Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-07

mr.. Jerdan's Prise History IN
cine and surgery I'm Virginia

nj, y.~s.n,s Prise History In "eo'-
cine ana surgery in Virginia
IT.. pr,ca-Nasb- Mcclure prize. wn'cn
vas awarded to Or. Arthur Jorus" :"
IN. recent meeting Of the state Meo'ca'
soc,etv for n history OF the medical pIo-
sS-a,or ,n Virginia, stood for TOUT seass
rasar. an essay was presented tna' W.
des,,,ed worthy the prize. IL
shrouyb the personal efforts OIL
Tandon Il. Edwards that these 'nree p@s
sIcians were induced TO offer prihe ~,
the best medical and surgical n's'o,y "
Virginia. DR.. Joseph Price vi ..
deIpbia. was the first to oner siw - -
for the work. This sum was iounu
be too small for the amount VI
which would be required 10 co"p". -
real. authentic history. In we" ., Ill, III,
fact DIR. Herbert NJ. Nasn, vi W. r -
combined, the next year, Win .ac., ar,,,s
"a .ho nrize was Increased to 500. TINS
year several essays we're submitted put
were meagre and dealt only with .nc
reneaIogies of several prominent iain'-
lies OF the State. The next year-is%-
Drs. Price and Nash each Increased thelr
offer by $50, making the prize ssVo
the several essays offered in compeu-
ton last year. none were deemed wo,'ny
of the prize. but one was auJuuseu
worthy OF honorable mention.
AS an incentive to stimulate more
active competition. DR.. Price increaseu
his offer OF $500 and Dr. Hunter Mcclure
of this city. contributed 500, making the
entire amount $3.50. The increase by
these gentlemen had the desired enect.
and Virginia has written to-day a meui-
cal and surgical history that Is un-
equalled by any other State III the Union
She has taken the lead In TINS as she mas
in many other important SUBJECTS
IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK.
The honor of placing Virginia as an ex-
ample well worthy Of emulation by other
States is due to DR.. Arthur Jordan In
compiling the history DR.. Jordan had ac-
cess TO the State Library. the library Oh
the Army Medical Museum, ana the
Toner Library, both OF washington
d. C..
The general outline of the history is d.
vided into eight sections-viz.. % BIO
graphical Neurology; (D The INDIGENOUS
Medical Botany; 90 The Virginia mineral
Springs; (D The Medical Literature anu
Institutions Of the State; 90 The progress
OF Surgery, from the Landing OF captain
John Smith to the Present Time; C) the
PROGRESS Oh MtulCiut ioi shN
Period: 90 The Virginia Medical Laws
and % Miscellaneous Matter. This ma
terial. when arranged and published. VIII
make a book of nearly 100 pages. AS
giving some idea of the work necessary
to write such an essay IL may be men,
toned that upwards Of 600 volumes were
consulted, of which number S7s were act
ually utilized for the subject matter.
SKETCHES OF THE PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Jordan secured Biographical
sketches of upwards of 200 physicians and
surgeons, who served during the Revo-
lutionary war. The names OF many
doctors serving in the wars OF lsl2 and
that of Mexico are also embodied In the
work DR.. Jordan made an effort 10 Sc
cure similar information about the sur
geons who served in the Confederate
States army, but was unable to do So
on account of the present law. How
ever, he is anxious to prosecute this
much neglected subject, and takes this
occasion TO ask all who may be interest
ed TO furnish such information as will
enable him to make a complete list, and
write the biographies OF our late sur
geons.