The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-03-16
LOCAL MATTERs.

nlied 70 overnow1ng, and hundreds were unabl
to obtain admission. After music from the Armor]
Band, the Rev B. Manly, Jr. opened the exercise
OF the evening with prayer The names of tn,
candidates for degrees, twentysix in number, tw,
more than graduated last year, were then announ
ced by the Dean Of the Faculty.
Music followed The degrees Of IA. D. wers
then conferred by the President Of the College
Rev. L. w. Green, d. D., upon the following gen
tlemen:
| GRADUATES, THKIR RESIDENCES, AND SUBJECTS
| OF THESIS.
William Henry Abbott, Appomattox, Virginia
Acute Grastts.
Thomas Barnes, Nansemond, Virginia, Pleu
ritis.
Blair Burwell, Ir, Powhstan, Moral, Physical and
Physiological Distinctions of the Sexes, &c.
William Clarke, Warrenton, North Carolina
Pseudo M embranous Lsryngius
George Cooke, Richmond, Virginia, Typhoid
Fever.
John syDs Dorsey Cullen, Richmond, Virginia
| Cynanche Larypeea.
| Edward Darlington Drew, Heurico. virginia
Aneurism.
Alfred Goodloe, Franklin, Alabama, Inguinal
Hernia
John R Hendricks, Russell, Virginia, Pneumonia
Thomas Hening, Chesterfield, Virginia, Inter-
| mittent Fever
Robert Hough Morgaatown, Virginia, Men.
| situation
VIM II Eughart, Prince Edward, Virginia, Dy
| sentery.
Thomas E James, Portsmouth, Virgins, Men.
| situation.
Isham D Jordaa, Isle of Wight, Virginia. Abor.
| tion.
| William Lstsne, Essex, Virgins, Amortization.
Horace Mackan, Middlesex, Virginia, Dyson
terry.
Marion Mayo, Cumberland, Virginia, PHYSICAL
and Chemical Constitution OF the Human Blood
| Theodorick Mayo, Richmond, Virgins, Pull,
| monary, Auscuttation and Percussion.
| Samuel Meredith, Richmond, Virginia, Anatomy
| and Functions of the Spinal Marrow.
Thomas Nd Page, New Kent Virginia, Menstrual.
| ton.
| Edward Rsnaore, Gloucester, Virginia, Pneu.
moLia
Joseph Reynolds, Patrick Virginia, Rydrar
gyrum.
J Junius Rsane, Charles City, Virginia, Circula,
| ton of the Blood
Edward J ROwsee, Hanover, Virginia, Gonor.
rtoea.
Leroy Thrasher, Monroe, Virginia, Pneumonia
Alexander w Young, Portsmouth, Virginia.
The Gold Medal for the Prize Essay on the "Ab.
sorption of Medicines and the Mode of Action" was
awarded to Edward Darlington Drew, of Henrico
county, and was presented, with appropriate re-
marks, by the Dean. Music.
Professor Maupin then delivered the Valedictory
Address.
He commenced his address by congratulating the
graduates upon the evidence which they had given
of such positive attainnents as had entitled them,
in the estimation Of the authorities Of this insitu.
| ten, to tbs rank and privilege of Doctors of Me-
dicne. In resorting TO an institution comparative.
ly in its infancy, and submitting to the ordeal OF
an examination more ris id and thorough it might
be, than it practicable to institute in the more
crowded institutions of the country, they had ex-
hbited conmendabie spirit and gave evidence in
advance that they were in search of information TO
lit them for the duties of their profession rather
than the honor of degree which was nothing
worth except as the evidence Of attachments. He
trusted that the course which they had adopted
would conduce to their success in life-to the we'll
being Of those among whom their lots might be
cast, and to the advancement of medical science.
1t was said By Descaries, that "if it is possible
to perfect the human race the means of SO doing
are to be found in medical science" The remark,
doubtless had reference to the intellectual as well
physical perfection Of man and such, indeed
was the object Of medical science IN its widest
sense. All living beings, vegetable well as ami
NAL, have been endowed with capabilities of a.,
tanning under suitable circumstances, tine highest
perfection peculiar to each species. 1t left to
Kan, By patient investigation and study TO ascer
tain the circum stances most favorable to the per-
feet development Of each individual living being
that may become the obiec. of his care and stten
ton. The naturalist described the structure of q
plant-the vegetable Psychologist investigated its
mode of nutrition, and the functions Of its several
parts-and the practical agriculturist florist or ar
borist with the lights Of such Investigations before
him, placed the object OF his care under crcum
stances most favorable to its full and perfect de-
velopmsn We knew that experience, guided by
science can do much to improve the natural pro
auctions Of the soil. Not only might the diseases
and injuries to which vegetation liable, be re-
moved or obviated but by due attention, higher
development might be secured, than would be pos.
sible under the operation of fortuitous circumstan
ces
Such considerations furnished Us lesson Of the
true objects of medical science It's aim should not
be limited to the study of disease and the means of
remedyin ing it, bat it should be extended SO as to
comprehend everything that concerned the perfect
development of man, both Intellectually and phys
ically Such was the am of medical science as cul.
tivated at the present day; and though its advance
ment in its crest had until within the pres
emit century, been slow its recent progress had
been such as to justify the remark of Descar,es,
that the human race must expect to reach its high
est vital perfection through It's guidance and instru.
mentality.
What has been the range of modern investiea.
tionG In the first place, enquiries had been direct
ed with unusual zeal and success to man. as a sub.
ject Of natural history. His structure had been
most infinitely Investigated by the anatomis, and
compared with the structure OF other animals ;
and the psychologist with the lights OF human and
comparative anatomy before him, had explained
the functions of the different organs in state of
health
The pathological anatom;st had examined and
described the changes in the structure of the organs
produced BY disease, and the corresponding modi.
cations in the functions had formed the subject of
the patient enquiries of the pathologist Physiolo-
| gy and pathology were yet in their infancy They
had been the chief instruments in conducting to
that accurate knowledge OF the manifestations of
disease, which prevailed among eur medical men.
materia medica and chemistry mad also contributed
their valuable aid to accurate medical practice.
From these storehousss and workshops the physi.