Medical College of Virginia - X Ray Yearbook (Richmond, VA)

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s Wtt College THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA I. N 1834 the Old Medical College came into existence as an off-shoot of Hampden-Sidney College. While at first only a department of Hampden-Sidney, it was even then specified that the lectures should be given in Richmond, and here they have been given ever since, on such subjects as are recognized as necessary and proper for the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and, when such lectures were satisfactorily passed, the Medical Faculty recommended to the General Faculty of Hampden-Sidney that the candidate be graduated with the degree of M. D. Of those appointed professors according to the original regulations, few others are remembered, either by tradition or otherwise, than Dr. John Cullen, who was at that time appointed Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine. It is inter- esting further to note that James Madison sat in this first meeting and is one of the signers of the recommendation creating the Department of Medicine. This Medical Department or College was early established in the old Union Hotel, at Nineteenth and Main Streets. In 1845, on the lot in the old Academy or Theatre Square, was completed the impressive building of Egyptian architecture that still stands on its original site, awakening the admiration and even the awe of the passer-by, and is the holy shrine of many a medicus who returning there, often many years after his student days, looks with loving eyes upon the unchanged and unchanging ivy-covered walls of his Alma Mater. A correspondent of the London Telegraph spoke of the Medical College of Virginia as the most beautiful building he had ever seen. From the years 1 838 to 1 845 many changes took place in the affairs and a few in the faculty of the old institution. Grants were made by the Legislature to the Medical College of Hampden-Sidney until finally in 1850 the Medical De- partment of Hampden-Sidney was released by the State from paying interest on the loans from the Literary Fund of the State, the State, however, providing that nothing should effect the securities required, in the first place, to cover the two loans of 1844 and 1845. 15

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=? From 1847 to 1854 even greater changes took place in the affairs of the Col- lege and in its Faculty. In 1853 Dr. Maupin resigned to become a professor at the University of Virginia, while Dr. Wyman had resigned in 1 847 to become a pro- fessor at Harvard. It should be remembered, however, that the world-renowned Brown-Sequard was elected to the Faculty in 1854. However, in 1854, following irreconcilable differences between the Faculty of Hampden-Sidney College and the Department of Medicine of that institution, an act of the General Assembly created a charter for what was to be henceforth known as the Medical College of Virginia, and vested its affairs in a Board of Visitors composed of nineteen members. From this time on it remained a State in- stitution and later at one time received an annual appropriation from the State of $30,000.00, and in 1 860 all its property was conveyed to the Literary Fund and has remained the property of the State since that day. After the war, in 1866, $1,800.00 was given the College and Dr. Hunter McGuire entered its Faculty. An Adjunct Faculty was created in 1871, having among its members Dr. William H. Taylor, Professor of Chemistry; Dr. John J. Skelton, Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women; Dr. George Ross (still living), Professor of Surgery. In latter years many changes and vicissitudes have been the part of the Old School, much self-denial and genuine altruistic work on the part of her Faculty, and a supreme spi rit of sacrifice for a noble institution with noble traditions. II. THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Owing to the great need of another school of Medicine in Richmond on account of the large size of the classes graduating each year from the Old School and other colleges, and because of further facilities necessary for satisfactory teaching, the University College of Medicine was accordingly established in 1 893 by a number of Richmond physicians under the leadership of Dr. Hunter McGuire. That the founders of this institution were amply rewarded for their earnest endeavor is clearly shown by the large number of students who at once began to matriculate from dif- ferent parts of the country. In fact, the student body grew to such proportions and the faculty was so enthusiastic for a modern medical school that it immediately began to expand and enlarge its field of influence. Both faculty and teaching