The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-03
ACADEMY OF MEDICINE.

NOTABLE GATHERING OF PHYSICIANS AT TIL
OPENING OF THE LIBRARY KALEIDOSCOPE
rIoN OF THE NEW HALL.
There was an unusually large gathering Of notabl,
physicians at the New York Academy of Medicine
No IL West Fifty first street. last evening. the
sion being the dedication of the library hail. which
has just been completed. The evidences o
prosperity and rapid advancement could b,
seen not only in the personnel Of the as
semblage but also in tho elegant room.
and long shelves of medical works that LINED
the walls. The new hall measures % feet in width
by so feet in length. and is two stories i'll height
1t forms an extension to the building which was
purchased by the society some four years ago. and
which they have already found to be small iol
their purposes The entire lot of lbs feet in depth
is covered by the combined structures. The
first ioor of the hall has been fitted up lecture
room. The floor is composed OF Georgia pine, COW
which can accommodate 200 persons. are provided
for the of members attending the meetings
o. ns % to os9s rs oor with
exception OF = wide gallery extending around al
four sides OF the room. This gallery communicates
with the second door OF the main building through
wide archway. AS far the acoustic properties
concerned. the hall is almost perfect. and the
most approved methods of ventilation nave peen
adopted In the centre OF the ceiling is large double
skylight with space between the upper and lower
sashes of about five feet The lower sash bears
the coat of Of the society, beautifully hsneu
in colored glass. Around this lower sash Is
space about six inches wide. just beneath when
border OF gas jets sixty-four in number is placed
BY means OF this arrangement the room Is lighted,
and the flames producing c1rrent or air, the not,
foul air OF the room PUSHES upward ana ~ ~,u
through the upper skylight, while It's place Is sup
piled by fresh air admitted through near
the floor. A black marble tablet set in the wall ut
the head of the room the following inscription
in lotters Of gold This hall. the grit OF Abram
Dubois. NJ D., generous benefactor q the New York
Academy of Medicine, was erected A. D. 1872
When the meeting called to order last evening
eight o'clock the chair was occupied Dy tne Pres
dent DIR. Fordyce Barker On his right sat Drs. WI
Flint ST.; 8. s. Purple. +. J.. Bumstead, james H.
Leaning and William 7. White. On his lett were
DR.. Henry W. Ackland. Reglus Professor OF Medicine.
University OF Oxford and president of the British
General Medical Council; DIR. Samuel ID. Grass, OF
United States Army Medical Library. Washington.
D. e.; William Detwold. DR.. Shattock. OF Boston;
Dr.. Wier, DIR. L. g. Thomas and others.
DR. BARKER's ADDRESS.
Dr. Barker. the president made long and inter-
esting address, in which he incorporated vast
amount OF interesting information concerning the
Academy He told how in lSi7 it was instituted and
called attention TO the eminent men who had founded
it. ana whose pictures adorned the walls OF the
Academy; how it was incorporated in 1851 and had
purchased the building 1t now occupied i'll 1863. Or
the finances ne said they had but single debt Of
$4,000. that being mortgage on the property
In 1877 the Legislature of the State had
amended the charter OF the society comforting upon
it trust powers. BY virtue OF these powers were
created two permanent funds for the payment OF
the debt and interest and the other for the improve
ment OF the library. In speaking OF that very inl-
portant branch OF the Academy DR.. Barker con-
graduated the members the fact that it had
grown from nucleus OF 400 volumes to 10000. In
Ave current American and foreign medical periodi-
calls and records OF medical and other learned soce
ties. The Doctor paid glowing tributes to the
founders of the Academy and to some of the medi-
rai luminaries who sat about him.
In closing he unveiled an elegant marble bust OF
Nj Walls the eminent Ennlish
The bust gift to the Academy and would be
valuable addition to any art collection.
DIR. ACKIAND's REMARKS.
DR.. Henry W. Ackland. OF the University Of Ok
ford followed brief but very interesting re-
feeble to talk much, but though he spoke in
low tones every word distinctly heard
IN every portion OF the room. He referred
to his former visit to America, twenty years ago,
and the wonderful advance the country lad made
since then in every way He had visited ut that time
the great institutions OF medical learning through
out the country, and the march of improvement in
those matters had too been rapid. In speaking of
The University of Oxford he referred to Professor
Gross, of Philadelphia, the senior graduate Of
Oxford, amid enthusiastic applause from the audi
snce. He had noticed In the interval OF the twenty
the incidents OF the great rebellion, the
derful growth OF cities and the magnicence OF the
institutions going up Oh all sides. The New York
Hospital he particular artlcuia,rized as most worthy
modern hospitals for the poor were too luxurously
fitted up and conducted but he thought it right that
the rich and great should provide tor the poor and
ailing. He referred in a most complimentary way
to Surgeon j. s. Billings United States Army, and
advocated the permanent establishment Of the
National Board of Health He deprecated the differ
in State laws that prevented the establishment
general standard in all sections of the country
for educated physicians. so that board Of
irresponsible men might not be let loose
the community under the guise Of physicians.
England would have q printed list Of
educated physicians and surgeons, that every one
might know. Again. i'll referring to the national
hygiene he advocated the establishment of profess
sorship of comparative national health. At the
close of his remarks the Doctor was warmly ap-
plauded.
He was followed by DR.. j. s. Billings. United
States Army; DIR. Willard Parker, senior ex-plesi-
dent of the academy of Medicine. and DR.. Austin
Flint also esS-president. DR.. Parker moved set
OF congratulatory resolutions. which received
with applause, and DIR. Flint seconded them with a
like happy result After their unanimous passage
and most enjoyable general conversation the
meeting closed.