Call Number:

Ms. Codex 1842

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

0.1 linear_foot (1 volume)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

William Leo Schreiber, Jr. "Materia medica notes on Dr. James Truman's lectures," circa 1900-1901, Ms. Codex 1842, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

circa 1900-1901 (inclusive)

Creator:

Schreiber, William L.

Form:

Lecture notes

Abstract:

Dr. William Leo Schreiber, Jr., M.D., D.D.S. (1878-1949) was a 1901 graduate of the School of Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, studying under Dr. James Truman (1826-1914), a professor of operative dentistry, dental histology, dental pathology, therapeutics, and materia medica, as well as the dean of the Dental Department from 1883 to 1895. This volume contains typewritten and manuscript notes from Dr. James Truman's materia medica lectures.

Dr. William Leo Schreiber, Jr., M.D., D.D.S. was born in August of 1878 to William L. Schreiber and Elizabeth M. Schreiber. In 1915 he married Josephine Datz. He was a member of the class of 1901 at the School of Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, studying under Dr. James Truman. Later in his career, he appears to have been an instructor of oral surgery at the School of Dentistry and possibly maintained a private practice. He died in October of 1949.

The University of Pennsylvania's School of Dentistry was first established in 1878 and was soon recognized as one of Philadelphia's leading medical institutions. Dr. James Truman was dean of the dental school from 1883 to 1895. Dr. James Truman was born in 1826, and at an early age worked in his father's dental office as an assistant in the laboratory. At the age of 28, he attended the Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery, graduating in 1854. Soon after his graduation, he began to work as a lecturer at the Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery. In 1863, his first article was published and he began concentrating on both writing and teaching. From 1865 to 1870, he served as the chair of Dental Physiology and Operative Dentistry at the Pennsylvania Dental College. Truman traveled abroad for health reasons, but returned to the United States in 1880 and set up practice in Philadelphia. From 1882 to 1896, Truman was professor of operative dentistry, dental histology, dental pathology, therapeutics, and materia medica at the University of Pennsylvania, also serving as the dean of the Dental Department from 1883 to 1895. In addition to teaching, Truman served as chief editor of Dental News, as president of the National Association of Dental Faculties of the United States, as president of the Odontological Society of Pennsylvania, and as editor of the International Dental Journal from 1890 to 1905.

Dr. Truman died on November 26, 1914 at the age of 88.

This volume contains typewritten and manuscript notes from Dr. James Truman's materia medica lectures. It is possible that the typewritten notes were handed out to all of Dr. Truman's students--they list substances with their derivation, properties, solvents, and uses, and in some cases, dose, antidote, and habitat. The first three pages include "definitions of the various classes of remedial agents." Thereafter, the substances are listed in no clear order. Most substance entries include some handwritten annotations, frequently the chemical formula and notes, probably taken during the lecture. The notes, usually in pencil, are often definitions of medical terms found in the typewritten notes. On occasion, there are also additional descriptions of substances handwritten on the verso of pages and following the same descriptive pattern of the typewritten descriptions: derivations, properties, and uses.

There is a handwritten index on the verso of the first three pages, listing the names of the substances in alphabetic order. The handwritten descriptions of substances do not appear in the index.