Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-28
TOY NC EHqHTtr.
REFLECTIONS ON A SOUTHERN MEDICAL Col
LEGE,

REFLECTIONS ON A SOUTHERN MEDICAL COL
LEGE.
The necessity, known always TO have existed 10 the &c.
communications for Medical instruction in the States South
of MARYLAND, has been long q subject ut much regret, and
cause OF no little reproach for lack ol patriotism In the en-.
iiyh,ened citizens, whose similarity of diseases, habits and
institutions cause a kind Of homoseneousness OF interests.
and who ought, therefore, to make the training OF their sons
in the bosom of their own peculiar country, TO thls ancient
and noble profession, a subject OF the FIRST consideration
There are peculiar reasons for the iurt, that more gentlemen
in Southern States rear sons 10 the profession OF Medicine,
Than In any other population Of like extent. ~ Is a PROBES.
siun honorable In itself; lie study Is greatly conducive 10 In.
teuectual enjoyment; its practice abounds 10 deeds OF hu-
manity and bencvolcnce; and, The profession can only oe
Jisgraced by those of deficient, or bad training or, by Tor.
furious circumstances, which sometimes occur from The er-
rors Of imperfect or badly selected schools. A young gentle
man, without, regard to pecuniary means, who has graduated
10 one Of The FIRST Glasses OF Medical SCHOOLS. mas, not only
O passport to good society everywhere but Is quallhed
for tho acquisition and enjoyment OF fortune; or ior as
piro,ion, TO the highest honors of the republic II is
= profession, which seems peculiarly appropriate 10 the
habits. tastes, and conditions OF thousands Of scions
already sprouted, and sprorting from ihosc noclc ancestors
in the South, who have shed so much lusire upon Inc cause
of liberty, public virtue, and the beauty aud purity CT a high
GRADE of civilization. While many will Inherit or assume
the responsibility Of the ownership OF many slaves, (~hose
health may be the better protected by Intelligent masters)
others. without such Inheritance, can make their medical
and moral training the means oil acquiring afhuence, or Inc
highes, distraction among their fellow men. That a larg"
field Is, and has been open from the revolution down 10 me
oTrsent day In the Southern States fol- The laboEs OF n Med!-
cal School Of The highest order, Is moot satisfactorily proved
by the Annual Coinmencemen,s OF all Medical Colleges
within the range OF lUp ClptCh( VI SOutiisih u'SNh ~
educate their sous in this noble profession. The schools al
ready established In the South have but little elect in d.
~,ninishing The eiHuX Of Southern youth 10 HE Ncrth, and 10
Europe. They have hlrdiy kept pace win Tue increase ol
population. 4 gront incteaac Of scholastic accommodation
in this department OF science 10 needed. L. ".', -.e"--r
rv I, call attention TO the Commencement G! Sortherh Col'
90 .e, +, 6y the ,nteIliblc blush upun every Southern cheek,
Tor the remarkable desiiIuuon Of home institutions. u. ~
~. Inn, The very laudable desire TO visit the ample hospitals
!" ~ ~ ~, WV c;,;ss wIi carry many young men 10 The North for
short terms or single sessions, for Some year' TO co,r1
hui In the growth Of our O"a cities, ana the genera ih'ei'-
- RI Tho me- rip. vi sh9ll Ind 4 Cradual DuI certoic cor
rec,iys TO The chief mischicfs resulting itomthe imPto'iueh'
practice Of educating 80 large a Euihoel !, oe ooueneIn
vnuth in countries foreign 10 our insiltuibns, and among
o,oiessors iynoruut, practically, OF The dlseoees OF our couh
trv In a political and economical point OF view, Inc course
,.hioh hns hitherto been pursued by Southern gentlemen,
sav The Irsst of IL, has been pnwise and lmpnllIic, and ought
10 DO corrected as speedily as practicable. lhaI inc eon!h.
ern people have the just pride, Inc manly character, ana lhe
abundant means OF founding, and endo"lps q meoicai col,
I,oe among themselves, fully equal to their wants, there can
BIZ no doubt. That they can command WIN proper means
professors Of the highest order OF capacity onu I's!tne''1n,
here il lust a. little. And 1t may well be aided, that me
hiph moral inf uences, and polished Southern manners, WIN
which such an institution would DC surrounded woula give
some assurance 10 distant parents u beueia' k'ou NV
rnls and manners Of thtlr sons.
