The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-15
1900, education in the South.

M.a,cal Education in the South.
rno ,ptitudc OF southern men as teachers
has long been recognized, aIfd In no dirsc-
tion more emphatically than in medicine
AZ illustrative Of this, the teachers that have
6Iled the most conspicuous roles In establish
ing what were the largest medical centres OF
the North were southern men. Professors
J. X. MITCHELL and THOMAS ID. MUTrER'
81 virginia; CHARLES ID. MEIGs, OF Geor-
ola. and RoBLEY DuNGLIsoN (who, although
AN Enclishman by birth, received MS
training as lecturer at the Universi'y Oh
v;roinia>. did more TO carry the Jefferson
Medical College Of Philadelphia to the
acme OF its prosperity than all other IN
fuenccs combined. The University OF
Pennsylvania was never more honorcd nor
more attractive TO students than when the
wit, humor, and brilliant attainments OF
DIR. CHAPMAN, and the solid worth ana
profound erudition OF DIR. IoRNEh DOM
from Virginia, crowded its lecturc-rooms;
and to-day in New York the presence
in its medical colleges and hospitals OF such
professors and practitioners as MARION
SIMS and MOTT, OF Alabama, GAILLARD
THOMAS, OF South Carolina, and Polk and
Others attests the high appreciation OF the
custodians OF the interests OF these instltu-
lions OF the striking didactic power ana
professional skill of the southern medicai
mind.
We have much OF this same character
OF talent in Virginia and her sister south
ern States, and this is being utilized to
build up our medical colleges, which are
In every way worthy Of and should receive
the patronage Of our section. Every con-
sideration endorses the wisdom OF this
course. We have at the University OF Nir-
ginia, and at the Medical College OF Nir-
ginia in this city, professors who are the
peers Of any.
Our colleges at the South teach the modi-
fcations OF disease peculiar to our lati-
tude-an inestimable advantage to such as
propose to practice in this section-and
their means of clinical instruction since
the war have been most ample. Before the
war these schools, although unsurpassed in
theoretical teaching, yet lacked for clinical
material. The laboring classes at the North
managed in health to obtain subsistence,
but when sick many could not pay doctors
and apothecaries' bills, and hence they
peopled almshouses and hospitals, and thus
furnished to medical students abundant
material for illustrating the diagnosis and
treatment OF diseases which we then did
not have. On the other hand, the laboring
class with us was composed almost exclusive
ly Of slaves, and these were treated at home
by the family physician Of their respective
owners. We had in those more prosperous
days, and under our humane system Of Ia
Dor, no Warehouses, because we had no
lazaroni to till them. Now, by She verdict
of the war. four millions of colOred people,
improyident, thriftleSs, unaccustoned TO
self-reliance, and therefore specially yul-
nerable to morbific influences, furnish Oc-
cupants in plenty for almshouses and hos
pitals, and so out OF the horror Of that
fratricidal strife there comes at least this
one advantage: the opportunity OF build
ing lSp schools that have no supcriors for
instruction in the art and science Of medi-
cine to students in general, and are supe-
rior to any in the advantages which they
afford to such as propose to practice their
profession at the South.
We are happy to learn that our students
are beginning 10 estimate at their true value
the facts herein stated, and that at no time
In its history have the prospects Of our
Medical College Of Virginia been brighter
than now. We sincerely trust that such Of
our young men as design to devote them
selves to the divine art OF healing will avail
themselves OF the able teachings Of this in
stitution, of which we are so justly proud,
and whose imprimatur is passport to the
confidence OF the sick aud suffering
throughout our State and section. 1t is
matter OF congratulation that we have in
our midst such ample means OF furnishing
Observation-Disclosures and accomplished
physicians, for it is as true now as in the
DAYS OF HOMER that
"A wise physician, skilled our wounds to heal
Is more than armies TO the public veal"