Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-11

Europe, where he had been to secu e
equipments for his chair.
The instructions of the co lege were
first conducted in what was 'ormery
the Union Hotel. situated at the corner
of Nineteenth and Main streets, which
was suitably fitted up for the work.
The faculty preferred, however, to have
a building specially constructed for the
purpose of medical instruction and To-
Gated more suitably. To facilitate that
design the city of Richmond made an
appropriation Of $4,000 to purchase the
lot at the corner Of Marshall and Col
lege streets, upon which the present
college building is situated. This posi-
ton was then, as it still is, in nearly
the geographical centre Of the city, and
otherwise admirably adapted for the
location of such an institution. On
this lot the faculty erected in 1916 the
building which is now standing. 1t is
in the Egyptian style of architecture,
ard in point Of beauty and refined
taste is perhaps not surpassed by any
building in the State. It's interior
adaptation TO the wants Of such an in
sttution is proportionately advantage
Gus.
A misunderstanding having occurred
between the trustees of Hampden-Sid-
ney College and the faculty Of the Med
ical College, the latter made application
to the Legislature for an Independent
charter, which in February, 1854, was
readily granted. and the present system
Of Organization established, with
board of visitors consisting Of nineteen
members, the original members having
been designated by the Legislature,
with provision that vacancies should
be filled by the Governor.
AS vacancies occurred in the faculty
the Board Of Visitors filled them. The
neutrality-suspicious., after having adorn-
ed the chairs to which they were re-
spectively attached with an ability pro-
badly not surpassed by the professors
Of any medical school, have passed
away: Professor James II. Conway,
Professor Charles Bell Gibson. Profess
sor Beverley r. Wexford, Professor
David ii. Tucker. Professor Arthur f.
Petticolas, Professor Robert j. S. Pee
bles. Professor Levin 5. Joynes, Profess
sor Robert b. Coleman. and now the
college and the public mourn over the
new-made grave of Emeritus Professor
Francis ID. Cunningham, who honOred
every connection which he held with the
college-frst that Of student. then that
Of professor, and, when falling health
had compelled his resignat on, that of
an ever-loyal son and friend. OF the
successors who survive il is unneces-
sary TO speak, since they are well known
10 the present generation either person.
ally or by reputation.
Upon the election of Mr.. Lincoln as
President OF the United States. and the
foreshadowing Of the inevitable dis
rupiion Of the Union. the medical stu
dents from the southern States who
were then in the northern colleges, fired
with the common sympathies of their
fathers at home, almost to a man Sc
coded from those colleges, and nearly
all Of them came in a body to Join the
classes of the Medical College Of Vir-
ginia. This event was among the most
notable Of the history of those stirring
times, and awakened an intense interest
among the people of this city and
State.
The City Council made an appropria-
ton of $4,000 to receive and entertain
the students, and sent a committee of
Its members, in conjunction with COM
mittee Of the faculty, to meet these re-
turning sons Of the South at Aqua
creek, the then northern terminus of
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tcmac railroad, where they then stepped
from the steamboats, upon Virginia
soil. The entertainment was given at
the old Columbian Hotel, subsequently
burned at the evacuation. At this en-
tertainment 2,5C9 persons were seated
at the tables, including the Governor,
the judges Of the Court of Appeals,
the members Of the Legislature, and a
large number of the most distinguished
citizens Of the State. On the next day
the Legislature made an appropriation
Of 100000 to erect upon the college
grounds building suitable for hospital
purposes to afford additional means of
clinical instruction.
During the war the Medical College
of Virginia was the only college in the
southern States which continued its
courses Of medical instruction, main
tanning then continuous session, and
its graduates furnished nearly all the
recruits to the medical staff Of the Con.
federate army.
The close Of the war brought about
sad change in the condition OF the
country. The whole southern people
were impoverished, and probably not
one In a thousand Of those who for
merly were in aillaence-anl many