The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-10-11
rocAL MArrHHs.

LOCAL MATTERS.
PRor. GIDsoN's LacrvxE.-We i've be-
low brief sketch Of tho Introductory lecture OF
Prof Gibson before the students Of the Medical
College Of Virginia, on Monday evening. October
Oh.
lhe lecturer commenced by an allusion to the
foundation Of the College. Seventeen years ago,
he said, Doctors John Cullen Bohaunou and Cham.
berlayne, in view of the necessty Of the establish
ment Of Medical College 4 AZ ne South. entered
afterwards uniting with them Doctors Thomas
Johnson Maupin and Warner, . charter was OBJ
tanned from the Legislature In the fall Of 1893 for
rhe establishment OF the Medical Department OF
Hampden Sydney College. The number of stu
tents attending the first session was limited, but
sufficient to guarantee the of the noble en-
rerprise The succeeding session brought with 1t
larger number, and In proportion were the hopes
OF the friends of medical education increased For
seven years the sessions of the College were held
in the building now known the United States
Hotel, which was then fitted with appropriase &C.
commodations for the purpose. But the local. "
being inconvenient the Professors were induced
to take measures for the erection Of new building
for the use OF the College. In this enterprise diff
cu!tes were encountered which seemed foru1ida-
ble but aided by the berality of the Legislature
they were enabledto overcome all obstacles, and
commenced the erection of the present noble
structure for the of The Department. In the fall
of 1874.
BY this time the people of the State had become
convinced of the importance OF maintaining the
institution; the names of Cullen, Bohanuop, War.
ner and others were as well known az those of the
most disting uished In medical science; and stu
dents came hither from all quarters OF the Common
wealth. Forced 10 the conclusion that the State
possessed within her own limits every element of
medical education the number of students increas-
cd, and the sessions of 1874, As, 49, and AZ wit.
messed the enlarged prosperity ofthe College; when
heavy blow was received from which 1t seemed
difficult to recover. Death bore away the noble and
JJ rnrNao ipAsa
Ing courage had stemmed the tide of opposition
Warner was the first victim. His colleagues knew
the loss was irreparable Their hearts full of
bitter sorrow; but they drew more closely together,
and by tightening the bands of friendship sought
to dispei the gloom that surrounded them.
The vacant chair had scarce been filled when it
observed with regret that the failing health of
DR.. Cullen indicated the approaching close of his
all the ties Of duty and friendship and finally passed
away [The lecturer here paid q feeling tribute to
the memory OF DR.. Culen.l
From the beginning, the enterprise was no less
indebted for its success to Dr. Lewis w. Chamber.
layne than to those other noble spirits whom death
has claimed. He, too, has been taken. Only last
winter he was here, struggling with his approach.
ing fate; for there were times when appearances
were but too strong that he must be called away,
yet day by day he toed on. His whole lite was
spent in the faithful discharge of his duties as
phyaician and teacher. He was sincere friend
and an able coleague-hisi integrity and honor were
without blemish.
The vacancies were filled In due time by the
srus.ees-the school rallied and revived, and all
looked bright and prosperous, when in 1853 another
shock was encountered, well calculated to shake
the Institution to its foundation. ! aude (contin.
ued the ecturer) to the difficulty between the trus.
tees and the faculty, relative TO the Chair of Ply
siology. refer to this only as matter of neces-
sity, in sketching the history of the College. He
briefly reviewed the circumstances of this Difficult.
~, with which most of our readers are familiar,
and said that the breach had proved rreconclable
Fro IN this the lecturer passed on to the action of
the Legislature, In regard to the College, by which
it was placed upon firm basis and in an indepen-
dent position.
Onthe 18th of March, the trustees met, and ap-
pointed to the Professorships, Doctors R. L. Bohan
non, C. B. Gibson e. B. Johnson, D. H. Carter and
NJ p Scott; and on the 25th of May, DR.. Beverly
Wexford was appointed to the Chair OF Materia
Medica, and DR.. Brown Sequard, OF Paris to the
Chair of Physiology. The present condition of the
College is more prosperous than ever 1t claims
to occupy position second to none in the country
But there 10 desire to ipjure sister Institutions
Let all exert themselvest to secure liberal support
and leave their neighbors the same privilege.
The lecturer remarked that he would like to speak
of the qualifications of the several profes
sors but that he was not permitted to do. for he
night Pc 'aspeesed OF partially .i IN ri.
ann,ates all the faculty; they are determined to
render their course of. instruction complete and
honorable to the Institution He then addressed the
matriculates present. He could we'll appreciate their
feelings, for he had occupied the same position
Among ssnse with no apparent ss sympathy II
feel q sense of Loneliness. But experience had
taught him to believe that many anxious hearts
watched their progress and noted carefully every
step they made. They would find that their success
in future days depends upon their character stu
dents. The knowledge obtained here 10 the founda-
ton of medical education and if that ID imperfect,
the whole structure will be in,ecure He impressed
upon them the necessity of integrity and patience
Those who labor hardest will find its use here
after-whils those who take an opposite will
be subjected to long series Of aud dis
appointments. And should any Of the latter sue
ed in after fe experience has demonstrated that
those who by fortuitous circumstances have been
lifted into positions of honor and emolument, are
more be pitied than those who remain forever in
obscurity. With brief reference to the ennobins
character of the medical science, and its glorious
results, the lecturer concluded.
The reporter would remark that the foregoing
sketch is necessarily imp erfect The position
pied was such to render accurate report quite
impossible
Mpou.NrCs' H.yr -Froru onnvaroo flows