Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-13
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

ANNUAL CoxHENcRhINT OF TIE medical
DEPARTMENT OF GEoRaIfoWN COLLEEN wv,
found an Unexpectedly large gathering on en-.
tering the Smithsonian Hall last nisht, "a,
attraction being the annual commencemenI
ceremonies Of Georgetown College.
ANer music by the band stationed In thu
gallery, and reading the commission bv prof
J. Eliot, dean ..----- :
Rev. Bernard A. Mcguire, president o,
Georgetown College, addressed the student,
and audience briefly, remarking upon the
pleasant duty he was about to discharge Of
giving the graduating class this testimonial Of
tpeir 6!HsG mater, and the pleasure of which
was enhanced by the assiduity and correct de-
pertinent which had marked their course OF
study. In the course Of his remarks he very
conolusively controverted the somewhat COM
mon assertion that the study and practice of
medicine IL adverse TO morality and religion.
The following graduates were then called in
turn upon the platform, TO receive the broad
parchment, Wig:
J. c. Wilcox, Of the District of Columbia :;
George Mccoy, Of Ireland L n. Lancaster,
Of Maryland; d. B. CLARK, Of the District of
Columbia; ] c. W. Kennor Of Ohio T. , .
Woody, Of the District Of Columbia; J
Smith, Of the District of Columbia g. Loomis,
Of Connections.
A they severally returned 10 their seats
lucky ones were the recipients Of beautiful
bouqnea frsm their fair friends.
frof N. Young then proceeded TO address
the graduating class, in q manner eminsntly
practical and suggestive.
He reminded them that they were entering
the profession at period Of unexampled pro-
gress ic medicine that the age 10 past when
medical men relying only on observation,
without the means Of investig sting the nature
and true origin Of phenomena presented to
them, INDUCED in the widest speculation.
The most abundant means are now afforded
for the study Of those laws Of nature which
are the foundations Of all real medical educs-
ton, through the advanced condition of cl N
lstry and Of anatomy, aided BY that wonder
ful instrument, the microscope. They had
before them the acquired information of the
whole medical world the results of medical
enquiry In any quarter coming At once to them
through the fundamentally Ct the press, and
thoroughly informed as to what is known,
they are prepared TO explore further and to
add to the sum Of medical knowledge
They were admonished that the edusation
they had received thus far was only elemer-
tsry, and it was for them, having been taught
how TO learn, to proceed to complete their own
education At every step they would ind new
and wondrous truths 70 investigate With all
the knowledge acquired there Is yet much I'M
learned. We are for example scarcely on the
We are familiar with Its phenomena and are
acquiring facts In regard TO its laws every day,
but though the most important Of all connect
ed with the human machine, the supposed
seat OF the lfe-giving power, the controlling
influences Of the whole economy, We must con-
fess our comparative ignorance.
lt Is cheering, however, TO be conscious that
the knowledge gained already has been Of
vast service TO our fellow men; an examina-
ton OF vital statistics will demonstrate Q pro-
gressivs improyement-for example, in lSO5
! In every admitted to the Paris hospitals
died, now only in IL, an increase of III per
cent m 81 years. In the so 900 persons an
nually passing through these hospitals there
"a . saving Of 500 persons as compared with
former years. Formerly. the time of treat
ment was an average Of 80 days, now days.
In some diseases ! formerly died in every So
cases, now only l in 2g4 The average of NOR
tality has changed during the last II years
from in 20 dying to in 40 in this day. In
surgical practice moro than IS per cent. has
been gained since the beginning of the present
century The average duration Of life has
been increased during the past Sc years 81
years. In obstetrical practice, $50 years since,
In 40 died, now net in ESQ from the last
returns there appears to be o gain Of IS per
cent. Of cure in past IS years, and the average
time Of treatment lessened more th an cne-third.
The discovery Of ether and chlorof0rm, and
Of its terrors. Small lox aud cholera were no
longer fatal Marsh miasms had been stripped
Of Its deadly power by the discovery Of the
alkaloid Of cinchona.
he sd i Jed them to let real merit be the OBJ
jet Of their ambition; to not rely for success
upon personal regard or the partially Of in
faen.ial friends; TO be careful in regard to
their standing with their brother prsctitiOn-
srs; to let inevitable professional rivalries be
honorable rivalry, and not scramble for ad-
vantage; to act upon the cardinal rule Tin
their relations to professional brethren and
the public) that every man has . right to se-
lsct for himself and family his own medical
adviser to exercise the greatest prud snce in
their confidential relations TO families; to eX-
act the full price for services to those able to
pay, and TO reserve for the poor their gratui-
tous services.
He next spoke to them Of the difficulties
they must expect to encounter; they must
not look for wealth, as with few exceptions,
the members Of the profession are poor
they were entering upon . life Of servitude
not one hour Of which they could call
their own; they must expect ingratitude and
70 be supplsnted by quacks and Galatians.
One Of their severest trials would be to ind
the whole community indisposed to recognize
the superior merits Of regularly educated
physicians and 9 philosophic practice based
upon scientific requirements; and when Pes
tueucc II dOIOaQ IN TIC lduQ, Lley must re
main at their posts, even 20 the sacrif:e Of
their lives.
But there was another side to this glorious
picture Theirs was . noble profession, and
iu study the most captivating Of all pursuits !;
and there was to the Christian physician the
sdded feeling Of grstincstion which follows
the honest discharge Of duty
DR. Y, in closing, adverted to the rise Of
Gsorsetoun College, which In sixty Eve years
haa Advanced from n rnodasf a,sds-y L..
pontion Of . world renowned institution al
luding next 10 the fact that il was now not
quite seven years since the medical depart
ment was organised, a. q child Of the parent
institution, and the baptismsl ceremony of
which had been perform ed within the walls of
the same building where they were now met
Daring these years they had struggled, un-
aided, against difficulties, embarrassments and
opposition Of foes, such as WAS only known and
only to be appreciated by themselves Their
success, 90 far, stimulated them to renewed
exsrti0n to deserve confidence and prove vor