New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-21
THE ECLECTIC MEDICAL COLLEGE.

At the commencement exercises OF the Eclectic
Medical College. in this city, an address was delivered ny
Prof J. X. Buchanan ON Medical Science, rs foilows
There was time within the memory OF the living when
tie development consumption Of cholera, or OF cancer
was considered the death warrant OF the patient ana
fearful mortality attended diseases which are now
treated with general success. There was tne III In9
West when mercurlazng was test OF proIes,,,onaii
responsibility salvation by many considered
indispensable in fever--when cholera was t rsa.eI
by many with teasDOOBful doses Oi caIomoi
alone. and pneumonia by bleeding the patient ultil
he tainted. That time has passed away-the lancet
IL seldom seen among intelligent physicians-the her-
cural mania has had its day, and even The London
Lancet. the organ OF conservative fogysm. has pro
crossed so far rs to publish with pleasure ne sccesaIl
treatment Of pneumonia without either blood dieting
purgng or anthony. The final deahblow TO the mer
cnral deluson was given recently by ProL BehheI Ol
Edinburgh by proving that had power TO increase
the secretion OF the liver all the world had heretofore
The medical decisions and fallaces sustained by
all the power Of medical colleges and societies having
been buried in the OF exploded humbugs, we have
In their place large amount OF positive science Inc
resources OF the ",dtela medcd nave begn vasty in
Europe and the Eolectics in America, who have INTRO
duced and established great number OF new ana hlghy
important remedies The Of such party names, how
ever dscredtabe to the profession sectarlanlSm
injurious TO medical science 1t ever has been 10
Christianity Medical science Is great WHOLE 10 an Oh
which the enlightened physician assert, his claims ne
speaker rdiculed the idea that medical men should be
herded in groups like gregarous animals aud each group
confined to the limited area Of science which belongs TO
to be limited by party walls and lines He Is neither
stolidy conservative wildly progressive, but com,
bnes the old and the new In conservative progress.
The triumph Of truth IN science IS absolutely certain
and had taught Is years ago those advanced primer
pies which Just beginning 10 receive the genera
sanction Of the profession, lie had not lived In vain
The general philosophy as much advanced as the
practical resources of the profession. HematOOgy. the
basis OF rational practice had been developed IN the
last 30 years When the learned aud distinguished PrOf
Caldwell founder OF the Louisville Medical Unlycr-
sity taught the Institutes Medicine he knew moth
ing about the physiology Of the brain. When Prof
Buchanan had the good fortune discover its physo
logical functions, Prof Caldwell. like true yOtary OF
science listened faithfully to his former pupil and was
preparing memoir the subject for the National Medi
cal when he struck down by DEATH full
Of years and hOnors--a whose Like may not
again.
In conclusion Prof r. spoke Of the progress OF women
in the medical profession Twentythree years ago he
had opened the door OF IA medical college TO young
woman distinguished in the profession, and now
even the University of Edinburgh has decided on their
admission The world moYes-medicine IL progressive
Standardization rapidly breaking down the barriers
OF medical parties and eclectic progress unrestaned by
arbitrary creeds will harmonic the profession and rap
idly advance medicine to position among the exact
sciences.