The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-18

plants give. Casalpnus The first geolog cal
founded at Verona, and the first who cultivated the
ology-were Leonardo da vinc the painter and Fracaster
The great discs veres of this century which have mmor
taised the pane Of Dssy il is true the property Of
England but the inst nents viii n Davy used beat the
names Of Gslvani and Volta. whyReed speak of sci
ence alones Who wi dispute with LIT illustrious peo-
pie the palm of music and painting of satuary and
chitectureS The dark cloud which for thousand years
has hung over that beautiful peninsula is rnged with
irradations of light But the long her Ter
full achevemens If duly considered there is which
presents her intelligence and power in more striking
view than her action in the circumstance am recalling
tonight. When " witness the Mohammedan reluctance
Of enlightened America in this nineteenth century, we
must surely allow to Italy OF the fourteenth the merit OF
philanthropy than and moral courage
more tn an Roman
This example lost the Northern Europeans. We
saus says that there diecng days in the Uniyer
sty of Paris in his time Indeed it is only in our recol
lection that England has felt she could follow it, 1t was
not until the question bad been illustrated by the most
monsrous crimes that the British Parliament seriously
turned its attention to the subject There here the
difficulty consisted in arrestirg public attention; when
that is accomplished safely wait for the result
After close examination of all the arguments that could
be presented and is needless to say that they of
every ARCHAEOLOGICAL political socal-Psrliament lega
zed the study of practical anatomy and made due pro-
vision for the pursuit it of it by law.
Standing clear relief from the rest of the United
States Massa chusets has followed that example 1t is
not the first time that she has taken the lead in deciding
national action and il is fitting that they who have stood
in thus conquerng popular prejudice. Michigan has
done the But where the rest of the StatesS
No better than France England in the eighteenth
century 1t is with them the medical profession has to
deal We arrsign them at the bar of public opinion and
demand of them by what authority they repress medical
instruction. and cripple the usefulness Of physcans?by
what authority they ax upon the stigma of elons?
We point to the annals OF our professen-sdorned with
the ilustrious Names and yielding by compari
any other vocation in society no. neither to the
pulpit the bar Is there any among our leading men
a of public scandal evil example to the COM
| nttnttyY Can he thar nrnta saw hat
trust spirit will be reused in the medical profession
all this continent and that by 10 Mt action shall
ourselves righted iu this matter have no belief in
continuing to do have done-speakng in whispers,
in under tone to another as though we were con-
scious Of guilt do believe ina bold and decisive
course telling the public that is in the wrong and
insisting it shall right. And though one is bet
ter than myself Of the feebeness and imperfecon
roughly sure that they will meet with hearty response
from every true American physician.
increasing its facilities in the way of anatomical supply
1t seeks other benefit than what it wishes all others
to enjoy For them well as itself, it asks to be
eyed from false sition The interests of society i'm
peravey demand the study of practical anatomy Then
why not frankly acknowledge the fact and make suita
BILE arrangement by law?
Medical men, both in their individual and collective
pacty daily rendering services of the last Importance
TO the community; and as have already said no nst
the medical colleges. In this city, rich in its public
charities you present which of those charities you
please, and will prove that any one of three med
cal colleges surpasses in usefulness They centres
Of present good to the neghborhoods ip hch they
placed they are sources untold benefits to the whole
country by the educated they send forth the re-
lief Of the afflicted Centres Of local good they surely
for who into this building of aft rnoon and
the poor and the helpless who throngng
to it, without admitting this facts Here they re-
ceiye advice from the most experienced surgeons
and physicians, and furnished with remedies by
the institution free charge and such operations as may
be necessary gratuitousy performed them To give
you s idea Of the scale on which these thing;
clinque which is under the charge of Professor Mott,
that under Professor Post and that under Professor Van
Buren, not less than two thousand persons relieved
each year In the obstetric clinque, which first in
troduced into the system of medical instruction by Pro-
fesor Bedford, there have been presented since its
commencement in October, 1850, more than ave thou
sand cases Considering its peculiar nature failure
predicted for this clinque You bear witness that
this prediction has not been verified In similar terms
could spsak of the medical clnque and that the dis
of the skin 1t not for in this presence
these freewl offerings 1t is done without the receipt
fee, or the expectation of reward with other OBJ
medical student. But for the university in which such
things are done, may, without any offence any
hesitation demand public consideration in return
In this work of local charity New York stands far in
vance Of all her sister cities, combining great scale
relief for the poor and instruction for the student Often
have heard physicians who have visited us exclaim-
1--WE have seen more varied cases Of disease in your uni
versity in one month than in practice at home in Eve
years" 1t is the spreading knowledge of this fact which
is fast tending to make New York the centre Of medical
education of the whole country.
Besides this local charity, the University supplies
|
sderably than thousand physicians are now prac
Using under its diploma in different parts of the
United States. If it not invidious to draw
parsons with other undertakings, might present
the labors of these men, true missionaries of humanity
we ask who can sum up the good they doing to
society the suerngs they relieve the mercul acts they
PERFORM They encounter with equal forttude the
sun of summer and the storm of winter. On the
Grand and with the uanimty they pass thro gh
the luxurious habitations of the rich or the solitude Of
the midnight forest The pestence finds them at their
post.
Yet why should say this our University it is true
of all other medical colleges; and think the time is
distant when the communities in which they located
will appreciate their worth The charitable will learn,
that through these institutions works of mercy be
carried out and sectusl abatement made in the mis-
cry snd suffering around What are there of
doing widespread good, which could for an instant
compare with the endowment of college clinique They
who look With pride ON the advance of their cities
greatness may be referred to the history OF other
tries in proof of the fact that the medical school has
often been the chief glory of town OF own city,
New York, have no fears, rapid is her progress in
material prosperity. great is the concentration of
wealth, 80 many the whose fortunes to be
counted by millions We have nearly reached that point
at viii n it is essential to TO have other reputa
ton than that of great mart for merch andise-that
point at which society dslkei to hear how its riches
were gained, but delights in showing how they were
spent; that point at which the Medical College along
with other institutions the cultivation letters and
the fine arts will be cherished object of public care
and the pride of the city.
If my voice could be heard in the Legislature Of New
York, would appeal to it. not only in the name of the
colleges and Of the body of ply sician but also in the
name of humanity. would call those able mep, to
whom are committed our interests to from the
statute book laws which repudated in Europe
in the dark ages. would ask them there any
why should stand behind Massachusetts Michigan
in enlightened policy. would enreat them spare
this great this powerful State the disgrace of having
example set in this matter by her younger and eeber
sisters for that practical anatomy will be egazed in the
South and West it has been in the North and East
there cannot be shadow Of doubt To one scrupuous
from conscientious motives, would point out the
thory that has been iven by both the chief divisions
the Christian church Protestant and Catholic another
timd for fear Of popular prejudice would show that
those who are TO be mainly profted the poor OF
what avail are all muncent provisions for the desti
tute if deny the only by which surgeons car be
skilliu Our hospitals and amshouses cannot accom-.
pany the emgrant his lonely way but let us make
rs far as legislation do it. that wherever sick
may surprise him good ply stefan shall be at hand.
To provide that good hyscan philanthropy
charity and state concern; bu. not party question 1t
Is one Of those things IN which whatever political
opinions may be, have all the interest Desease
nvsde all our families in and takes away mem
Der after another In turn have all TO come under
Obligations to that medical Skill the ~ lson which
is threatened with punishment l. it well that laws