due considerations Is il not due tn tho Southern states
from which more young men are educated i' Inc p1oIesSo"
han in nnv other equal population, that tho frst medlcsl
schooliu America should be founded among IheInf IL once
mt 10 operation, II could not fail 10 be well sustained. oucn
an Ina,i,utIou ought to he located where i, would combine
ali tho advantages of the most prosperous city oil the Sou'h'
with a view 10 large population, and ample hospital accom-,
! rnodotiOne. clinical LECTURES, SuISlCdI OpcIdliou9. ~. H"o
II should be based upon The most liberal aud enlightened
principles. ,ho,,,
n,sss of n great medical school than Richmond. 1t IS sui
fcienuy Southern for all the advantages 10 be derived rom
locality In a slave State; and, Jet, il would not nc DISTURBED
nv ,he malignant diseases which occasionally stdct the cI
lies in lower attitudes. Tho growing prosperity Of the place
with the convenient, modes Of rapid and safe communlca'
lion into every section Of the slavcholdlngc country, tno~ 10
conrse of constructlon,) give ample assurance OF Inc pecu'
liar fitness of the elite for such an Institution. A Coi
isgs founded upon a well digesled, broad Ard llberoI
plan, at 80 commanding a point could no. ia,, 70 &c foj n;b. .e
,hronphou, the Southern States, desiring instruction ior theii
.ons in this science. Such an institution wotd ADJ 10 tme
interest and prosperity OF all other medical Ehool. IN nv
SnnIh A wholesome emulation, mot eompeltlon) Is as
nnch needed, TO stimulate each institution Il the oest et
forts,l as q college Of the very highest reputation, 10 give
,rre dainty and mower 10 the character OF The profession IN
rho Snnrb. There Is On abundant supply OF alents IN the
country of the highest order, well qualified ts adoIn any
corntry-aud if concentrated In the support OF q college IN
oS of our largest Southern cities, tho fashion OF sending
Young men TO the North to learn the diseasesand r1edica
practise of the South. would soon 30 broken VI; connoene.
wonld be established in our own schools, and ne means o
,rnnIyinr NIL the wants OF the country, It mol sui
Sr ~ would sooa be provided by tho erecltonol other es'
REFRESHMENTS. Arpresentth there exists neither the cnhdcnce 10
an, institutions, nor the means of supplying the atual wants
NJ the country, In regard 10 medical Instruction. al leasI
such Ia the opinion Of a very large number Of te 6est ~
formed medical men In INC saainefn ssale ea a ana Tue ne p IL ihs
Isrro ."-,hor If graduates, annually In Northern colleges
Without affecting 10 do more than make a sugeetion al
present, the following plan for a large Medical Cosge is
named, 10 wit: That subscription for scholarships E pro,
posed, (aL about one hundred dollars each) 10 be ~paidwIcn
a ~suGicen, number shulI be subscribed, to trustees, sr the
use of the institution. That each scholarship shall ntitle
The subscriber, his heirs or assigns, at any future time, o the
benefits Of the College for one session; that donalIus OF
money or property be also received for the benefit Of ts In
slilu,lon. The scholarships (until taken In and eatisfd) 10
stand as the scrip representing the property, or capital tock
Of The Institution, and the holders thereof tu be entitId 10
their rateable interest therein at all times, and a char .d TO
be procured from the Legislature providing for a bad of
Visitors TO conduct the affairs OF the InstItstion uponths
most enlarged and liberal principles, who should succeed he
trustees appointed In the fret Instance.
ltcan hardly be doubted, If the profession and other gn.
tlemen, ablu and interested in the promotion of a high grale
Of honor and e1raci'y among medical men 10 the soul,
will, In good faith, lay their shoulders 10 the wheel. that eve.
~ thing here promised can be accomplished. Medical me1
are not alone interested 10 this nubieat. The whole body II
tho Southern people are the real parties Interested. Thy
ehould unite upon some echeme for SarIyIug out the objects
ecnlIon Of the grea! work. The plan here suggested !. 10.
tsndcd meseiy as n snsges!ionI but il it servs to lic1o as
vhicA can command tie public appreciation and pat,snoge,
the utjec, Of these remarks will be effected.
a CITIZEN.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Sum
NJ. . Z