Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-25
the Medical Society Of Virginia at the
session Of 1883, and published in its trans

the Medical Society of Virginia at the
session Of 1888, and published in its trans
actiors Of that year. ~
DIR. McGuire's inslnuHtlons that our stu
dents are not sufficiently well instructed
to meet the ordeal of an examining board
r., we think. Offset by the fact that not
only have our graduates readily passed
these examinations, but so have. from
time to time. some OF our half-prepared,
first-course Students, while many whom we
ourselves have been obliged 10 reject for
falling below our own standard were yet
up TO the standard OF the board. and have
been passed by II. Dr. Mcclure Is scarcely
just to US when he conveys the idea
that we were opposed 10 so meritorious
an object as State hospital for the
sick poor. because we opposed the use OF
the Virginia Hospital for this purpose. on
the contrary. we advocated a State bospi-
tai and introduced bill before the Leg
islature providing for the establishment
OF one. and such opposition as We made
was only in the line OF ordinary and
legitimate business competition. Naturally
we wished TO secure this great advantage
for our own hospital. and ours being
a State institution, we believed. and we
think Justly. that we had a claim TO IL
superior to that of private corporation.
such as the Virginia Hospital IS, by DR..
McGuire's own admission. DR.. MCGUIRE
displays muct bitter hatred to our school.
but our notice OF this shall be expressed
In temperate language. Some OF his ami
mostly no doubt arises from the severity
OF our recent article. While We are glad
we made the publication, If for no other
reason than because il converted a hid
den into visible enemy. still II Is TO be
regretted such a publication should have
become necessary. At one time, not
long since. there seemed 10 US to be a
fair prospect that the long continued and
proftless warfare waged by him against
the Medical College OF Virginia would
end. but while we deplore the recon-
mencement of hostillties. we are gratifed
to know 1t Is from no fault Of ours Dr.
Mcclure asserts that the Medical College
OF Virginia has come 10 be regarded es
a second-rate school, and insinuates that
Its professors are men OF Inferior callbre.
and likewise draws inyidlous comparisons
between the gentlemen who composed its
faculty when he entered the school arc
those who compose It now. We cannot
however admit that this Is his real opin-
Ion without coupling it with a very low
estimate Of his general character, else
his sense of self-respect would have long
since compelled him to sever the connec-
ton which he held with 1t for many years
as It's emeritus professor OF surgery. til
last year, indeed. when he Transferred his
connection to the new school. Nor would
he, were this his real opinion, when seek
Ing for the Intellectual outfit OF the col
lege which he was founding, and which
Is now the University College OF Medi-
cine, have selected eight OF our graduates
for its professors, and eleven Of our
graduates for its adjunct professors. Nor
would he have chosen as one Of the resi-
dent physicians Of his private hospital. St
Luke's Home. one Of our graduates OF
50 recent date as last year He has rot
for many years been intimately connected
with our college, and SO would naturally
and eXcusably fall into some errors in
Judging Of its standing and condition.
1t may be that he is misled by his re-
collection Of its state when he w4s lie
professor OF surgery, during which pc
Rod the number of its students fell "a
low as twenty, but we assure him everv-
thing has greatly changed for the better
since he left II. While Dr. J. $. d. Cul-
IN was its professor Of surgery the num-
Der of students rose to seventy-four. and
his year, DR.. George Il n. Johnston. who
rs now It's professor Of surgery. teaches a
lass Of ninety-siX, all obtained only By
Methods recognized as legitimate by repu-
table educational institutions. and the
NUMBER not made UP partly by medical
ma parity by pharmaceutical and dental
;udrnts as are the - enumerated by
i'm as composing the class Of the I'niVer-
ny College Of Medicine The attack Of
ae whole faculty on Or. Mcclure OF
fhlch he complains. is simply explained
y the fact that Or. Mcclure attacked the
"hoie faculty; had he attacked Only one
+ US, that one only would have attacked
IN. His aftcctatiOn Of not knowing who
fe are, we are obliged 10 say IS Very
hildish. He has always known very Wei
Who We are when he wished 10 injure us.
II he really thinks that we are an i'm
PERSONAL faculty, we tell him plainly that
he sentiments expressed I'm what Is signed
The Faculty of the Medical College Of
Virginia" and which we here reiterate
with emphasis. are the sentiments of each
individual composing IL. our article was
thus signed for the sake Of brevlty, and
because II IS a conventional method used
by colleges. and not, We assure him. be
cause any one OF us would hesitate 20
put his name singy 10 what is or has been
stated by all Of US But. il he is sim in
doubt as 10 who We are he will find our
names at the end Of this article.
We believe that We have now satsfac-
tor.ly answered all that is Of importance
IN Dr. McGuire's article. and have done
50 in a straightforward manner. and In
the face OF great temptation 20 sharply
retaiiate. We have thought it more con-
sonant with propriety and self-respcct 10
express ourselves in dispassiCnate and
Gignifed terms.
CHRISTOPHER TOMPkINS,
WILLIAM II. TAYLOR.
MARTIN l.. JAMES,
HENRY II. LEVY.
JOHN y CPSIUR.
LEWIS G. BOSHEK.
GEORGE BEN. JOHNSTON,
CHARLES VI. SHIELDS,
j. v. Long.