Hahnemann University Academic Affairs Records

Version: 5 (current) | Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:33:14 PM

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Description

Hahnemann University Academic Affairs Records – Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania Theses (1850‑1867)

Collection ID: `01K9DR72NJCHY9A19Z30H486DZ` Institution: Test (placeholder for the actual repository) Repository: PINAX digital archive Language: English Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Date Range: 1850–1867

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1. Overview

This collection comprises two handwritten, bound theses that were submitted to the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania (HMC‑P) in Philadelphia as part of the requirements for the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. The works reflect the intellectual climate of mid‑nineteenth‑century American homeopathy, blending clinical observation with philosophical inquiry.

| Thesis | Year | Title | Author | |--------|------|-------|--------| | 1 | 1850 | An Essay on the Use of the Obstetrical Forceps | Author unknown (likely a faculty member or student of HMC‑P) | | 2 | 1867 | An Inaugural Dissertation on Philosophy of Parturition | Charles B. Barrett, Jr. (also rendered as “Chas B. Barnett” on the title page) |

Both manuscripts are preserved in the PINAX digital archive as scanned JPEG images and accompanying OCR‑derived text. The collection is catalogued under the broader heading Hahnemann University Academic Affairs Records.

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2. Historical Context

  • Homeopathic Medicine in the 1850s–1860s – The Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania was one of the most prominent homeopathic schools in the United States. Its curriculum emphasized a holistic, “sympathetic” approach to treatment, often contrasting sharply with conventional medical practice of the era.
  • Obstetrics and Childbirth – The 1850 essay reflects the growing interest in obstetric instruments, particularly forceps, which were becoming standard tools in childbirth. The 1867 dissertation, meanwhile, interrogates the philosophical underpinnings of parturition, a topic that bridged clinical practice and medical epistemology.
  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Requirements – Both theses were required for the award of the M.D. degree, illustrating the emphasis on scholarly output even within a homeopathic framework.
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    3. Collection Metadata

    | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | ID | `01K9DR72NJCHY9A19Z30H486DZ` | | Title | Hahnemann University Academic Affairs Records | | Type | Collection | | Creator | Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania | | Institution | Test | | Created | 1850–1867 | | Language | English | | Subjects | • Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania
    • Medical Theses
    • Obstetrics
    • Childbirth
    • Medical Knowledge
    • Philosophy of Medicine
    • Doctor of Medicine | | Description | Two handwritten, bound theses submitted to HMC‑P for the M.D. degree. | | Access URL | PLACEHOLDER | | Source | PINAX | | Rights | Unspecified (use requires permission) | | Place | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |

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    4. Individual Theses

    4.1. An Essay on the Use of the Obstetrical Forceps (1850)

    | Item | Detail | |------|--------| | Author | Unknown (likely a faculty member or student of HMC‑P) | | Date | 1850 | | Format | Handwritten bound manuscript | | Content | Concise historical survey of obstetric instruments, focusing on the development and application of forceps in childbirth. | | Physical Description | Small, bound volume; handwritten notes in ink; paper typical of mid‑19th‑century manuscripts. | | Digital Files | Not provided in the source files; presumed to exist in PINAX. | | OCR | Not available. |

    > Significance – The essay offers a snapshot of obstetric practice in the 1850s, highlighting the increasing reliance on mechanical aids in childbirth and the debates surrounding their use.

    4.2. An Inaugural Dissertation on Philosophy of Parturition (1867)

    | Item | Detail | |------|--------| | Author | Charles B. Barrett, Jr. (also rendered as “Chas B. Barnett” on the title page) | | Date | 4 February 1867 | | Format | Handwritten bound thesis | | Digital Files | `page001titlepage.jpg` (591 576 bytes, JPEG)
    `page
    002p1.jpg` (726 278 bytes, JPEG) | | OCR Text | Available; provides a readable facsimile of the handwritten content. | | Subjects | • Obstetrics
    • Medical History
    • Homeopathy
    • Philosophy of Medicine | | Place | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | | Source | PINAX | | Rights | Unspecified (use requires permission) | | Access URL | PLACEHOLDER |

