Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-05-14
HON IL MATTERS.
TUE MEDICAL COLLEGE

In YOUR issue of May 10 appears All arti-
Gle concerning the trouble now pending
between DR.. Bingham and the students OF
the University of Vermont. Now we as
students deem that we have not been
fairly represented and that we stand be-
fore the public in false light. The arti-
cles sent through the press would indicate
that we are set of young boys who are
striving to take the management of the
college in our own hands, and in justice
to ourselves we desire to present the fol
lowing: We are students who come here
from all parts of the world, many among
lis coming from other colleges where they
have received instructions from surgeons
of national ability and reputation, profess
sors who have served year upon year
for the attainment of their positions, who
have had lifelong experience, and have
been placed where they would receive the
best of clinical advantages We came
here expecting to receive as good lnStruc-
ton as could be possibly given us. We
came here expecting it; we pay for it and
certainly should have 1t. students who
came here two years ago were instructed
by Prof. Little of New York, man of
national ability, and of acknowledged
worth throughout the world. by his death
the chair of surgery became vacant and
one year ago Prot Grlnnell, the dean,
wenttJ New York to secure the services
of a new lecturer to fill the chair.
He was told in every instance where
he inquired that the man above all men to
get was Prof Wright. He saw him and
persuaded him to come here and give a
course of lectures on trial. That course
was given and pronounced by professional
men the best ever given in tins college.
~ the meeting of the faculty Prof. Wright
was nominated to the chair of surgery by
q vote of five out OF Il possible SIX. His
name was sent to the trustees for action,
but to their surprise, and also to that OF
the students, he did not receive the place;
on the contrary, DR.. Bingham was elected
without even Il trial-a thing unheard OF
i'll the history of this or any other college
DR.. Bingham began his work of clinical
instruction in the hospital about April |.
And here we first come to the causes of
our discomfort. The student of oday is
taught that in all surgical operations of
any moment the great Importance OF anti
septic treatment is III the dressing OF such
operations. DR.. bingham showed at once
his ineXperience by his carelessness OF tins
Ito the patients welfare important point.
AT a subsequent clinic case was brought
in of simple adhesion OF the Jaw. Dr.
Bingham Told the students that this was a
case which should never he operated ON
under any consideration, and sent the pa
tent out. Surgical authority states that
seven out of ten of such cases operated ON
have proved successful, and what
was the surprise OF the students
TO hear the next day that DIR. Bingham
had gone back a few hours after the clinic
and operated on the patient, aud we have
the patient to sustain our statement. The
next case was one of a mistake in dag
nosis and one which any student who had
taken a course of lectures would hardly
be expected to make. We refer to the
case of which you first make mention in
your statement of Tuesday. DR.. Bhg-
ham emphatically stated that he would
find pus, and that it would not do to hold
the patient over to the next clinic, AS 1t
would be doing him an injustice. When
he cut down on the part he found no pus,
and any professional man can readily see
the absurdity of such Il diagnosis.
Taking these and other facts into con
Sideration Il meeting of the students was
held and after due deliberation and calm
discussion. and not the result of a hasty
and heated action as has been stated, Il
petition was started asking Tor the re
moval of Dr. Bingham and the appoint
ment of DR. Wright. That petition was
signed by 40 out of IA students. No stu
dent was coerced into signing that petit
ton every man was left to his own judg
ment, and discretion. That. petition was
presented to the trustees through the dean
The executive committee of the trus
tees requested committee OF the
class to meet them. We sent d
committee as desired who stated reason,
why such Il petition was sent out, whcf
was in substance as the above statement
The executive committee reserved thell
decision. Another meeting OF the clas'
was held and IA committee appointed tt
wait on DR.. Bingham and request his res
ignation. The committee waited upol
him and We're met by Mayor WOodbury
The committee stated to the doctor tina
their interview was of private mature
and would prefer to see him alone. In
stead of granting our request he Sool
ushered in Gen Peck, saying that h
had no objection to their presence a
they Were his friends and they remained
The committee proceeded to state thel
mission to the doctor in a very polite ant
gentlemanly manner begging him L
eliminate all personal feelings. They ha'
proceeded to only few moments dls
cussion when Mayor Woodbury. took u
the argument and after wind OF word
concluded by saying that "Dr. Bnghal
would lecture in the college though tn
heavens fall, or he would no longer be hi
family physician" DR.. Bingham al
nounced his intention to lecture, and tn
committee withdrew. Another meetin
was held and by a vote of the class con
mittee was appointed to inforl
President Buckham that unless SON
action were taken in one week tina
the students would stop work. As the
received no satisfactory ansW er, on May
The class voted to not hear DR., bingham
and on this they stand firm to day. "
cite the above clinics as il part OF our o
lection. There are cases which can IL
be well sent through the press, but al
student stands ready to furnish plen1
cause to warrant the change
We were told by President Buckha
that our diploma did not amount to
much on account of the names of the pr
fessors as OF the standing of the COLES
where 1t comes from. While we adm
that the college does make great q
ference at the same time the nan
of the surgeon on that diploma al
makes vast difference. Many of 4
men who leave this college may strive f
positions in hospitals and then the tin
will come when almost the first questi,
asked will be as to whom the surgeon wa
The branch of surgery is an important on
and far too important to be presided ov
by man of limited experience. We a
told that DR.. Bingham was demonstrat
in the University We would say that
man may be good demonstrator and st
he a poOr surgeon And in conclusion