The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-04

the visitors. and by unanimous 'ute
have recommended that certain funus no-
mated by private beiievoleDce De useu 10
erect a hospital upon the University
grounds. upon condition that the State
| adopt II as a. state Hospital: and That
a meeting of the Board VIII be convened
to consider this recommendation. He -
| aware tina. farther tran this the Faculty
not uncovered TO go. The ultimate de-
cision Is in the hands Of the viEitors, VINO
are the crstodlns OF the funds. stu
more unjust and injurious is the fnplica-
| ton contained in the following qcotaton:
the attendance has increased from forty
/ seven students in 1855 to IA in the ses-
/ sion recently completed no mention Is
made OF the fac. that the number OF
students las materially decreased during
the present session. The humber OF med
zeal students al this date lest session
was l4l: to-day il is 1S9. The material
decrease" consists OF two students,
record which I'm view OF the unparalleled
financial straits of the present year is In
itself triumph. and perfectly refutes
the aspeTsiOn contained in the extract
above. The Faculty, in drafting their
letter. thought (and still think that the
only legitimate companion was with the
last completed session.
IL las been q cause OF establishment 10
Physicians and Surgeons as "A Nirginian'
should not hesitate thus to allude TO this
supposed loss Of students by hts Alma
Mater. The rcproach which il implied
was both false and ungt nervous. and can
only remind her Of events VI ich "A Viz
sinian" were wise to consign 10 perpetual
oblivion. Like The king of Denmark. ne
may ask OF himself, can ore be Iardoned
and retain the offenseF
"a cum. he rpft rel
10 the State not on old dwelling-house
revamped. but new building specially |
designed for hospital purposes, and in !
trinsically OF more value than he Rich |
mond property She proposes TO add /
10 her faculty as head of one side OF this |
hospital a surgeon whose en- incnt quail
iications will command general confidence,
and to confide the other to a physician
hose reputation Is already national.
She offers the gratuitcUs services OF the
other members Of her faculty and OF the
II ysicidns OF Charlottesville, should they
De needed. She claims as subsidiary. but
Weighty. advantages the site OF the pro-
pcsed hospital in park of about twelve
acres. containing no other buildings, COW
tsed with greensward and planted with
beautiful trees, all Of which space would
be laid cut for the exercise of cOnval-
escents; an unimpeaChable water-supply
'thi Il separate sewerage SYSTEM equal
accessibility to patients from ali parts OF
virginia; economy IN the ratter OF food.
supplies; climate always temperate and
Tree from malaria; an excrJ tiCn from
tue zymotic Influences which irfcst every
ely aud complicate the treatment OF
disease. Until il is demonstrated thar
country air is less pure than city air.
mat water from uniDhabited mountain |
slopes IS more polluted thar the water of
ie James at Richmond that increase OF !
ituludt aces not lower temperature. thar
rec access of sun, and light. and air. is !
'armful TO the sick, that special provisions
or heailng and ventilation are faults in
iosI llal construction, that long railway
ourneys az large expense are helpful
o the poor invaid-rnul all these things
IRE proved, the claims made must be
& hnowledgeed as valid. We do rot desire
o disparage the well known advantages
Il richmond, aud would resTectfulIv bur
diH'sly ask that in any future discus
ION OF ibis question in the public prints
ach side should frankly admit the neon
estaple merits of the other and conttne
81 II 10 a temperate exhibition of its own.
thout belitilins and Injurious compari-
lons- me faculty OF the University 8 :
nlspohen and unanimous in its wish for I
ne hospital II the Board OF Visitors
HDiy determines 10 erect the building
shaH desire simply to submit TO the
esisia'ure a fair statement or our lecitf-
ne clalins. We doubt not that they WIN :
'0eiFe luII consideration and recogrition
WILLIAM VI. THORNTON.
University or Virginia, December go 1S,r{