Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-02-11
OUR WINTHROP LETTER.
Medical Education by the State--A
Successful Donation--The Beecher
Business.

Ed. BULLETIN--Youre editorial remarks
in the last issue of the BULLETIN, on the
Medical Department of the State Univer-
sity. indicates Il correct recognition of the
public interest in educational affairs, and
is partial guarantee that few additional
views upon the same topic may not be out
of place. One point in your article would
seem to imply mistaken idea regarding
the action of the State Medical Society in
passing resolution favorlng the abolition
of the Medical Department You say the
society "came down to the only rational
solution of the difficulty. The inference
would be that the act was suicidal in ma
ture, last resort. to prevent successful
attempts to amalgamale tie faculty or
school. This is a very general error, and
is another instance showing the tendency
to misinterpret the intentions of medical
men. Instead of looming down." the
society rose up to do its best and most
conscientious conception of professional
duty. This school has always been any
thing but credit to the profession, and
never could be otherwise. Medicine can
not be successfully taught except amid a
large and dense population. Clinical
instruction or bedside experience is all
essential, and this is to be had only in the
wards of metropolitan hospitals. Honest
graduates of schools located in small
towns consider their diplomas (chcaply
obtaineD as merely temporary advan-
tage until their circumstances will enable
them to enter the walls of city college
and hospital. Another great objection to
provincial schools is the difficulty of OBJ
tanning dissecting material, without which
medical study is farce. Other facts
could be shown to prove the wisdom of
wiping out this abnormal and expensive
institution. Ann Arbor is not exempt
from the application of these conditions,
and ie oI-n"dy, 1onn,nd 70 . ey-.'.."l
ruin, by admitting to its faculty disciple
of one of the many "pathys that depend
solely upon a deceived portion of the pub
lie for recognition and support. Scientific
medicine does not depend upon or ask
State support, as the action of the State
Society proves.
We note the luck of one man in these
hard times, man deserving the cool one
hundred dollars received by Rev. E. G.
Carpenter, of this place, as proceeds of
the late festival. We are pleased to learn
the intention of our Baptist friends to fur
nish their church with pipe organ
Spurgeon would go for that with cigar
attachment, as he objures a pipe for the
more fragrant Havana.
From Spurgeon to Bccchcr is easy-to
note the demands on the part of the enc
mics of Mr.. Beecher for more trials =
They forget that trial, unprecedented in
legal history for its thoroughness ana pro
tracted duration, has already been had,
and when, during its tendency, it became
possible that he might be acquitted, they
stoutly declared that the verdict would
carry no force, as every one had already
an opinion. 1T was also held that Il legal
trial was preferable 10 an ecclesiastical
one, because of power to compel attend
ance of witnesses, &c. These views were
doubtless correct, but should stop the
mouths of such who now call for another
trial. Is Mr.. Beecher to call a council or
enter court every time some man or wo-
man seeks notoriety by defaming him?
Is the public to be. forever outraged by
these unccasing assaults upon a man
whose ruin seem to be the lasting purpose
of his enemies? Mr.. Beccher was blamed
for his silence under pressure undescrb-
able, and the same persons now condemn
him for buckling on his armor and indig-
nantly repellng and denouncing attacks
upon him, attacks that imperil cause
dearel to him than his own character 1t
is a pleasure for his friends to know that
he carries guns of a weight amply sufli-
Gent to sweep the field, and that he has
ceased acting the lamb-like part, so agree
able to his opponents. Yours,
gu :,