The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-22
To ouote from the Dispatch again:

The following concerns the public. We
publish it for that reason, and not as en-
dorsing it:
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
It Is stated in your paper Of the 18th that
on the 18th (of this montlD the Committee
on Finance of the Senate reported favor
ably a "bill providing an annuity for the
| Medical College of Virginia, and providing
| for State students therein"
| beg that you will allow me to present
through your columns some reasons why it
seems to me that such bill would be very
Objectionable.
The Objectionable feature OF the bill, as
| it appears to me. is that very large num-
Der OF young men in the State are provided
| with free tuition II they take up the study
OF medicine.
| Now, in the first place, there IS at pre-
sent in the State of Virginia one ply
stefan for every 500 persons (approXi-
mately); IN England there is one for every
| 1850; in France. one for every 1,S14, and
| i'm Austria one for every $500. II is fur
thermore notorious fact that the profess
sions are already overstocked. Hence, il
cannot be claimed that free tuition should
| be offered as an inducement to young men
to enter the medical profession.
In the second place, 1t may reasonably
be asked OH what ground the State should
be expected to furnish free tuition TO her
sons in the professional schools.
The only argument OF any force which
has been used in behalf OF the States fur
nishiug instruction to her young men Is
that thereby they are made better citizens,
and hence good accrues TO all. But surely
no such argument can be advanced in be-
half OF the States furnishing medical in
struction free, and tax levied for this
4 purpose would be imposed on the many
for the benefit land very questionable ben
eft, too,) Of the few.
Surprising, however, that such law was
enacted, and that the number Of students
at the Medical College OF Virginia was
greatly increased thereby, what would be-
come OF these young men after they grad
uate and when they desired to enter upon
practicep
We have already seen that there Is but
little room for more doctors in Virginia.
so that they would either have to 90 into
some other business for which they bad ne
preparation and were consequently not
suited, or else they would be compelled to
leave the State and 90 elsewhere to seek
their.iortunes. In the one case they would
be completely lost TO the State, and in the
other their usefulness to II would be greatly
impaired; whereas II their energy had
been directed to developing her natural
resources It would have been far better
both for them and the State, for the par.
ties who rs rule would be led to study
medicine on account OF the free tuition are
not those who by previous training would
be best suited to enter what should be a
learned profession.
Thirdly, this patron OF free tuition Is
Objectionable for the reason that II will
affect most seriously the medical depart
ment of the University OF Virginia; for
this institution will either be compelled to
follow I'm the footsteps OF the Medical Col
Iege Of Virginia, and offer free tuition, or
else II win lose very many OF ITS students.
Either OF these contingencies would natu-
turaily impair It's usefulness. II fewer
students come, It's influence would OF
course be less widely felt; and, on the
other band. II free tuition was furnished
Il would sttIaeta set Of men who would