Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-01
GEORGETOWN MEDiCOS
Opening of the Medical Department Of That
University.
Rev. Father Richards ON the Change
to q Day C0urse-Surgeon General
SteInberg's Interesting Address.

The medical department of Georgetown
University was opened last night with
simple ceremonies at the school, on H
street between 9th and 10th. The lecture
hall was crowded with students, and in the
front seats were about score OF ladies.
Seated behind the rostrum were the men,
bers of the faculty and Rev. Father Rich
ards, the president of the university; Right
Rev. Bishop Keane of the Catholic Uni
versity. Right Rev. Archbishop Ryan Of
Philadelphia, Rev. Father Gillespie, Very
Rev. DR.. Pardon of the Order of Jesuits
and Rev. DIR. Malone of the board of
regents of the University of the State of
New York. Among those in the audience
were Col. John NJ. Wilson. Comm;ssary
Gen. Morgan and Assistant Adjutant Cen
eral Vincent Of the army.
FL Their Richards' Announcement.
Exceptional interest was had in the eX
erciscs on account of the fact that Presi-
dent Richards in his opening address made
the first formal oral armour cement of the
change in thelsystem of instruction where
by day classes will hereafter take the place
of night classes at this school. departure
that is unique in the history of profession
al classes in the District. Father Richards
said that the faculty Of Georgetown has
always been first to take decisive steps in
this part of the country, and has usually
anticipated the course of national edu-
Gators. For some time they have been
coming to the conclusion that adequate in
struction could not be given in the evening,
especially in view CT the wonderful adj
yancement OF medical science of late years.
1t was realized that the change might be
disastrous to the university, but members
of the faculty were determined to meet
the emergency conscientioUsly and bravely
and they had perfect faith in the future.
Surgeon General SteTnber;;'s Address.
Father Richards then introduced Surgeon
General SternbeIg of the army, who deliv-
cred the inaugural address of the season
He gave his hearty approval to the plan of
day clas5es, and called attention to the
need of more thorough training in medical
students in English branches, which are to-
day practically neglected in majority of
professional schools. Medical science OF to-
day, he declared, marks marvellous ad-
vance over the pest, and he who expects to
go forth from the university fully equipped
to take his Place with the best physicians
must be prepared to spend four years of
hard, unremitting labor, with no other oc-
cupation to divert his attention or to sap
his energy. The widening of the medical
field into territory hitherto unknown has
made the laboratory a far more important
factor in medical instruction than ii has
heretofore been, and in addition to attend
ance at Lectures, it Is necessary for the am
bilious student to spend hours in making
practical experiments in the laboratory and
to devote great portion of his time at the
clinic.
Protest Against the "Old SCHOOL"
Dr. Sternberg emphasized the usefulness
of the new school, which shall not accept
any fact until demonstrated. He said that
the physician who has the courage TO say
81 do not know has taken step forward
from him who presumes to be acquainted
with the intimate details of every case with
which he is confronted. Confession of ig-
norance, he said, is the first move of sci
encc. He protested against the phrase "oid
school, as applied to the regular practition-
err of the day, who has struggled with the
newer problems of medicine, and who has
mastered them and is not welded to any
patty" He may use water of different
temperatures without being a hydropath;
he may use the electrical current in appro-
Iriate cases without being an electropath:
he may give irfinitesimal doses without be-
ing homeopath, and he may give calomel
and blue mass without being an aliopath.
He uses the best methods of every school
and weds himself to none, except the best.
DR.. Sternberg gave a brief history of the
various important discoveries in medicine
since the time of the great Grsek physi-
clans, and showed how the new facts in
science have tremendously increased dur
ing the past few years. He touched upon
the diScouragementS that confront the mod
ern physician in the existence of quacks,
and urged his young hearers TO be more
diligent in the presence of such in,postors
in the worl1 of pseudo science.
After DR.. Sternberg had concluded, DR..
G. L. Magruder. the dean of the faculty.
made a number of announcements of
changes in the faculty and additions to the
facilities of the school that were enthusi-
asticaly received by the studcrts.