11
MADRAS MEDICAL COLLEGE.
of Medicine. A Pathological laboratory will, doubtless, be the logical outcome of
such growth. It is in these laboratories that, in the near future, we hope our most
advanced students and others interested in the well-being of their fellow-creatures
will be employed in making researches and independent observations, just as some
of the leading minds are now engaged in some of the great schools of Europe, and
thus assist in shedding a clearer light than is now vouchsafed to us on the path of
those who may come after them.
Seeing how intimately the well-being of the public is bound up with this
institution, I would fain hope that the time is not far distant when wealthy philan-
thropists will be able to see their way to instituting research scholarships which
will encourage scientific investigation and enable highly-trained medical graduates
of our Universities to spend a portion of their career in prosecuting inquiries in
the wide field of causation and treatment of morbid states, and in their practice
testing the value of the numerous indigenous drugs which are reputed to be
efficacious in the treatment of disease. I am led to believe that a large number
of educated and influential Native gentlemen share in this hope and, as this is so,
I trust that ere long the view here expre s sed may take a practical shape.
On an occasion like this, it may not be inappropriate to refer to the able and
zealous officers who have rendered valuable services as teachers and administrators
to this institution since its foundation. Pre-eminently among them are some who
have passed away, but their services are nevertheless not forgotten. Among these
are the honored names of Dr. William Mortimer, the founder of this institution
and its first able and distinguished Superintendent, whose portrait, I regret to say,
is not among those that adorn these walls; his coadjutor and afterwards his
successor, Dr. George Harding, who also left his mark on this school. Professor
Thomas Key, the first Professor of Chemistry, whose interest in its progress was
marked. Dr. Ambrose Blacklock, an original teacher, large-hearted as he was
large-minded. Professor Chipperfield, who, for his great attainments, whilst still
young in the service, was selected to fill the chair of Anatomy and Physiology and
subsequently that of Medicine. Among those who are still alive and to whom also
this institution is greatly indebted are retired Surgeon-General James Shaw,
unquestionably the most popular Surgeon and Physician of his time; retired
Surgeon-General George Smith, whose energies were devoted to the advancement
of Medical education; Dr. William Evans, the sound and thoughtful Physician
and teacher; Mr. J. E. Mayer, a zealous teacher of Chemistry Dr. J. Liston
Paul, the skilful Surgeon and able teacher; Dr. H. W. Harris, the leading Gynœ-
cologist and Obstetrician of Madras.
We now come down to the time when, as Principal of the College, his efforts
resulted in the re-opening of the University department of the institution to the
public and by whose encouragement Brahmans, who hitherto kept aloof, freely
enrolled themselves as students of Medicine, and Female education at this college
became an accomplished fact. I allude to the present head of the Indian Medical
Department, Surgeon-General M. C. Furnell, M.D., whose name, as is well known,
is associated with the discovery of chloroform as an anesthetic agent, and, lastly,
Dr. Henry King, who succeeded Dr. Furnell as Principal and sustained the efforts
of his predecessors.
23. I have every hope that those who will hereafter have to direct the
destinies of this college will maintain it in the path of progress and endeavour to
secure for it such a place among Medical schools, so that it may worthily represent
the liberality and beneficence of the Government and come up to the expectations
of those, both here and elsewhere, who are deeply interested in the advance of
education and also prove, as years roll on, more and more popular among the
educated classes and more and more useful to the people of this country.
(Signed) J. KEESS, M.D.,
Principal, Medical College.