Evening star., 1897-05-07
Twenty -fcdr dSntbmen Receive Di-
plomas as Physicians.
SPECIAl7p frR1gE FOR PROFICIENCY
The Graduation Exercises of Co.
lumbian's Medical Department.
FEATURES QF THE EVENING

University were held there. The stage was
tastefully decorated with a profusion Of
lovely flowers and effectively arranged foIi-
age plants; but their attractions were dulled
to no inconsiderable degree by the pretty
girls in the auditorium. There were hand
some matrcns and good-looking men in
abundant numbers, but they were as moth
ing when compared with the fair younger
creatures who evidently had great interest
in something or somebody on the stage
They smiled their sweetest and concen-
II ated upon themselves the admiration of
the multitude. The reason for all this
youth and beauty and animation was soon
apparent when the two dozen gentlemen
forming the graduating class filed cut on
the stage and took their seats. There was
a fluttering of fans heaving of bosomS,
voliey of melting Slances from regiment
of beautiful eyes, and in the applause that
followed the patter of No. 5A gloves was
as audible as the muscular Siap-barS of
the No. 9s of the proud father who saw his
son standing right on the threshold of a
distinguished career. There was married
man among the graduates, and he was the
valedictoriaE, and maybe one or two more;
but it was the superabundaace of single
ones. and eligible ones, too, as the events
of the night developed, VINO were respons-
ihle for the feminine futteration in the
boxes. stalls and galleries. The scene was
brilliant and beautiful one. The rare
exotics that were lined across the front of
the stage in all sorts of emblems, their
hGes and colOrs heightened by the palms
and ferns that screened them, were not
brighter than the toilets and hats of the
ladies, and altogether they made the lower
portion of the house a perfect parterre.
Hung from the center Of the proscenium by
ropes of asparagus was floral reproduc-
ton of the class badge, bar of green
leaves. bearing in pinks the letters m. d.
Z. u. from which was pendant shield of
laurel edged with white imm ortelles, and
white sash of the same across it, upon
which In pinks were the same letters
Pendant on either side of the shield, in red
flowers. were the numbers 1922 and 1897,
signifying the birth year and age of he
institution.
The Exercises and Music.
The exercises began with music by the
Marine Band Orchestra. under Prof Fan
ciuil's adept leadership and after de-
lightful rendition of Cavalleria Rusticana
a march full of feeling and movement, en-
titled "Nympo,' and dedicated to Mr.. ].
E. Jones, the president of the graduating
class. by the composer, Prof Fanciulli.was
given In splendid accord. Mr.. Jones bore
the honor with coolness. which he pre-
served later in the evening, when other
substantial compliments were bestowed
pronounced by Rev. Richard L. Howell.
and after a selection from Robin Hood.
President B. u. Whitman. attired in cap
and gown. conferred the degrees.
As the new physicians stepped forward
to receive the precious sheepkins each was
greeted with salvo of applause. They
'were follows:.-E E. NJ. Chapman, Massa-
chusetts; Joel T.. Curry, Georgia; G. San
ger Driver. District Of Columbia; H. A.
Dunn. Illinois: Josef Fl. Ford. District of
Columbia: II. n! Garland, Virginia: sN L.
Goodal, Vermont: Il. H. Hartman, Ind-
ara: Fredertck McG. Hartsock. Maryland;
Paul c. Hutton, sworth Carolina; Charles
H. James. District of Columbia; John E.
Jones, Ohio 9fGlfarfes' r. Johhso1 .Ilela-
ware; George F. Jneneman, District Of Co
lurbla; James "A Koch. Illinois, E.. l..
LIE Merle, District of Columbia; W, P.
Mills. Maryland, Charles McCulloch, Vir-
sinia; w. J. Olds. Michigan; Rollai b. Pope,
Illrois; Woodbury. Pusifer Maine: E. c.
Rice, Massachusetts,; Daniel B. Street, Dis
trlct of Columbia; r. NJ. Weedin, Washing
ton.
- There was more music; given with an ar
tistic precision and feeling that was warm
ly appreciated by the vast audience, and
Prof. A. F. A. King was introduced to ad-
dress the graduates. He spoke at some
length and impressed upon the young men
the Importance of the responsibilities they
had assumed. and the advantages before
them in modern methods, which have been
so generally introduced, owing to the won
derful progress practice has received from
the impetus of science and study.
The Vnledictory.
The orchestra rendered Parlow's 1.-THE
Anvil" a polka caprice and the valedic-
torian was introduced in the person of MI.
Woodbury. Puisifer. Mr.. Puls!fers address
was beyond the usual effort of class spokes-
men, and proved to be a thoughtful review
OF medical discovery and progress and a
defense of vivisection. He spoke easily and
gracefully and commanded the attention
of all. He began by saying the healing art
q md ,1afn
time.
I'VE are not informed" he remarked,
"how Adam ministered to Eve when she
suffered from oyerindulgence In the fruit
of the orchard, but I have no doubs he
gave her advice 1t is the art of the most
vital importance to mankind, and yet there
Is nothing concerning which the average
man thinks more specifically or acts more
inconsiStently. Not even the consciousness
of being we'll dressed will bring joy to his
heart while suffering from dyspepsia. and
yet he will devote himself to the preserva-
ton Of the disease as though 1t were a
precious jewel. He listens with interest to
a description of the geography Of the moon.
but does not care to know whether his liver
is on the right side or the left He Will
intrust his watch only to the most expert
jeweer, but can see no good reason why
he should not give a fair trial to remedy
for nervous diseases purportfpg to be dis
covered by q kickapOo Indian. He nails
with delight an advance of few hundrei
feet into the arctic regions at the cost OF
several human lives, but shudders with
horror at the discovery Of the tubercle
bacillus by methods involving the dfscom-
fort of few rabbits. He insists that the
physician should know all things concern
ing the cause, prevention and cure OF dls-
eases. but signs a petition for legislation
prohibiting the only methods under Whlch
any progress in medical science has been
made or can be made, namely, by expert
ments upon living animals.
Progress in the past" he said, mao not
been of markedi:rapidiay, but, fortunately
for suffering hssmanity, within the past
quarter of q century remarkable stride
had been talaeDi in the most momentons
problem with which men have ever crap
pied, no less 1than the eradica lion OF lnfec-
tious diseases from the sum or human
woes. 12i!
The Solution Approached.
1.-THE steps in the problem were the identi-
fcation of these enemies, the means of
preventing their. invasion, and the method
of destroying them. Jealous Investigators
had discovefed the germs OF tuberculosis.
diphtheria, efysfpelas. pneumonia, typhoid
fever, tetantis,z Ind other dread diseases.
They had done much on the seconu step of
the problem: notably IN the exclusion from
surgical wounds of the micro-oreanisms
which they had proved to be the causative
agents Of sappuration and it's deadly fol
4