Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-25
,roc,. A, 10 tho University.

To the Editor of Inc ll'ivS- nlSphtcn:
nucc that ! even seem 10 engage at
the present time in any pubic discus
sion OF the question OF analSamation
OF the two medical schools o: the
State The Governor has wisely ~.
commended the appointnlGnt oi 4 com
Of skilled advisers. "A thorough survey
OF medical education in virginia, ana,
OH the basis of this survey 20 make
recommendations as TO the wisest
course to pursue in the future. 1t is
not easy TO see why some Of those
TO await the results % this expert
study, but. instead thereof. insist upon,
engaging in the work OF the proposed
commission before 1t is appointed. The
University OF Virginia welcomes an i'm
partial and expert investigation; II has
the best solution OF the problem; but
i, win no, engage in propaganda which
may render the wise aud just decision
more difficult or even impossible.
As TO the statements made By your
correspondents
!. 1t is true that the medical dc
partment Of the University OF N:r-
Einia had no clinical teaching facili-
'ss IN S.' ana gn,e nSr9S W ihai
time Of another school in which TO
obtain, his clinical training II is not
Virginia at that time prOfcssed TO give
inc something which 1T did not de-
oush ddac;ic insiruc;ioa in med!cine
and expected It's graduates 10 80 else
where after graduation for their c!ini-
cal experience. Although We an reccs;,
nAc this as 1t m!stak. in pedagogical
practce--a mistake shared with many
other schools OF the day common fair
ness calls for rcbukc of the charge
that this school failed TO give what
II yrofessed TO give
h period to which your correspordrnt
re'"rs that this uni.nahie pedagogical
r,e Posi- Wa rsc@Fniaed and IN. G rec,
hospital in TN" school" In 1915 a large
wing was aided. and in 1907 second
wing vas opened, giving AZ that tim"
upwards OF 100 beds Of which eighty
We're in the public wards. Thus thr-
,"en ears ago We had these Clinical
says 1t has only been II the last
eight or. ten years that there was u
ihird wing. was added, making q total
capacity Of u""r 200 beds OF which 100
are in the public wards.
J. For several years past this hospital
has had over 1900 patients annually.
Of whom more than 300 are in the
na6!'c w .1-. I, also condue's an ou,i
ve thousand Visits annually. With
;h ii Va men me- ,her" are ,hcrefoTe ap ~
rroaimately 100 ward patients TO each
'on.T;4h-year rn"aical student;
,herc. is assigned on admission i
y fou-th-year nledica! student who se-"cs
IS TO say under the advice Of the
physician or surgeon in charg" This
medical student conducts q coinpi"te
examination. takes the history Of tho
case. records his observations in Il
hc!c1tihc manner, make AL needed
laboratory tcsts. stat. - the physi-
and his view as 10 inc treatment indi-
Gated, and during this work has tho
a anS'" cS!;cls 6f G 6d HIcSh2m
charge. 4, ever surgical operation
on" o; these students assists; and.
since there arc between Zoo and l.5GU
operations each year, this means that
cacf four-yc;tr student assists q; f"rty
or MY operations before his l-radua-
ton In addition There are clinics for
the whole class and wa-d rounds in
Which each stVdcni secs lhc !nstruc
OF c!n!cai instruction has been in use
a. me Cm!,Grs''y OF Virginia since
e school IN 1906 under President Alder.
man and the late Dean Whitehead; and
yet in 1920. fifteen years later. The
letter from your correspondent shows
,hat there ~ "a Doctor in tn. state
pi Virginia VINO - completely Ignorant
% wha, has been Accomplished in
cidcntai!% u may interest the rcadc rs
,,ms, n t %b9 oaH 4 vtrsinia h as
state in the matter Of medical c!Ica
ZION
In The ,reorEsnlza;ten OF .he
medical school in 9nj u fundamental
principle Of organization was tnat the
leading Instructors in clirica! branches
we're 10 be primarily teachers ard not
private practitioners Of medicine For
this purpose these men are paid full
/. university salaries, and. while they
hav" prlvat" cases, these ar, for the
most par; confined 10 the University
Hospital; moreover. in no case do they
max" more ;n;tr unc-third OF the cases
attended.
s. fear that tho facts regardin.
D, tho ynun& man vino received his
diploma In ZOO are only too true: bar
that was 40" and this IS 1890. II my
memory serves me correctly. This is
precisely the lcuSth o. Eip Van
Wrinkles slcep. Tho REORGANIZATION o.
This school took place in 1905. since
then no men have heen gradua; ed
;icni medical procedure. 7; may also
cn!!shten Doctor 70 know thnt no
University Or Virginia Gradual has
tailed before a State board for thc
past five years in 'hiS matter we
irviic comparison with o'h". SCHOOLS
OF this or other states.
these achievements belong only :, the
following facts: The llcHnc- report
or medical education in ial0 stated
that "ihc relation OF tho University OF
virginia Hospital TO the medical school
and It's organization Tor tcnchinC
purposes !c:.1es nothing 10 he desired
and further states 'hal lis clinical ma
tcrial is increasing ana Is ''ski!lfuly
and effectively used 10 train :hc stu
dcnt BODY in the technique and
methods OF scientific medicine" The
----------------
DISPL4Y-CLASSJFIED