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1836-1844

In 1836, Dr. Milton Antony founded the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal at MCG. It was unique to the South in that it published articles by Georgia's doctors and collected medical information internationally. During the deanship of Dr. Eve, the school expanded significantly and rapidly in matriculation of students. Between 1832 and 1840, the number of students grew from 27 to 54. This growth was marred by the death of Dr. Antony in 1839 from yellow fever. Due to his death, the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal ceased publication. Despite the loss of its founding father, the school continued to prevail. By 1840, 100 students had graduated and were making names for themselves as competent physicians throughout Georgia and South Carolina.

The faculty changes and the recurring financial troubles plagued the Board of Trustees during the early 1840s. Despite changes and hardships, the quality of education remained exemplary. While many medical schools had only demonstrations and lectures with little or no dissecting this situation was not the case at the Medical College of Georgia. Despite occasional cadaver shortages, rarely were students forced to forego dissecting because of a complete lack of subjects. With this hands-on learning, the instruction in anatomy was far superior to most medical schools in the country. By 1844, there were 39 graduates as compared to 18 in 1841, and the number of students had jumped from 73 to 140.

Family Patient Record 1835-1843

SMSJ 1836

Dr. Paul Fitzsimmons Eve (1806-1877)
Dean, 1836-1844

Dr. Paul F. Eve sought the best when acquiring his medical education throughout his life. He received his MD degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1828, then studied in Europe under some of the finest physicians and in the best clinics of the time. Also an adventurer, he participated in the Paris Revolution of 1830 and in the Polish bid for independence as a soldier and surgeon. After his appointment to the Medical College of Georgia faculty as professor of surgery in 1832, he became a well-known teacher and surgeon and contributed to the growth and reputation of the new school. He served as dean from 1836-1844 and as an editor of the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal for the next five years. He was a prolific writer throughout his lifetime and was just as likely to record his failures as his successes. Dr. Eve was unafraid to express strong opinions on a topic. In an editorial note about an article on mesmerism promoted by his friend and colleague, Dr. Dugas, provides an example. He writes in the 1845 issue, "Viewing Mesmerism in the light I do, I regret the space occupied by it in the Journal..." in 1850, Dr. Eve left Augusta to continue his teaching and surgical practice in Louisville, St. Louis and Nashville where his reputation continued to climb. His interest in military causes also continued as he observed two battles in the Franco-Austrian War of 1859 and served the Confederacy during the Civil War. He provided leadership in professional organizations and served as president of the American Medical Association in 1857-58 and as Centennial Representative to the Medical Congress of Nations in 1876. The Polish government, 100 years after Dr. Eve's contributions during the Polish war, remembered him by erecting a monument in Augusta. A commemorative stamp honoring Dr. Eve was also issued by the Polish government. The medical community will remember Dr. Eve as one of the leading surgeons and medical educators of his time.