Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-11-03
0PENING OF MEDICAL COLLEGE
50 New Students Registered at
58th Annual Session.
Address by Dr. j. G. rutherford of
pro.idcncc, II. l., on "Thc Pro-
gressive Side Of Medicine"-Re-
marks by Pres. Buckham.

The 5Sth annual session Of the medical
department of the University OF Vermont
opened Tuesday afternoon at three
o'clock in the ainphitheatre of the medical
building. The room was filled with
students and faculty. President Buck
ham presided The address was
delivered by DR.. j. c. rutherford of
Providence, X. l., an alumnus OF the
eolege and former resident of this
ri;y.
lie spoke on "The Progressive Side of
Medicine" referring to the changes. since
his graduation, in the number ana per
sonnet of the faculty, in the methods OF
teaching, and in the requirements LOT
graduation. The university, he said Is
to he congratulated upon the adoption OF
the four years course. with which adop-
ton the college assumed a place in the
front rank. In speaking of the causes
nscribed to diseases by the lecturers or
CO years ago, he said compared with the
present day they We're grossly farcical.
Instructors then could only guess at a
students qualification for Sraduatloh'
There was then little pathology and no
bnctcriolocy. lie spoke of the develop
ment. in 50 years, in surgery. Although
the modern surgeon is much more daring,
yet he is not more skiiltul surgeon. IN
Speaking of medicine he said that diseases
notl reached by preventive medicine were
no more successfully treated than before.
Practice is now more scientific than
theoretic. every day bringing something
new, until the dark places are Illuminated.
In discussing the suggestion, frequently
made. that the small medical faculty he
abolished for the purpose of consolida
ton, lie said he thought that the best
work is done IN t'ic so-called fresh-wator
colleges. of which Vermont is an honor
able example. It should be part OF the
work Of each student to agitate the ques-
tion of physicians practising recprocally
In States wnere the requirements are
practically the same. as, for instance In
Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In
ereakinG of how the new physician is to
secure experience, he said IL was obvious
Is to be secured at the bedside of the
sick in private practice. The aim of tho
medical school Is To prepare the physician
for practice. and he suggested that tho
methods of teaching should be such that
the subjects are interviewer. inter-
dependent Then. upon graduation, the
man is better equipped, with a knowledge
It would take him years to acquire RE
spoke IN praise OF the value of hospital
training, and flayed the patent medicine
fakirs. (Which is the more contemplate
the chief who holds you up and robs you
OF your purse, or the thief who robs you
Of health and leaves you slave OF
drugs?" he asked. He advocated depart
ment of medicine to protect against the
bra zen effrontery Of the patent medicine
man. In discussing the relative value OF
practice In small and large cities. nc
enumerated discoverers of new methods
that of vaccination, for instance, and
physicians who had done a great work
who had lived in small places.
DR.. Rutherford spoke warmly in praise
OF the beauties of this city. 1t embraces
ard surpasses the characteristics Of
foreign countries. And In the center ;
grand old university Of the name o
Iniversitatis Viridimontanao." In closin,
ne paid n fine tribute to President Buck
ham and his work THE history of hi
Efe Is the history of tho university. TIL
good he has accomplished is tale tina
never can be told His life is an inspira
ton. his presence benedction." At tn
conclusion Of DR.. Rutherford's address
there was loud and prolonged applause
President Buckham smNngly acknow
lodged DR.. Rutherford S tribute, and SAT-
It was very unsafe to allow his kim
feelings TO bias his judgment in making
diagnosis President Buckham said II
full:
PRESIDENT RUCKHAM'S REMARKS
The National Association of State Uni
Versities of which the University of Yer
mont IL member is trying to reduce I
n system the somewhat confused nomen
clature by which we designate the part
siid Offices Of a university. The use o
the terms, college," school," depart