispute. There is no mention of the
dispute in the estate file. By 1880, things must have changed since John
continued his education.
On Monday, September 27, 1880 regular lectures began at St. Louis Medical College and John was among the students. St Louis Medical College was located at the corner of Seventh and Clark. According to the Benard Becker Medical Library Archives at Washington University, St. Louis Medical College was chartered in 1841, it was part of St. Louis University. In 1849 the college moved to the building pictured above. In 1855 a separate charter was granted by the State of Missouri after pressure from the "Know Nothing" party, an extreme nativist movement demanded the medical school sever ties with the Roman Catholic university. In the 1870's the cirriculum was reformed and expanded and by 1880 all students were required to matriculate for three years before receiving a diploma. In 1891 the medical school became affiliated with Washington University as it's medical department.
John attended St. Louis Medical College from 1880 through his graduation in 1883. The winter term each year began on the last Monday in September and continued through early March. The spring sessions began mid March and lasted for eleven weeks. The college catalogs provide detailed insight into the classes John completed. John was part of the first class who completed the new cirriculum.
"Chemistry is taught in lectures (three a week) illustrated by experiments and specimens; the course embracing also selected chapters on physical science. A rich collection of chemicals and chemical and physical apparatus is at the disposal of the Professor of Chemistry." Chemistry labs were taught by the Demonstrator of Chemistry during the Winter session for Junior students and in the Spring session it was open to all students.
"Anatomy - Lectures (three a week) with practical demonstrations, and daily instruction in dissections. The anatomical rooms are under the superintendent and direction of the Professor of Anatomy...Surgical Anatomy is taught as a separate course of lectures, abundantly illustrated by dissections, (three a week) during part of the Winter session."
"Histology is taught by the Professor of Physiology in lectures, with the aid of magic lantern diagrams and photographs of microscopic preparations. Dr E Evers gives demonstraoins in Histology during the Spring session, three times a week."
"Physiology - The lectures (three a week) are illustrated by diagrams, chemical and physical experiments and vivisections."
"Therapeutics and Materia Medica - The lectures (three a week) are illustrated by a very extensive cabinet of materia mecida, with numerous plates, and a large collection of of dried specimens of medicinal plants, and carefully selected samples of drugs, educating the senses to the physical properties of medicinal substances. During the Spring session, Dr. W E Fischel lectures on special Therapeutic Methods, twice a week."
"Principles and Practice of Medicine - Didactic lectures four times a week." Medical clinics were held four times a week at City Hospital and St. Louis Sisters' Hospital. During the clinics there was instruction in ausculation, percussion, and physical diagnosis. Classes on Clinical Examination of the Urine were held during the Spring Session.
"Pathological Anatomy is taught in connection with clinical medicine, the College possessing abundant resources for illustrating this branch in its extensive collection of pathological preparations and wax and plaster models." Lectures
were twice a week, "with microscopial demonstraions and the exhibition of
recent specimens."
"Diseases
of Children - didactic lectures once a week. Clinical lectures at the College
Dispensary, twice a week."
"Surgery
- Didactic lectures (three a week)." There were also clinics at St. Louis
Hospital, City Hosptial, and the College Dispensary.
There
were also weekly lectures or clinics on Diseases of the Genito-Urinary Organs,
Ophthalmology, Gynecology, and Obstetrics. Here is what the students schedule
included:
There
were examinations for admission that John had to pass since he did not graduate
from St. Louis University. They included English grammar, orthography and
composition, mathematics and elementary physics. Since he did so well at St.
Louis University, John should have passed with flying colors. After the middle
term, students could take exams in Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, and
Therapeutics and Materia Medica. If they didn't pass any of these they could
retake them when they became candidates for graduation.
The
fees were $90 for the Winter term, $25 for the Spring session, and $10 for
laboratory during the Spring session. The students were required to
purchase 12 textbooks listed in the catalog. There was also a Quiz Club that
John might have joined. For $12.00 the students were presented "an
opportunity for the free discussion of the important points of the subject
matter of the lectures and thus enables him to express concisely his views,
corrects erroneous conceptions, fixes the salient points in his memory, and
prepares him not only for the Green Room, but also for the emergencies of
practice."
In
order to graduate, John had to meet four requirements:
- Be at least twenty-one years of age and of good moral character and been studying medicine for three years.
- Attended the three terms listed above. The Spring sessions were optional.
- Notify the Dean of his intention to graduate in writing by the first of February.
- Pass examinations in Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Materia Medica and Therapeutics, Principles and Practice of Medicine, Clinical Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics.
In addition, he could graduate "ad eundem" by "producing testimonials from physicians with respect to character and professional standing, entering the Senior Class for one term, and passing a satisfactory examination in all the above mentioned branches."
Dr.
Wetmore, of Waterloo, was John's preceptor and the President of the Monroe
County Medical Society. He would have been a mentor who provided instruction
and oversight for John during and after he completed medical school.
John
practiced medicine in Waterloo until his death in 1933.
