Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-11-04

Penn, yIrau, ~ III say, that If the PICTURES on
'thtr subjects were given ~ Lancaster or at
Pu'shuiS, !. would be nearly the same thing
- them. IL Is taken for granted that no one
viii hr fund absurd enough TO say that there
viii hr any d. ficirncy of medical education
and talent in Virginia, Ia command success
We have already mentioned how great num-
her, and hat description of young men We
are constantly supporting abroad in the ac-
p'n~iilhn oi medical knowledge. And when
has FrSinia been found wanting. WHEN the
contest MAS I" he decided by The energy and
activity of the intellectual faculties Very
many other sons return home amply qualified
io teach the elementary branches of medicine.
Or these many become emlnently skilful in
all tbuse departments Of the art in which they
l'ave opportunities of practising. And from
amongst them II may be- confidently anticipat-
ed, thatiu u very short time, teachers of the
first order viii he found. IL may indeed be-
said, that there Is not al present as much indi-
vidual medical fame i'm Virginia, as NAV be
met with in some parts of our country. But
he is Il shallow observer " ho b-levrs that re-
al talent, and renown, always GO hand i'm hand.
The size Of The man is not of so much con-
sequence rs tie position he occupies In ena-
bling him Ia he seen and heard al a great dis
lance. Bat should il be thought necessary or
ton would be sufficiently inviting To attract
them from distance.
The most plausible objection is the small no
pulation of our city. From this circumstance 1t
might he apprehended that there would he "A
difficulty in obtaining subjects for the purposes
of practical anatomy, and total want of the
advantages Ia be derived by the students from
seeing hospital practice.
The first of these objections is removed by
stating that actual experience proves il to be
untounded. Any number of subjects may be
obtained for studying anatomy and surgery
with every possible advantage
Ii has heen for Il long time and still contin
ues To be, subject of regret, that we have
no hospital established on proper principles in
the city of Richmond. But the establishment
OF one, which woald embrace every advantage,
needs only To be desired by the public for it to
be done. The population OF this place would
always afford an ample supply of cases for
illustrating the principles taught i'm the medical
school. But if it should be made a hospital
i"r The state, and not for the city alone, the
while state would contribute to furnish cases
of rare occurrence, and difficult treatment.
But speaking practically, perhaps the ad-
vaniages obtained by the students of IA medical
school, from attending the practice in "a hos
pnal, IS more imaginary than real In the way
- ""eu otH beHtIdHy dttenu, III cannot be
followed by any improvem whatsoever.
The students may run through the wards of
a hospital in troops, al the heels of physician
ar surgeon, and crowd each other about the
beds of the sick. where they neither see nor
hear any thing distinctly, until doomsday
without learning any thing. And even in the.
largest hospitals, presenting the greatest num-
Der and variety of cases, and organized in the
manner the most favorable for instruction.
the most sensible of the students, who find
out how tn learn, soon begin TO select few
cases and concentrate their attention to them
Lastly 1t may he said, that numerous exam
plies might be cited of medical schools having
hourIshed remarkably in places having little
or no advantage over Richmond in point Of
population, and greatly inferior in importance,
in every other respect.
Should i; be determined to have the medi-
cal chairs of the University of Virginia located
at Richmond, instead of Charlottesville, it is
humhiy suggested, that this branch of the in
,titu'lon might very soon be put in operation,
by appointing the professors, and finding suita-
Bile rooms for them To deliver their lectures.
Al other DEFICIENCIES must be supplied by a
little Time and by the talents, and zeal, and en-
ttfrrprIze of the teachers which are, after all,
Inc only thing which can give any school real
value aud Importance.
n True ViTriu10u