Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-06
MEDICAL.
A Description of the Memphis
Medical College.

Yesterday was the day advertised by
the Faculty for the commencement of the
preliminary course of lectures at the
Memphis Medical College, but owing to
some Misunderstanding as to the hour
st which DR.. Ramsay was to deliver his
opening lecture, very few, either students
or Faculty, were present at the appointed
time, and the regular commencement
was postponed until to-dsy. We availed
~oursslf, however, OF the invitation ex-
I tended TO US by DR.. Erskine, and were
shown through the college by him. The
building is the same that was occupied
before the War for this purpose, being
the extreme north end Of the Exchange
| Block, in the rear of the OvertOn Hotel.
At the entrance of the Federal troops,
! the institution was taken possession of
! by them, and converted into q hospital,
| at an expense of over hundred
thousand dollars TO the city Of Memphis.
' In this capacity it was retained by them
long IS the military occupation OF the
a., sSntinued. WbSn they abandoned
IL tbs,- left it in the Gondi.ion that
tbov Iii every other building or
rIsca in the South that they
.Sbed and piundered OF
almost everything OF value that was
portsble, ana in u state OF complete di-
iapidation. When he Faculty deter
mined to revive the CCQege thsy we're
compelled 10 go 10 a heavy expense, seo
= vast deal OF trouble in restoring the
building. The SEATS had to De msue
anew, as did also the doors, windows,
stair rails and even portions Of the floor,
and there Was no end 10 the cleaning and
r~e-psinting, which was necessary to
make il fit for use again.
The College occupies the whole OF two
floors. The first or main hOoTI which Is
reached by a short flight Of broad steps,
from the entrance on Exchange street,
contains the City Dispensary, (Of which
we will speak at the proper place. the
lecture rooms and the chemical lRbera-
tory. The lecture rooms, two i IA number,
are very large and commodious, each
capable Of seating three andre
students, very comfortably. The
looking on Front street is for medical
lecsures o while the interior
room is for chemical lectures only.
Immediately st the head OF the
stairs on the left on entering,
and opening into the chemical lecture
room. is the chemical laboratory. This
Is under the charge of DR.. Alex. Reeves,
and is not yet quite fitted up. Z
branch of tbeinBtitutioD, as was the case
throughout the whole South, suffered
severely from the vandalism OF Federal
soldiers and officers during the war,
almost every valuable philosophical in
strument having been broken 10 pieces,
or stolen bodily. DR.. Reeves hopes,
however, sstO have his department in
order in g very few days. In this room
e the cabinet of nloteTid D5ed5co, which
is very complete, not having suffered, to
any extent, from the Tavages to which
other portions Of the property were sub
jected.
The second, or more properly third
floor, is taken up with the sm~phlthester,
dissecting rooms, museum and professors
rooms. Immediately above the ohemi-
cal laboratory, st the head Of the stairs,
Is the museum. This, like thelaborstory,
suffered very severely during the late war,
almost every specimen OF any value
having been carried Off or destroyed.
In this room we were shown 8 portfolio
Of anatomical drawings made by DR..
Maury, which were exceedingly beauti-
ful, and reflect the highest credit, both
upon his knowledge OF anatomy and his
skill as a dcaughtsmsn. The dissecting
rooms Rrs two in number, and are very
commodious and siTy. There will be
six tables in each, with every convent
ence for dissection. The amphithester
is exceiisntly arranged, and will seat at
least three hundred students. The seats
are arranged in q semicircular form, 10
ascending rows, so that s good view Of
the lecturers stand aud table can be had
from any portion Of the room. In the
n mphithester is a large e%i5terD, which
suu plies the balance OF the house with
water. The Professors rooms are two In
number, and are large and cOmmodiOus.
The city ~dispenssry, which is situated
on the first ho1r, is e small but we'll ar
ranged ard complete drug store, with q N
ante-room and private office attached.
Here. for two bonrs each day. from ten
q. %. 10 midday, some of the Faculty are
present, and the poor Of the city, ire
spective of color, can come Spd be pre-
seribed for and have their medicines
gratis. This is a most charitable and
isudabIe Institution, and reflects great
credit on the good heart and liberality of
the Faculty.
The present course will continue until
the first Monday in November, when
the regular course will begin.