The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-04-24
The proposed removal Of the University
Medical Department to Richmond.

the Legislature of Virginia, bill to re-
move the medical department Of the Uni
versity Of Virginia to Richmond, for the
purpose of their consolidation. The facuf-
ty have written an able and cogent memo
rial to the Rector and Visitors touching
the removal-and deprecate the same in
the concluding propositions Of their me-
mortal, which they have demonstrated by
calm and intelligent appeal to facts, and
by an enlarged and comprehensive view Of
the subject. Their concluding PROPOSE
tions are as follows: .
THAT the two Virginia. Schools CON-
mand a larger aggregate patronage than
either can command alone-and conse
quently that it cannot be the pecuniary in
terest of the State to abolish either.
''That the Medical Department of the
University Of Virginia, at Charlottesville.
costs nothing to the State in money--but
on the contrary is source OF revenue to
the University.
That the annual cost to the State o;
the Medical Department, transferred to
Richmond, and enlarged by the incorpo
ration of seven additional chairs, would be
ten thousand dollars for salaries alone
without increasing the number ofstudents,
land without any real addition to the prac-
teal clinical advantages Of the school now
in operation in that city.
."That the Medical School Of the Uni
versity has nov the appreciation Of the
Medical Association, and leading members
of the profession in all parts Of the Union
that its peculiar advantages are admit
ted by the parties who are now seeking to
bring about its extinction-and that these
advantages depend upon its academic rela-
tons, fact which is virtually conceded by
the faculty OF the Richmond School. in
tnelr lalluTt w w 81 udu ~ peeH u "ocAe"-
bic.
'.That in proper system Of medical edu
cation, nothing is to be gained by the COM
bination of theoretical with practical in
struction-but that the two parts must be
taken up successfully and that in all Ca
SEES the theoretical should precede the prac-
tical-that the two stages need not be pur-
sued in the same place or under the same
teachers, and that the experience Of ali
celebrated medical schools, Of Continental
Europe, sustain this view, Of the proper
relations between didactic instruction in the
theory of medicine, and personal, practica
study Of disease at the bed side"
The readers Of this paper may deem us
pry-but there is one feature Of this bill
which looks little queer. The professors
at Richmond were all to retain their pres
ent positions-two of the University pro
fessors are to be removed, and two are LETT
out in the cold A very snug little ar
raneement for the Richmond occupants
Would it not have been more in accordance
with medical ethics, to say nothing Of the
advantage which the friends Of medical
education might claim in the proceeding
to have called for another shuttle, and 4
new deal? But it is to be presumed that
it was not deemed advisable to retard the
new organization, by subjccting the talent
Of the Richmond School to the mere for
mality of an election.
| So much for our suspicion Of sel6shness
lurking among the flowers of this bill, Sc
fragranttothe Richmond noses. We beal
not the least ill-will toward the Richmond
School, nor do we wish to be regarded al
The especial champion ofthe University Of
Virginia, but il. is simply as a friend Of
education, and an humble promoter of the
States best interests, that we wish to give
utterauce to the sentiment of this section
of the State. in decided protest against a
movement which would be the initiative
in the work Of disintegration in the har
monious and admirably jointed parts which
makes the enterprise at Charlottesville an
University, while the school at Richmond
even though the proposed change was eff
fected, could only be school still.
/ Remove the medical department from
the University and you would emasculate
the comprehensive conception of Mr. JEFF
ferson. Remove it to Richmond and the
student of medicine can no longer enjoy
;'the inestimable additional advantage OF
acquiring at the same time, the kin
bred sciences by attending the other
schools" Jefferson and Cabelrs cores
pondence.) The medical department of
the University, is justly regarded as the
best theoretical school ofmedicine on this
Continent. and would not suffer in com
parison with the renowned schools Of Eu
rope.
Students who have passed through
the academic and scientific schools OF
the University, would have the de-
cided advantage ceteris paribus over
students entering Its medical department,