The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-11-02

Opening ssssis~si Address OF Or. Stevens,
1t New York Medical College, Crosby at.
There was very numerous and highly respect
able attendance in the principal lecture room Of
this Institute last evening, TO hear tn occasional
Address Of DIR. Stevens. Among those present,
were considerable number Of ladies', cheering,
with their presence, their children, brothers, and
friends, in the commencement Of their studies for
an ardsous profession. fFs
Shortly after the hour appointed for the COM
mencement of the business of the evening, the
principal officers Of the institution entered, and
each was received, as he entered, with strong
expression of APPRECIATION.
The Rev. J. KNOX opened the proceedings with prayer,
Dr. STEVENS then feTvard and was received with
appreciation The gentleman commenced his address by
observing that for the rt me they had assembled
together the presence of the authorities OF the college,
in pursuit Of their high and holy calling. He afraid
that he should not be able to do It that justice merited
He wished to impress those who were about 70 enter
the profession with true idea of its dignity The class
the previous session did much to their credit, as
well as to the officers OF the Institution, and
this session. He hoped that all were well acquainted
with the classics; those who would find 1t much to
their adv antage as would afford them great facility in
understanding the different terms made OF in the
profession but the best and most valuable Of all studies
was close observation and the well weighing OF every
of their studies wonl not be half valuable to them
No matter how hard they labored, they could learn
much from others but more from themselves. In every
respect they must be in mind and conduct gentlemen
we'll acquainted with every topic OF the day. they
should bear in mind the conduct Of zeno Who DESTROYS
thereon, and the Delphc replied Study the Dead"
they would bs obliged to do so although for somewhat
they would never want bread The gentleman proceed
ed 10 show that medicine was as much science os any
other known although, net based fixed rules The
education
OF the mind great amount oi knowledge did not
much tend to personal inquiry and investigation Of
the different facts laid before them The gentleman pro-
eeded to treat the comparative value Of oral and beck
niormation showing that although valuable in some
pecnots much observation and the study
by comparison and said necessary get much
as he possibly could from others and books But the best
to look to the other The great fault in ed
ucaton was that OF treating things before the articles
themselves presented to tie students The gentle
man illustrated this part Of his subject by the system
adopted in best schools for children in present
ing before them the object and then explaining to them
the of pleurisy, upon which volumes had been
written, and the student could CLEAN more information in
2ne nterve% d WIN paen, suesc, 70 TINS disorder
Putarch did not learn by reading, but Thy observation
such would be found more particularly necessary in the
books would lind that when they got patient then
il was that their learning began. The gentlemen
such cases in his practice He then proceeded to
show how much better for the student to take
common cases and study them well and not too quickly
10 widen their sphere, because il they did he would
only gain superficial knowledge, which was the
most dangerous Of all they should first take the micro
might be more limited. but would be certain (;
love OF novelty might make them patents but would
not tend to their benefit He ready to defend
the profession but could not support such proceedings
Those who given experiments raised them
selves in the profession, and injurious to their pa
tents The gentleman proceeded to show the value Of
clinical instruction, and stated that gentleman had
been appointed give ecureson this branch during the
present session Depreciation He next to treat
on the value Of the study Of comparative anatomy. He
the profession The legislature Of thssate had thought
proper to open the portals of the profession somewhat
wider than formerly thereby they fanced they were in
iured or disparaged in public estimation but they
to be, the object Of 'liegisistors to study tie
Of the sd nc not that Of this any other
Of ignorant men, it fact that bad surgeons made
more work for good (Approbation and laughter)
aot fear anything else for by superior capabilities
you will receive greater amount of success Much Of
the evil at present existing was owing to themselves, in
opening to others facilities at small cost for entering
into it, but should be said that such
this institution 1t had held out lure for cheap
graduating as long he was connected with it,
should Appreciation We ask the support of the pro-
esson, and they would take never to oversock it
with half educated practitioners Those educated at this
College, found they could with greater facility pass the
Naval and Military Boards small desaeraum to young
men. On asnbsequent occasion, he would 60 more fully
into the different points he had touched upon and hoped
what be had remarked upon would be found worthy Of
their consideration. The gentleman then sat down amid
1 strong expression ofapprobation.
This is but meagre outline of the learned gen.
leman's excellent and talented address, which the
pressure OF more exciting topics at the present mo-
ment, prevents our doing that justice to it meried
The company was then invited TO view the mu-
scum and other parts ofthe establishment, of which
hey avaIled themselves, and appeared highly sa-
listed with what had taken place.