Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28
BUILDINGS DEDICATED
Continued from Seventh Page.)

continued, and in 1862 produced six grad
yates. In 1868 twelve were graduated, and
among them was Elliott Coues, who SUISSE
quently became the distinguished zoologist
and professor Of anatomy in Columbian
Medical College. During 1864 and 1865 the
school was suspended entirely.
After the Civil War.
With the return Of peace in 1865 the
school was reorganized and the usual course
of instruction was resumed in autumn OF
that year. In the spring of 1866 there were
four graduates. one Of whom was the late
William Beverly Drinkard, who 'afterward
became professor of anatomy and imme-
diately preceded DR.. Coues in that chair. DR..
Drinkard died in 1877.
From 1866 to the present the annual ses-
sions Of the college have been continued
without interruption. During the first
twenty years Of this period. from 1865 to
1886, the annual number of graduates was
usually below ten, and never more than
fourteen. During the next decade, from
1887 to 1897. the annual number OF grad
yates was never below fifteen, usually above
twenty and during three of those years ex-
ceeded thirty, reaching in 1895 thirty-seven.
During the last five years, from 1897 to
1902, the annual number Of graduates has
oscillated between tweny-four and thirty
three. The number of students in the medi-
cal school up to its sixty-fourth session
had never exceeded 100. but during the
course Of 1886 it reached 100, and then
during the next few years steadily pro-
crossed to $50, 175 and at the close of the
Century exceeded 200 while the last SEES
sion, 19O1-O2, had total of 2S3, the largest
class in the history Of the institution.
Only Three Years. Study.
When the school first began. and for
something over fifty years thereafter, It
was the custom of nearly all medical col
leges in this country to require of the stu
dent three years study. but only two courses
of college lectures before the final exami-
nation for his degree. Each course Of lee
lures lasted about five months.
The first modification Of this system by
the Columbian began in 1873, when a
spring course of lectures was established
beginning in April and lasting about two
months. This spring course Of instruction,
which comprised the elaboration of special
branches of study, as well as clinical
demonstrations, was continued about ff-
teen years, when it was abolished.
Still more changes and innovations were
introduced until by successive steps the old
system of two five-month courses was ex-
tended to four annual courses of seven
months each.
Students Had Little Experience.
In the early days of medical education the
student did scarcely any really pratical
work, except dissection OF the human body.
He witnessed an occasional surgical opera
ton, and perhaps saw his professor exam
ine sick persons and prescribe remedies. but
he was often allowed to graduate without
ever having dressed a wound or put on a
bandage; without having felt a pulse or
percussed a chest: without ever having wit
messed an accouchment; without ever hav-
ing analysed a secretion, written a. pre-
scription or compounded a pill
The school began its work Of laboratory
instruction in a modest way more than
thirty years ago. during the session of
1ST0-71, when practical manipulation In
minor surgery and surgical appliances
were conducted by DR.. VIM. B. Drinkard.
1t was during this session that instruction
was first given in practical histology and
the use of the microscope. by DR.. w. w.
Johnston. This was the beginning Of DR..
Johnston's work as an educator in the col
lege The next year. 1871, he became pro-
lessor of the theory and practice of medi-
cine, and so continued until his death last
year.
When the institution began in 1925 the
faculty rented building of some Sort but
the records do not tell us what or where.
When the school was recognized In 1889