The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-12-14


day was part of Che Wurk of almost
every celebrated physician -o large
had become the number of promising
young men who were attracted 90 read
with him that there was uo hope of
giving them, as individuals. tne as-
sistance which they needed. end ID.
Metiauer gradually introduced more
and more system into bis Intercourse
with these young men until iu 1859
his group of private students was or
gained into medical institute This
medical school wa, never large iu
numbers. However it reached and
sustained an enrolment of thirty OF
thirty-iive students, generally from
Virginia and drawn boz large part from
circles in which MeIaucrs work was
well known. There wa, among them
no small proportion who later attained
high reputation in their profession.
The doctor found these young men
ardent and tIreless In bis W0lk. Under
his direction they constructed many
necessary implements, he himself was
a mechanic of rare ingenuity, and old
Mr.. Porter, shop in FarmNille was
the scene of many am important cou-
clave from which wa, born no iucon-
siderable number of devices that today
form part and parcel of theinslrument
makers stock. Not few of these old
tools Of the early days of the craft
were made according 60 the doctors
drawings by an old negro now living
ia Prince Edward, WHO before ,he war
was a cunning artiiicer 200 gold and
silver
With steady and excellent results
the Medical Institute wa, kept mp un-
ill in 1915 it became Tie Medical De-
partment of Randolph-Macou College.
Thesession was ten months long. and
credit was given by the distinguished
schools of medicine Tor time spent Do
this institute. The Jefferson school of
Philadelphia. the University of Sew
York. and that of Louisville were
among the colleges which admitted
Mettauer's students on the ad ,uudem
footing. There is no record of the fore
NAL closing of Dr Meitauer's lu,ti-
tute. 80 far as is known, it continued
to be part of Randolph-Macon College
until the suspension in Meckleuburg
county Of that school: and naturally
terminated by that event it was never
opened again
llt j, matter of curious note that
during these years Prince Edward
could boast two medical schools Dr.
Mettauers. under The charter of Ram
dolph-Nacon. and the old Medical
College at Richmond which was 40
that time The Medical Department of
Hampden--iduey College neither
school being au integral part of the
college which stood sponsor ritz
Dr. Mettauer was man OF striking
appearance; tan, wcll-formel. and zoe
bust; his piercing black eyes we.e
Swallowed by a heavy fringe OF brow
and above rose forehead h.gh and of
the most intellectual shape. lie was
seclusiye Do his habits, and few per-
sons were admitted 90 amy closeue,s of
acquaintance. and very few 90 amy
sort of intimacy. ln fact. from The
first dawn of manhood Co bis death he
was busy. his practice with the
patients who came to ham in DIS Office
at home aud that at Farmpile, where
he was TO be found at certain hour,
every day, would have appalled, the
average worker. his medical school
was, in the language of our streets, %
good deal more than one mana job.
and i'm addition DE did an amount 0i
writing which would have kept she
ordinary scientific man engaged all of
his time and would have satisfied
him wholly with himself TO this
eternal business may be attributed
much Of Mettauer', failure in the 500
cial duties, and 1t is vain 90 inquire
whether, in other circumstances, Doe
might have been more approachable.
That he was master of some. as least,
Of the social charms is witnessed hy
the fact that be was four time, mar
Red.
To an extent which never failed 90
make his character of interest, but
which never subjected him 20 ride
Guile. Mettauer was eccentric. There
was indeed about him that which
would have saved him from rdicuIe,
even had he been far more eccentric
than he was. Reference has been
made To his invariable custom OF wear
ing on all occasions and nc all time, O
prepo,terous y tall hat lie never at-
tended service i'm the churches, and ihe
explanation was Away, assumed to
lie in an unwilliugne,s either 90 re-
move the covering from bis head or to
attend church wearing DTS hat. JIG
would decline 10 take or Dis hat DO
court on the occasions when his eX.
pert testimony was sought; and The
sole occasion ON which judge seems
TO have insisted that the doctor should
be uncovered brough. from Mettauer
the suggestion that If his testimony
was essential TO the case DE would Do,
pleased to give it with hi, hat on, and
Iifit was not 50 be would DE quite a'
well pleased to leave The court loom
meanwhile. OF course. wearing hi.
hat. With posihumous iusisteuce Dr
/ Mettauer left directions ihat heslould
be buried with hi, bat ON, and collin
"a tribe over eight feet long was louno