The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-31

ence- In fact, as many people as the hous,
could hold-came out to be present at thu
commencement exercises Of the Medica
College OF Virginia. At $50 o'clock III,
members OF the faculty, the graduates ant
proticients OF the college, and the invited
guests, met at the residence OF Senator
John W. Johnston, on Seventh street q few
doors below Mozart Hall, and marched
thence-the faculty In front, the student,
next, and the guests bringing up the rear
AS these gentlemen entered the ball tn,
band OF music struck up, and continued tC
play until they were all seated on the stage
Among those who occupied seats on th,
stage were Hon. George ID. Wise, Judg,
Joseph Christian. Hon. w. Writ Henry
Colonel John ii. Guy, and many others.
The graduates and proticients sat on tn,
right OF the speakers stand and the faculty
on the left.
Rev. Mr.. Lambeth offered feeling anC
appropriate prayer; after which DR.. NJ. i
james, OF the College faculty, came for
ward and addressed the meeting. He al
luded very gracefully to the absence Of DR.
j. Il. McCaw, dean OF the faculty, whose
privilege it had been heretofore to preside
on such occasions, and remarked in thi
connection that it would not be long before
DR.. McCaw would be restored to his usua
health and usefulness. DR.. James next tool
up the status OF the college and made ;
strong vindicatien of the course lately pur
sued by the Board OF Visitors Of the col
ltge and the faculty.
4 brief interval, during which the banC
played an air, followed. after which DR.
James announced that prize had beer
offered for the best essay, and that th'
Judges, Drs. Brock and Skelton, ha(
awarded the same to Or. Amber Caskie
aud that Senator John W. Johnston ha(
consented to present the same. Senator
Johnston accomplished this task in a mos
acceptable manner, after which DIR. jane
presented the Shields prize TO Mr.. Charlie
+. Mason, OF Fredericksburg. Certificate
Of distinction were awarded TO number
of proficIents, and Drs. Louis c. Bosche
and William y. Mercer were announced a
physicians to the almshOuse for the mex
term. DR.. James next made the pleasing
announcement that the Hon. a. VI. keile!
had consented 10 deliver an address beior
the meeting.
Address OF Hon. A. VI. Kelley.
Mr.. Kelley commenced by saying that h,
was sensible OF the perils he undertook il
attempting to address an audience on
topic even partly professional. lie said tina
albeit he intended speaking in a general wa.
on n professional topic, yet he was sensible
OF tie fact that his audience was il
part professional, many being distin
guished expounders of an art on whlcl
he. as layman, was about to offe
some spcculations, and that these fact
were sufficient to inspire mod
est dread. But" said he. ~ comfor
myself with the reflection that assured.
was not invited here to enlighten on medl
cal science those who are lis masters, ant
besides, and far more, with the thought
that these professors, so dangerously quail
fed to be my critics, are actors, no
audience, to-night-sponsors in some soi
for me and sureties, and bound therefor
by the claims Of comradeship to affect som
interest in what say, even ii they do no
feel it. and TO wear, rs you observe the
do, the outward appearance OF satisfaction
whatever interior forebodings may rae
their souls"
MEDICINE.
Mr.. Kelley said that medicine was i
some degree the common property OF IN
human race, rs disease and death is tn
common lot OF all, and that its science wa
tbe only one which trOd all the lines {
life, from the trail OF the savage to the pro
cress Of the prince, and to its claims an
| history he could with confidence challeng
the attention Of an intelligent audience
No other secular art approached it !
/ its depth and peryasiyeneSs OF the intere'
/ for the children OF men. The doctor el
counters man 1T every stage. lie enters ;
the Masters bidding every human habit;
/ tion, for, alas there is always and ever
where pain to be soothed, sickness to !
healed, and death TO be averted. III
sanctities OF birth exclude all other fee
but he enters, and enters without a knocl
The awful mystery Of death drives frol
the couch of dissolution all but tho'
bound to the departing by the links OF tht
immortal love which even the blade OF Il
Scythe-Bearer cannot sever; but the DO
tor is also there, the foremost figure in Il
Eternal Tragedy, and hears in sadness u
last cry OF life as in 10y he heard the tirs
BE our journey brief or heightened, whei
ever accident or excess, or imprudence {
exposure, or that mightiest foe to healt
impenetrable ignorance, shakes the pr
cious ark OF human life, howeverroughly
nerilouslv, the doctors hand is invoked
restore the precious possession, or to sooth
II he cannot stay, the predestinediall. Befo
all other visitors we put on masks he sc
us ont of uniform-our pomp and brave
all pone: the arts that deceive fools al
amIIse the wise all put by; our arectatlo
, abandoned and Gisguises shattered.
DOCTORS DIFFICULTIES.
Continuing. Mr.. Kelley alluded to WI
Nocte,. Francls Rabelais SAID nearly thr
hundred and fifty years ago, after
largely spent in the practice OF medicin,
viz tbof ga doctor at q PATIENTS bedsi
always reminded him OF blind man w
a club in his hand trying to quell an
:. frav v-the contending parties beng
Iure and Disease, and the chances abe
c nven which one he would destroy. So
~ the bitterness OF this criticism v
}, doubtIess due to the fact that when
q pone released the immortal biographer
: the Great Gargantua from the ban OF
u Church-which he had incurred by so
- ~ his irregularties-he made 1t con
IL t;on that DIR. Rabelais should never the
o aIter charge fee--a requirement well
J, culated to inspire gloomy views OF the
~
~ fession.
~ A century and half later lie Sage
u u into the mouth Of Gil Bias criticism e
:, ~ more sweeping, in the ingenious adj
=, =, sion Of that Prince OF Tramps that he
u DR.. Sangredo, by their peculiar trcatm'
- had made. more widows and orphans
~ ~ Valladolid in six weeks than were foun
% % Troy after It's ten-years' siege.
~ While the world has been laughing
:, two hundred years at the heroic trea;n
e Of the genius who, for every malady III
the sun, prescribed the lancet and hot
IN ter, it should not be forgotten that
v. dred years later still the foremost physi
as in America, substituting calomel for
Ms water IAN exchange which In these day
he renewed respect for hot water as n
ist cine many OF bis professional brett
he would not regard as wise one), pract