The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-10

Departmcnts-The Common Council Look.
ing Into the Matter.
The forty-sixth annual session OF the
Medical College OF Virginia commenced on
the 1st OF this month. The college last
wear had severe difficulties TO contend with,
but after brave fight won their cause
and came out with credit. The pub
lie anxiously watched the struggle
going on in the courts, and when the
course OF Governor Cameron, IN his at
tempt to bring the college under his con-
troll, was irowned upon by the Supreme
Court Of Appeals, the public smiled
its approval, and the interest in
the Medical College Of Virginia was
made greater than it had been perhaps
at any time since it received the seeding
southern students from Philadelphia Just
before the breaking out Of the late war.
Along with this deepening Of interest came
solid assurances from private sources,
which have secured for the college this year
the largest class that has been within the
college-walls for years. Over one hundred
students have matricuared. and the list is
daily swelling, seven States being repre-
sented.
FREE D1sPENSARY.
Or course the faculty felt the force OF
such testimonials TO their brave efforts,
and. determining TO show their apprecia-
ton OF the same, have put forth every ex-
erton of which they are capable in order
TO maintain the highest efficiency OF the
important trust cOnfided to their keeping
To this end they have made additions TO
their teaching corps, to their lecture-rOom
illustrations, and the advantages OF clinical
instruction. Besides these, there has been
established a free dispensary, in which the
Faculty Justly claim a new institution, with
clinical supplies. Under its new plan
there are six separate departments. each
one being more valuable for clinical pur-
poses than the entire institution under its
original plan. Cases OF special interest or
requiring instructive operations will be
kept i'm the hospital wards and exhibited
to the class in the amphitheatre.
The following plan OF organization for
the DiSpensary is now in successful opera
tion:
DR.. A. c. Palmer, general superintend-
ent.
Diseases Of the Nervous System, Kid
neys, skin. and those OF Malarial Origin
Il lNltsoOl ~. L iblfihuils consuming DUl
sician DR.. Thomas W. Gordon, superin-
tendent.
Diseases OF Women and Children-Pro-
iessOr John :. Wexford. consulting physi-
sician; DR.. Ro. II. Cowan, superintend-
ent.
General urgery-PrOfessOrJ j. s. ID. Cul-
len, consulting surgeon; DR.. A. Spiers
George, superintendent; DR.. Francis NJ.
Bennett. assistant superintendent.
Diathetic Diseases and Diseases OF the
Heart, Lungs, and Digestive Organs
Professor VI. L. James, consulting physi-
sian; DR.. Charles II. Chalkley superin-
tendent.
Diseases OF the Eye, Ear. and Throat
DR.. Charles VI. Shields, consulting sur
geon DR.. Irving p. squire, superintend-
ent.
Obstetrics and Diseases Of the Puerperal
State-PrOiessor Robert T.. Coleman and
Professor Christopher Tompkins, consult
ing obstetricians; DR.. W. Augustus Lee,
superintendent.
Patients in this last department are at
tended at their homes, under the imme-
diate care OF students OF the second
course. the chiefs Of the department aid
ing them as may be necessary.
The building occupied is the old Re-
treat for the Sick. 1t has been repaint-
ed on the outside, and is kept as bright as
q pin inside. A thorough system rs OBJ
served. and patients presenting themselves
are shown into waiting-rOoms, comfortably
accommodated. and treated as soon as their
turn comes. The white and cOlOred pa
tients are kept in different departments,
but all receive the same attention. The
Dispensary receives and attends to about
$4,000 patients a year, and is daily crowded
with objects Of charity and suffering. Yes
tcrday morning twenty-four people in all
were found IN the different wards Of the
Dispensary, all seeking medical aid. They
received it, and, what is better still, ii was
the best sort Of attention.
WHAT THE CITY DOES.
Now, in return for the free use OF the
fine building. and the attendance Of the
excellent doctors who are present at the
Dispensary, the city OF Richmond gives
only $3.50 per nnnum. As no city OF the
size OF Richmond on the face OF the civil
lied globe does less, and this matter having
come TO the attention OF some OF the mem
bers Of the Council, meeting Of the Com
mittees on Finance and Relief for the Poor
was held at the college yesterday morning.
and the many advantages OF the work Of
the Dispensary as operated by the Medical
College was laid before it. The members
went through the building, heard the views
Of the doctors, and came away well pleased
with the project Of fostering and building
up the work Of the college. There can be
no doubt OF the good likely to result to the
city il this Is done. Hundreds OF students
will come here instead OF going to Balti-
more and Philadelphia, for the reason that
they will have better opportunity to
study our climatic complaints. These
students bring money, and spend IT
all here. As soon as the committees
meet. there no doubt will be offered a
resolution apprOpriating thousand or
more dollars for the purpose OF purchasing
suitable medicines to be given away to the
thousands OF patients that come forward
for treatment at the Dlspensary.
The Medical College building has been re-
painted and otherwise improved, and pre-
sents at present quite an imposing appear
ance.
VIRGINIA HIsTORICAL SOCIETY.-At the
L., ,,,aotfpo ~ tla EypputiVa Committee