Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-19
THE NOES HAVE IT..
Physicians Talk of the Proposed
Medical College.
OF Over a Dozen of the Most Prominent
Doctors Spoken to But One FaVOrs
the Project

he project of establishing here a Medical
to be operated as an annex to the
State University, a REGISTER reporter
yesterday visited q number of our leading
Doctors and submitted q series of questions
calculated to draw forth expressions as to
he necessity for such a College, the expedi-
sncy Of locating tat Wheeling, and whether
he State was financially able to equip and
keep in successful operation a school OF
the high character indispensable to secure a
proper standing for graduates. A number
physicians, whose views were sought
could not be found, but We present below
expressiOnsto justify the statement
that the profession is very largely opposed
to the institution sought to be called into
Dr. John Frissell--Ises no necessity for
the establishment of q school here. There
is no lack of reputable colleges IN TINS
country, while the number Of feeble lnstltu-
lions is far too great. do not regard
Wheeling as q favorable point for ls loca-
ton, were there q pretext for lis establish
ment, as the city affords no clinical ad-
ysntsges worth speaking Of.
DR.. r. NJ. Baird-The great bane OF the
medical profession is cheap colleges. We
have them all about us-in front, to the
right and to the lett. The State is tortu.
nate in having one Of the best Board OF
Health laws in the enion; We stand
in the front rank among the States IN
this regard, and it would very probably re-
suit, should we have q college here, that its
graduates would find themselves unable TO
pass an examination before our OWE
Board. That would be q fine state OF az
fairs. l can see no necessity tor another
collegs, and do not think Wheeling affords
the proper clinical facilities for its success
fol conduct. l think the State Lesisla-
ture, while it might be able to support the
college in q proper way, woald hardly DO
so, if one may Judge from It's recent action
in medical matters | think 800 600
would be hardly sufficient to equip a
school. =,
DR.. Z. Hoge-There is no present need
of another Medical College. The country
is well enough supplied now. l can see
no possible inducement for its orgsnizs'
ton.
DR.. John L. Dickey-There is now an
appropriation for a medical department to
the University, and the Regents seem de-
termined to keep it up. If they are going
to persist in this, | think they should bring
it to Wheeling. l expressed this opinion
to President Turner last winter, and he
quite agreed with me. Whether or not
a Medical College is a good thing
for the University to undertake, Is
q question. There now about seventy.ive
or one hundred medical colleges in the
eeuntrY-about as many as we can stand.
Many OF them are dtooping and dying for
lack of proper support. 1t would require a
great deal of money TO start and maintain
q proper school-more money, probably,
than could be obtained in West Virginia.
DR.. ". J. Bates, Sri see nothing in
toe demand for a college. We have no
means to properly equiP 8 school and there
is no necessity Tor one. There Is but one
college, situated in q small centre Of popu.
lstion, which is successfully operated. l
refer to Ann Arbor. Even that college con-
fines itself, practically, to chemistry and
anatomy. In such cities as Columbus,
Pntsburg and acknowledgement OF
population, tao colleges orc not anooasstul
| Medicine is not now taught, as ii was FIFTY
years ago, BY lectures; bedside practice is
indispensable. and this city affords but few
patients. A large hospital must exist IN
conjunction With a successful college, Tor
a student not only wants TO kaog how
such and such an operation Is performed,
but he wants to see it done. In Wheeling
a student might see gu s%mputation or two
during his entire pupilage, but that would
be eli.
DR.. S. l.. Jepsou-I think the people Of
the State would be better of without q COL
laQe. and l am sure the medical profession
would lose by its Inauguration, for the col
| lege, il sucssastGl, would about double the
number of local physiSisns ~ sGopt ten
wears. The advent OF a college would prob
ably result in the establishment Of large
hospital, but 10 the end this would benefit
the faculty more than the profession at
large. The State is not able, financially,
to establish q proper school, while the city
is not large enough to furnish clinical
material. The country is now overrun with
medical ecllegeS. There are colleges at
FIT. Wayne, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indian
spolis, Cleveland, Toledo, Pitts
burgh, and elsewhere within
easy reach of Wheeling. Another thing:
The establishment of one college here
means the establishment OF two, and the
failure Of both. l will explain why. Sup
pose the State University should iraug.
urate a school. a great many Of our
physicians would ike to obtain professor
ships, recognizing that a place in the
faculty would carry with 1t undoubted ad'
vsntsges in the way Of increasing patron.
age. IfSmith, and Jones and Brown are
left out, do you suppose they will cit with
49, hands, and see their pStieRta leave
tbem for DR. BIsnK "--"s OF something
'uelu DlouA'A AS.>~ HE
or other in the State Medical College. Y.
course not; they would rally their probes
sionsl friends, and the result would be su-
other college" students would be divided,
and both institutions would droop and die.
The project should be dropped.
DR.. c. NJ. Frissell-There il NJ necessi-
ty for a college. At most it would only
be a means of fostering the POSTGRADUATE
schools of the Eastern cities. There are
enough cheap Colleges in the country now,
without adding 70 the number.
DR.. ]. B. Reed-While | would ike to
see q first class medical school in Wheel
ing, / do not think such a thing can be &C
complished for various reasons, the great
est Of which is, the clinical advantages are
sufficient, nor would there be if such a
were established. Ia the first place
q charity hospital would be necessary, with
out which successful demonstrations could
not be made. l think Wheeling could fur.
nish q competent, and 10 fact g fine fscul-
ty, but you would find they would get moth.
ing out of the work except probably a little
There are so many first class col
leges 10 the country where the tuition is so
low that it would be rendering services for
almost nothing to lessen the figure. No
how you figure i. down, a student
can attend one Of the large and famous col
leges almost as cheaply as he could one