New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-18
THE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.
A SPEECH BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
VALUE OF THE DIssECTING-ROOM TO THE LIVING
DANGER OF EXCITING UNREAsoNING PASSION.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Oct. 1.-THE celebration
OF the one hundredth anniversary of the foundation OF the
Harvard Medical School took place this afternoon when
the new building Of the medical school on BOyl-
ston.st, near Huntingdon-ave, was dedicated In
the rear Of the platform, heavily draped with maroonws
the portrait OF Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes and beneath 1t
marble bust of Professor Henry Bigelow Addresses
wore made by the president and Or. Oliver Wendell
Holmes The portrait Of Dr. Holmes was presented by
DR. Francis MnOt behalf Of the donors, and CXMayof
Samuel A. Green presented the bust Of Or. Bgcow In
appropriate remarks. President Eliot accepted the gifts
Oh behalf of the University.
Dr. Holmes in the Of his speech iustrat ng the
microscopic facilities OF the school, said: "a man five
feet HIGH enlarged to correspond with the microscopic
power used would he mile high, would weigh 100000
100000 pounds and could pick up the State House
and chuck into tho cleaning out that ancient Snc
tIre by summary process shOuts Of laughter when
would put to shame the exploits Of Commodus ana MS
kind"
Next the disscctngrOom considered, and In speak
Ing Of this feature witty reply made to the Govern
ors recent attacks Dr. Holmes said: II easy always
to excite the Odum Of the ignorant against
dissection but in view Of its great value TO mankind the
intelligent should always defend against appeals to igno-
rance and passion especially against such mammatory
appeals as lead to weOunded apprcIenslons OF noon
day mobs and midnight ncendiarcs In the face Of all
peccadioes and idle SANDERS the difficult and delicate
duties Of the several demonstrators have always been
discrectly and humanely fulfilled, ana the
record Of the school Is most honorable
both to them and to the classes they have instructed
Let Us remember amid the false aud foolish ,4. e., 10
which we are compelled 10 listen that for every tg~S
body d~-ectcd the Harvard Medical School hundreds
II not thousands have been saved from cNTcme anguish
and many from premature DEATH as result OIL that Ills
section. ,,.,.
Human remains preserved In every way calculated 10
illustrate scientific discoveries are IN the mus, nm Z" 'H,
school some tanned skins were there, but nave np
seen them lately Perhaps tho cases may have hch IrI
omen when u,crpuloa- strangers were ~touug through
the huldiug iGrcat laughtcTl II may even nave nap
pcucd that some poor man whose ilg. va
SKIN taken from II should be tanned IN
consideration OF the promise OF wallet
OF perhaps slipper for hi- remaining foot
AT all events tho museum is one OF great VAIN" u"
science and f. attraction % all -ccnllhc Noi- 10 on"
caUl Let ~ take heed lest the passions ui the lEhD
rant once aroused II share the fate tud once DrH
the uncomfortable libraries Of AoX"ndrA'
In regard 10 the conduct Of medical professors ne -h
'In the face Of all prccadoc-aud ~ the Idle and ha-'-s
stories which have been circulated, WOMB say
"a If from the chair which no longer occupy, thai the
management Of the difficult l. delicate Hd lilmportani
branch committed a. the OF succession OF lhhnTl"l'
and console ntUuB demonstrations ~ ] haNo known u
through more than the third OF century, has been ds-
erect han tns, faithful tnl that the record OF that
drpJnant Is most honorable 10 them ard TO the classes
they have Instructed