Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-26
A etate Hospital at Our state Uni
vcrsity.

As it is proposed to establish State
hospital at some central point in Vir-
ginia to which patients from all parts Of
the State may be conveyed for treat
nent. the University of Virginia must
at once occur to our legislators as the
most suitable location for such an in
stituti0n.
Situated near the junction of the
Chesapeake and Ohio and Midland rail-
roads, accessible to all parts Of the
State, in the vicinity of population OF
five or six thousand, in a climate most
salubrious and healthful, with an
abundance Of pure mountain water,
with an atmosphere pure and I'M
polluted by the germs Of disease that
infect so many city hospitals, the Uni
versity of Virginia presents all the ad-
yantages without the disadvantages of
= great city for such hospital
Charlottesville and suburbs will af-
ford q sufficient number Of patients,
with those that may be brought from
other parts Of the State, to give to the
medical department Of the University
of Virginia that clinical instruction
which it so much needs to place it upon
an equal footing with the most favored
medical schools Of our country in this
respect, as it already is in all other de-
partments. In the theory Of medicine
no school stands higher or gives more
thorough instruction in all its branches
than our State University; but it must
be admitted that so far as the obserya
ton and treatment Of disease is con-
cerned, or that clinical practice so ne
cessary to the successful treat
ment Of all diseases by the medi-
cal graduate, how well soever he
may be otherwise qualified, the
University, in its medical department,
is defective. 1t was the design Of the
great founder Of the University that no
other institution should excel it in any
department OF education, and since the
liberality Of the State, with the gene
rosity Of individuals, has raised it to
its present exalted position and reputa-
ton, so we'll deserved, rs an institution
in which are most thoroughly and ably
taught all the higher branches of edu-
cation, including all the professions, it
is manifestly the duty Of our Legisla-
ture to remove the defect from the /
want of clinical instruction that State !
hospital, if now established within its |
vicinity, would in few years fully /
supply. This will prevent its gradu-
ates in medicine seeking institutions /
more favored in this respect, and by |
adding, too, to the medical class, be
also a pecuniary benefit to the State
and TO the people.
There is every reason in its favor and
none opposed to it. The pure air of the
mountains which. rarely needs disinfec-
ton, so necessary in the hospitals of |
large cities, where the air is always,
more or less, infected by the germs of |
disease, will aid vastly in the restora-
ton to health of the sick and wounded,
and thus benefit the people of the whole
State, as well as the State University,
in its medical department. The sick
will obtain the benefit Of the learning
and skill of those professors whose UNI
firing and able instructions have given a
reputation to the University and its
graduates second TO none in the country
in every medical branch except that of
clinical or hospital instruction. Will
not, then, our legislators supply this
defect by at once locating the State hos
pital at its State University?
There is no reason why it should be
established in Richmond. The Rich.
mond Medical College claims that it al
ready has all necessary clinical adyan- |
tsges. Why, then, should the people
be taxed to give more, which it really |
does not need for the benefit of its stu
dents, according TO its own admission
in its catalogue? IL not needed by the
college, but needed for the city, should !
the State discriminate against its own
University, which really needs it, when,
too, ell ,unprejudiced persons must ad-
nit that the pure air aud water from
the mountains at the University must |
be more conducive to the health Of the
sick from all parts OF the State than
those Of large city, always more or
less impure from the germs Of disease. |
from which the sick recover with
more difficulty and wounds heal less
kipdlys Nothing herein said is
intended to theyprejudice Of Richmond,
the prosperity Of which, with that of
its Medical College, must be desired by
every yirginian. It's only intended to
present Q Few Of tbs many advantages
he University Of Virginia possesses as
J location Cor State hospital over any
bat may lie claimed for Richmond.
Cars Hill, " belonging to the State,
ast north Of the University, has been
pegested IS s most suitable location
y . State hospital. Itpsssesses every
ivsptses - regards hygiene. Slipping
ou every direction. it is well drsined
rough soil that rapidly dries, whilst j
, ~t~.~~ -. ony..nH IL n has.ftG.l Ia