The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-09-08

1t was because the appointment
of special professors that the medi.
cal branch of the university oil
Edinburgh became so celebrated in
comparison with London medical
schools, where the teaching was done
by the medical staff but this was al
a time when the preliminary
sciences were in their infancy. They
have become mighty disciplines
since. In our day, it is for the
same reason, that University College
in London is excelling all other
medical schools in the metropolis.
1t also has special professors and
the necessary laboratories. For this
reason, above all, the doctor of the
remotest German village is sure to
be a thoroughly, well-trained and
reliable practitioner. We, here,
want just such trustworthy prac-
titioners in every part of the state,
and am indicating the only way
to get them.
1t is clear that the non-medical
portion of the state university will
have anyhow, for the benefit OF
other students, to contain a physical
and chemical laboratory conducted
by special professors, the best it can
get, such as shall feel, as if the cult.
walton and teaching of their special
science were the chief business OF
the world. Provided, then, that an
efficient medical school is really con.
tempiated, it would be sheer waste
of funds TO have duplicate profess
sorships and laboratories, one set al
the general university and the other
at the medical school. Medical
students, to become proficient
would have to spend some time al
the medical school. This, of course
could be done, but it would work
very badly and extensively.
Why should students not get their
entire medical tuition at one and the
same place, at the common seat OF
university education, where al
ready by contact they will become
imbued with the true spirit of learn
ing.
To a gigantic state like this
whose interests are becoming
more and more diversified, the bene-
fit of sending from all quarter its
most aspiring youth to one and the
same educational institution, will
prove in many respects incalculable,
1t will more eflectually unity the
various interests of our vast domain
than any other measure.
Generous, open-hearted lads from
all parts of Texas will here mingle
in noble exertiOn, will form friend
ships that no distance can sever, and
will carry back with them to their
particular homes the love of their
common state.
From this point of view, which, |
think, must strike all unbiased per-
sons as correct, there can be no
doubt that the state capital is the
proper place for the location of our
utCliUided university. 1t will be
there, if anywhere, and that the stu
dent will imbibe the spirit of our ma
tional life, will come to feel himself
a member of vast and powerful
community, whose general welfare
will ever after fill his heart and
mind with sympathetic concern.
AS for hospital opportunities, they
can be readily furnished at a place
where most of the charitable state
institutions are situated; where,
besides, some of these institutions
are afiording in themselves material
for special branches of medical
study. The healthy climate of Aus
tin renders it particularly fit for
medical and surgical purposes. A
celebrated surgical professor will
draw from near and far abundance
of clinical material. So will an
eminent physician, and so also will a
| first-rate occulist. There will be no
lack of patients, and practitioner
trained at an university constituted
in the manner here indicated will be
found equal to all the demands of his
profession.
Let every voter in Texas re.
member and fully realize that
what he is called upon to
decide the sixth day of September
is not in the remotest' way which
of our cities is to be benefited, but
solely, where we have to locate our
university and its medical school in
order to secure for them the best
! possible success.
Houston, Galveston and Waco will
undoubtedly, in course of time
found their own universities, and
their own medical schools. AT pres.
ent, in consideration of the common
veal, let them generously withdraw
from the canvass. In this great
question let us all rise above the
local level, and decide it to the best
of our understanding as unanimous
ly and disinterestedly as possible.
For educational purposes of higl
order hospital has to be the APP
pendix of whole university, moi
the nucleus of separate medIca
school. This has been demonstrated
beyond dispute by the experience o
many old countries. The state CAPT
tai is evidently the fit place for al
institution of this comprehensive
kind established at state cost. Aus
tin, then, ought to be our unbiased
choice, both for the university an(
for its medical school.
Whilst we are at it, let us do thu
best we can.
EDMUND MONTGOMERY,
| M. D.. M. X. g. P. London
The Weatherford Herald, in a lone
and able article on the solidity o