Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-05
tFot' the Ohio Statesmsn.l
An Mnnrn M Medical College.

, Having leisure hour, and learning there
was to be a clinic at the Medical College,
| instinctively repaired tRither, having d
trio OF, objects in view. to-wit:-To while
away an hour; to visit my Alma Mater !;
and to witness the surgical operations to be
performed. A short walk brought me in
view of the constellation OF spires and pro-
jections that surmount the College and are
part of the peculiar construction that
characterizes that noble editce; and as the
eye ranges over its exterior, viewing It's
lofty columns, modest recesses, and nu-
merous inches, the mind is busy in con-
templating its grandeur, its magnificence,
and its peculiar adaptation to the double
purposes of Hospital and College to which
it isnow so judiciously appropriated. Be
lieying myself somewhat familiar with its
internal construction, entered the door on
the left wing, ascended the spiral stairway.
and mistaking the proper door (after per-
ambulating sundry semicircular halls and
attic rooms, whose convex walls Indicated
the same singular construction that charac-
teriZes the architecture OF the main build
ing), till my progress was impeded by
door that seemed to be an entrance to a
more spacious apartment; and beiSg on
the side of a huge locker and pondrous
key, ventured to turn the knob and turn
it on its hinges, and was very agreeably
surprised to find that had effected a side en-
trance to the spacious amphitheater, where
were then congregated the whole class
of medical students, several resident ply
sicians, and your humble servant The
former attentively listening TO the Obserya-
tions of Prof H., who was very eloquently.
describing the nature, origin, and extent Of
OSteosdrcOmd as exhibiting and developing
L. III xyfll Of
ingly very interesting young man then in
the ante-room waiting to undergo the
painful operation of excelsior OF the lower
Jaw. The resident physicians seemed to be
acting as assistants to Prof. H., while your
humble servant was diversifiedly engaged,
now in vainly endeavOring to recognize a
familiar countenance amid the faces OF the
many bright and intelligent young men
before me, and then in viewing the perpen-
dicular iron pole that stretched from the
floor to the ceiling, around which, in for
mer days, had dseen so many gymnastic
feats; and at whose summit, on the ceiling,
were inscribed the names of many an am-
bilious youth, who had, with prehensile
grasp, hand over hand, attained its height;
and then again as the. old familiar benches
would rest beneath my gaze, my mind
would wander off in search of their former
who with me few years before
had banQueted under the instructive teach
ingsand eloquent tlectures Ofthe present able
Professors of anatomy and surgery. But
that class was widely scattered; some had
been commissioned and served ably and
honorably in the Medical Department
of the Federal Army; and others were To-
Gated in town and country, successfully
practicing the "healing art" to the honor OF
the profession and the welfare of their fell
low beings; while others, despairlng of ever
securing paying practice in the ordinary
way, had turned qudck, and their names
vera floating over the country on flaming
handbills, protesting to perform numerous
miraclesas fabulous as their own knowledge
is chimerical. This train of thought was
interrupted by the entrance Of a ladygbear-
ing. in her arms "a Child of three
summers afflicted with talipes varus
"a species of club foot very un-
seemly and annoying--whieh Prof. H.,
with his tenotomy knife, very speedily
caused to resume its proper axis,and which,
with the appliances adopted, will soon be
permanently cured. Several other minor
operations were performed, when the young
man before alluded to was placed on the ta-
BILE aIItlproperlyI ansesthetised, when Prof.
H., after placing within his reach such In
struments as the occasion requiredproceed-
ed in his usual systematic style to perform
excision of the lower jaw. The accuracy
and precision with which the knife was
welded, the skill and dexterlty that char
acterized the movements of the chain-saw,
and the incredibly short time that elapsed
during the operation, indicate, an enyiable
superiority in the practice of surgery. Dur
ing my short stay in the city Of fColumbus,
Iflave devoted some time in learning the
character and history of some of its public
citizens, and will, if time and circumstances
permit, at some future time, give you some
aPen Pictures OF the Medical Profession
as found in your city,. m't SPECTATOR. n