Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-08-29
COMPARISON OF EXPERT
OPINION IN MEDICAL
SCHOOL REMOVAL ISSUE

Charlottesville, Va, Aug. S1.-In the
discussion Of the location OF the UNI.
versity Of Virginia Medical School,
much has been said about disinterest.
ed expert opinion and whether the
weight of this opinion favored campus
location or Richmond. Friends of the
University have confidently declared
the great weight Of this opinion was
on their side. They produced proofs in
the shape Of letters from these experts
and challenged Richmond to produce
proof of anywhere near equal weight.
Richmond claimed the weight Of this
opinion was with them but produced no
proof to substantiate their claim.
Fortunately for the people Of Viz
clnia the means is now at hand to
make c true comparison Of this expert
evidence. The University Medical
Faculty in May published g booklet
entitled Letters from Prominent
Medical Educators Supporting the
Policy Of University Location Of Med
ical Schools" These letters were writ
ten in response to inquiries sent out
10 a large number Of disinterested e1.
perts, University Presidents, Deans of
Medical Schools, and Medical Pro
f~cssors. These were the men who had
had occasion to study the question IN
yolved and admittedly their testimony
was entitled 10 greater weight thar
the average practicing physician, den
fist or pharmacist especially men in
those professions whoswere alumni of
Il of the two schools concerned.
Now come the supporters OF Rich
mond location with their answer, Dun
in the June edition Of the Bulletin OF
the Medical College of Virginia. This
was published several months after the
University's booklet was distributed
and it may, Of course, be assumed that
Richmond left nothing undone to gel
as many letters as possible from med
zeal experts to support their conten.
ton. What is the result?
The Richmond Bulletin shows y
letters from experts from other uni
versities. OF these four are from the
University Of Pennsylvania; one from
Jefferson Medical College; n from
st. Louis University; one from Uni.
versity OF Michigan; two from North
Carolina; one from Northwestern Uni.
versity, a total Of six schools. The
University booklet shows letters from
81 experts representing II different In.
stitutlons, at several Of which this
same issue had arisen IN the past and
been decided (and wisely decided as
later experience proved, in favor OF
campus location. These include let.
tiers from the Dean Of Harvard Med
ical School and four medical profess
sors: the President of Johns Hopkins
and five medical professors; three
medical professors Of Washington Uni
versity, ST. Louis: three medical pro-
lessons OF University Of California;
three medical professors Leland Stan.
ford: the President OF Chicago Uni.
v2rsity, the Dean and three medical
professors: four medical professors
Western Reserve University; Dean
Medical School and m professor Uni.
versity OF Pennsylvania; three medical
professors Cornell; Dean of the Med
ical School and two professors Uni.
versity OF Minnesota; Dean OF the
Medical School and one professor Uni.
versity of Missouri; one medical pro
fessor University OF Nebraska; two
professors Bellevue Medical College,
y. y: two professors Yale Medical
School: u Medical Professor George
town; two medical professors Uniyers.
ity Of Kansas; one medical professor
University OF Colorado; four medical
professors University Of Michigan; the
President Iowa State UniverSit! and
three medical professors; Dean OF
Medical Department and one medical
professor University OF Wisconsin;
Dean Medical Department University
Of Oregon: one medical professor Uni.
7ersity Of Texas; one medical pro-
lessor University Of Cincinnati. The
comparison proves that the vast
weight of disinterested expert opinion
farors location or the University cam
u rather than a. Richmond. 1t would
be difficult to find a more nearly unani.
nous opinion or any educational sub
tect.
The Richmond Bulletin says special
emphasis should be given It's EXPERT
from s.. Louis University. The writer
bases his opinion on the fact that the
University Of Missouri, at Columbia.
had its last iwo years medical course
in ST. Louis to get "a wealth Of elm.
ical material" Yet since this letter
was written the Board Of Visitors OF
the University OF Missouri voted to
consolidate on It's own campus. con.
d.ct!ng the final two years al Colum
hfa and pcIitioned the legislature TO