The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02

medicine in America can be placed upon
an entirely scientific plane and among the
sciences which contribute not only to the
| preservation of considerable amount of
| property, but also among those which
| help to guard and preserve mankind
| against disease. II is within common
knowledge that much of the advancement
which has been made in the direction OF
preventive and curative medicine has been
| made through study of disease processes
| in the lower animals. This study is really
In its infancy; and 1t is felt that its fur
| Their evolution can at any rate be aided
| largely through a more general scientific
| study OF those branches which now exist
under the general heading of veterinary
| medicine.
1T was hoped by the organizers OF the
| brought about condition of study of these
| matters that would attract the attention Of
| men of equal education with those now en-
| tering the professions of medicine and law.
| 1t may rather confidently be said that If,
| during the next eighteen years, this school
| can be maintained in its course and as
much accomplished as during the past
eighteen years of its existence, its object
would be fairly reached, and men will have
been created who are capable of demon
strating that useful science exists, where
before 10 more than simple art was
practiced."
Previous to 1899 the Harvard Medical
School, Dental School and School OF Vet
Urinary Medicine were each governed by
separate faculty. A year ago, however,
this method was changed by vote of the
corporation, SO that now the three schools
are brought together under the charge of
a single faculty of medicine, which has
supervision of the degrees of doctor OF
medicine doctor of dental science, and doc
tor OF veterinary medicine. In time ii had
been hoped TO bring the Veterinary School
into even more direct connection with the
other two schools; the three retaining
their individuality, but all combined a
single great medical department. with
ample grounds, convenient buildings, and
systematized staff of instruction. II is I'M
derstood. indeed. that the necessary land
for such department has already been
secured; and whether the Veterinary
School is discontinued or not. the Harvard
Medical Department may be taken an
assured fact.
But it is recognized by the university
that such department requires for COM
pleteness a strong veterinary school AS
DIR. Lyman said in an address given a
little while ago: 1T is manifest that early
medicine could not have existed at the
time ii did in so perfect a condition had
its study been confined to mankind alone.
III is equally obvious that modern Eieui-
cine also owes a considerable debt to The
animals. But is their service in this d.
rection ended? II we reason from anal
ogy, this question can easily and at once
be answered in the negative. This an
swer accepted, another important qucs-
ton Immediately arises. viz: What
method can next be adopted to ensure
further benefits to medical science? The
answer to this question is not so easily
made; but If experience and history are
to supply its solution. ii must be by the
continual study of phenomena presented |
by both mankind and animals-that is. |
through the continued and closer study of |
comparative medicine. Heretofore. ard /
since the Renaissance, this study has been |
carried on by two separate bodies Of the |
students of medicine-the human prac.i- |
TONERS on the one hand, the veterinary |
on the other. Individu Ills
from each side have contributed their
mite for the benefit OF the other and for
the good OF suffering men and animals.
IAN accepted proverb. that has again
and again proved its own truth under all
conditions, is that in unity there is
strength. May 1t not be that this is the
ire solution of our question? 1t certainly