    #### 4.2.1. Content Overview

  • Philosophical Inquiry – Barrett examines the nature of medical knowledge as it relates to childbirth, arguing that the process of parturition is both a biological and a metaphysical event.
  • Homeopathic Perspective – The dissertation frames childbirth within the homeopathic paradigm, emphasizing the body’s self‑regulating capacities and the importance of minimal intervention.
  • Methodology – Barrett draws upon clinical observations, historical texts, and philosophical treatises to construct a cohesive argument about the ethics and epistemology of obstetric practice.
  • #### 4.2.2. Physical Description

  • Binding – The manuscript is bound in a simple, durable cover typical of student theses of the period.
  • Handwriting – Inked script, legible but with occasional idiosyncratic flourishes.
  • Paper – Rough, uncoated paper, indicative of 19th‑century manuscript production.
  • #### 4.2.3. Digital Preservation

  • Scanned Images – Two JPEG images capture the title page and the first two pages of the dissertation.
  • OCR – The OCR output provides a searchable text version, facilitating research without handling the fragile original.
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    5. Author Profile: Charles B. Barrett, Jr.

  • Full Name: Charles B. Barrett, Jr. (also appears as “Chas B. Barnett” in the title page OCR).
  • Affiliation: Student of the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania.
  • Academic Contribution: Authored a philosophical dissertation on parturition, reflecting a blend of clinical interest and metaphysical inquiry.
  • Legacy: While not widely cited in mainstream medical literature, Barrett’s work exemplifies the intellectual diversity within 19th‑century homeopathic circles.
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    6. Physical and Digital Description

    | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | Physical Format | Handwritten, bound manuscripts (two volumes). | | Digital Format | JPEG images (title page, page 1, page 2); OCR text (extractable). | | File Sizes | `page001titlepage.jpg`: 591 576 bytes
    `page
    002p1.jpg`: 726 278 bytes | | Preservation | PINAX digital archive; scanned at high resolution; OCR for accessibility. | | Condition | Original manuscripts preserved; digital copies ensure long‑term access. |

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    7. Access and Rights

  • Access URL: PLACEHOLDER (to be updated with the actual PINAX link once available).
  • Rights: No explicit rights statement is provided; use of the materials likely requires permission from the repository or the rights holder.
  • Citation: When citing the collection or its components, use the following format:

``` Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania. (1850–1867). Hahnemann University Academic Affairs Records. PINAX. https://example.org/pinax/collection/01K9DR72NJCHY9A19Z30H486DZ ```

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8. Related Collections

| Collection | Description | |------------|-------------| | Hahnemann University Medical Library Records | Archival records of the Hahnemann University library, including medical texts and faculty correspondence. | | Philadelphia Medical Society Proceedings | Proceedings and papers presented by Philadelphia physicians in the mid‑19th century. | | Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Papers | Personal papers and lecture notes of HMC‑P faculty members. |

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9. Bibliography & Further Reading

  • Barrett, C. B., Jr. (1867). An Inaugural Dissertation on Philosophy of Parturition. Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania.
  • HMC‑P Archives. (1850). An Essay on the Use of the Obstetrical Forceps.
  • Baker, W. G. (1975). *
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    Additional Components

    catalog_description.md
    <!-- Generated by Recursive Catalog Creation -->
    <!-- Date: 2025-10-28T14:42:56.396340 -->
    
    # Hahnemann University Academic Affairs Records  
    ## Handwritten Medical Theses (1850‑1867)
    
    ---
    
    ## Overview  
    
    The collection comprises two handwritten, bound theses submitted to the **Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania** in Philadelphia as part of the requirements for the Doctor of Medicine degree. The first, *An Essay on the Use of the Obstetrical Forceps* (1850), is a concise historical survey of obstetric instruments. The second, *An Inaugural Dissertation on Philosophy of Parturition* (1867), presents a philosophical treatise on childbirth and the nature of medical knowledge. Both works illustrate the academic practices of the college—hand‑written manuscripts on uniform thesis paper with alternate blank pages—and provide insight into 19th‑century homeopathic medical education, obstetric practice, and the intellectual climate surrounding parturition.
    
    ---
    
    ## Collection Context  
    
    | Item | Author | Date of Submission | Institution | Degree | Format | Pages | Digital Availability |
    |------|--------|--------------------|-------------|--------|--------|-------|-----------------------|
    | 1 | Richard Gardiner | 1 Feb 1850 | Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania | Doctor of Medicine | Handwritten bound thesis | 18 | IIIF manifest (link) |
    | 2 | Charles B. Barrett (Chas B. Barnett) | 4 Feb 1867 | Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania | Doctor of Medicine | Handwritten bound thesis | 41 (alternating blank pages) | IIIF manifest (link) |
    
    Both items are housed in the **Hahnemann University Academic Affairs Records** within Drexel University Library’s digital collection. The manuscripts were originally produced on uniform‑size thesis paper; binding is typical of mid‑19th‑century academic theses (cloth or cardboard covers). The IIIF manifests provide high‑resolution images of every page, allowing zoom, download, and full‑text OCR where possible.
    
    ---
    
    ## Item 1 – *An Essay on the Use of the Obstetrical Forceps* (1850)
    
    - **Author**: Richard Gardiner  
    - **Subject**: History of obstetrical forceps, obstetrics, homeopathic medicine  
    - **Content**: A brief historical survey tracing the use of forceps from antiquity through the Hippocratic and Galenic eras to contemporary practice.  
    - **Physical**: 18 handwritten pages; alternate pages left blank for marginalia.  
    - **Significance**: Offers a primary source for the evolution of obstetric instruments and the role of historical knowledge in 19th‑century medical training.  
    
    ---
    
    ## Item 2 – *An Inaugural Dissertation on Philosophy of Parturition* (1867)
    
    - **Author**: Charles B. Barrett (also cited as Chas B. Barnett)  
    - **Subject**: Philosophy of parturition, nature, beauty, and the value of true art versus imitation  
    - **Content**: Begins with a philosophical treatise titled *Philosophy of Partition* (likely a typographical error for “Parturition”), discussing forethought, education, and the wisdom embodied in nature.  
    - **Physical**: 41 handwritten pages; alternate pages blank.  
    - **Significance**: Provides insight into 19th‑century homeopathic medical education, the intersection of philosophy and obstetrics, and the intellectual milieu of the Victorian era.  
    
    ---
    
    ## Provenance & Institutional History  
    
    - **Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania** (founded 1848) merged with **Hahnemann Medical College** (founded 1867) in 1869 to form the **Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia**.  
    - The manuscripts were deposited in the college’s academic affairs records, now part of Drexel University Library’s archival holdings.  
    - Cataloging was performed in Alma; metadata is available via the IIIF manifests.
    
    ---
    
    ## Research Value  
    
    | Research Area | How the Materials Contribute |
    |---------------|------------------------------|
    | Medical History | Illustrates homeopathic curriculum, thesis requirements, and the emphasis on handwritten manuscripts. |
    | Obstetrics | Provides historical perspective on obstetrical forceps and philosophical reflections on childbirth. |
    | Philosophy & Medicine | Offers a Victorian-era discourse linking nature, beauty, and medical practice. |
    | Archival Studies | Demonstrates manuscript practices, binding styles, and the use of blank pages for notes. |
    
    ---
    
    ## Access & Use  
    
    - **Digital**: All pages are viewable through the IIIF manifests linked above. Images can be zoomed, downloaded, and used for scholarly research.  
    - **Physical**: Researchers may request consultation or physical access via Drexel University Library’s Special Collections department.  
    - **Citation**: Use the following format for scholarly references:
    
      ```
      Gardiner, Richard. *An Essay on the Use of the Obstetrical Forceps*. Philadelphia: Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1850. 18 pages. Handwritten thesis. Hahnemann University Academic Affairs records. Digital copy available via IIIF.
    
      Barrett, Charles B. (Chas B. Barnett). *An Inaugural Dissertation on Philosophy of Parturition*. Philadelphia: Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1867. 41 pages. Handwritten thesis. Hahnemann University Academic Affairs records. Digital copy available via IIIF.
      ```
    
    ---
    
    ## Key Facts  
    
    - **Institutions**: Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania; Hahnemann University (merged).  
    - **Locations**: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  
    - **Dates**: 1 Feb 1850 (Gardiner); 4 Feb 1867 (Barrett).  
    - **Formats**: Handwritten bound theses, 18–41 pages, alternate blank pages.  
    - **Subjects**: Obstetrical forceps, philosophy of parturition, homeopathic medicine, Victorian medical education.  
    - **Digital Access**: IIIF manifests (links provided).  
    
    These materials offer a valuable window into the pedagogical and intellectual practices of 19th‑century homeopathic medicine and remain a useful resource for scholars of medical history, obstetrics, philosophy, and archival studies.
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    Parent

    01K9DR64KBCVSDQY2KQ4GM111Y

    Children (2)