Vanderbilt University - Commodore Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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TT IK COMET. 2.r AloJiovjl jrtmcnt. HIS department is an adopted child, if child it he alter having passed twenty-live years of prosperous existence. At the birth of this child, October II. 1S 0, seven eminent physicians and surgeons oltieiatcd. These gentlemen were Drs. .Ino. M. Watson, A. II. Buchanan, W. K. Bowling, 0. K. Winston, llob’t M. Porter, .J. Berrien Lindslcy and W. T. Briggs. After twenty-live years had passed, by a paralytic stroke sutiered by the old University of Nashville, the child became a virtual orphan. At the organization of Vanderbilt Univer- fflsity, it was adopted, still retaining, however, the name of its ‘honored but invalid parent, so that now it is known as the Medical Department, of Vanderbilt University and the University of Nashville. It at present embraces ten chairs. Dr. Thos. - B. Maddin. Professor of the Practice of Medicine, is President of the Faculty. A birds-eye view of the Faculty would detect three well-marked divisions. The first division is composed of Professors Thos. B. Maddin, Thos. Mcnees, Thos. A. Atchison, W. T. Briggs. .1. M. Sallbrd, W. B. Nichol. These gentlemen have been connected with medical colleges since the callow days of youth, and art? doubtless booked among the one hundred forty and four thousand that will go up through much trial and tribulation. They are the white-haired veterans. Professor Maddin, measured by his own estimation or by his physical stature, would be a decided light weight;” but measured by the estimate his profession has put upon him, lie is a giant. With a voice contralto, but soft, and an eye that speaks of a great soul within, lie leads his class into the by-paths of his branch, and illuminates the dark passages that so many before him have failed to make plain. Professor Menecs occupies the chair of Obstetrics, lie was built for a statesman. His oratory, his political ability and magnetic presence forced him for two years to abandon his profession and occupy a seat in the Confederate Congress. But after the late unpleasant- ness” had shown that we needed only one Congress in this country, he returned to his first love, after his second had been loved and lost. As executive ollicer, as teacher, as father to the boys, his equal is rarely met. Professor Atchison tills the, chair of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, and tills it full. Ibi is the wittiest and weightiest member of the Faculty. It seems strange that such an oak should spring from the black-jack region of Kentucky. Coming to Nashville in the prime of life, and taking a stand at the head of his profession, lie was at once o lie red the chair which lie now occupies, and which, perhaps, will never be so well tilled again.

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r11 k c j »m i ;t. :J I 4- iJacuffLj1 • TIInMAS M FAFFS. M. ! ., In an of Medical Family ami Professor of obstetrics. WII.U M I . BKIOOS. M. D.. I'rnh'fsor of Surgery. THOMAS I.. M DDIN. M. I».. Profosor of ilu- Institutes ami Practice of Medicine ami of Clinical Medicine. WII.I.I AM I.. NICIIOL. M. I .. I’rof. vor of tin- Dis-ases of Woini'ii ami Children ami of Clinical Medicine. JOHN II. CAI.I.FNDAB. M. I». I ri(lessor of Phyaiologv ami Psychology. .1A 1FS M. SAKFoKD. M. D.. Professor of ('lioinislry in Medical Itepartment. THOMAS A. ATCHISON. M. P., Professor of Materia Medica. Thcrupciit ii and Stale Medicine. UIABLKS S. IiltlCOS. M. I».. Professor of Surgical Anatomy and Operative Surgery. oUVIl.I.K II. MEN KBS. M. I).. Professor of Anatoinv ami Histology. OKOUOK C. S. VAtiK, M. D. Professor of Diseases of tin- Kve and Kar. Cl I AKI.KS 1.. KVKS, M. I».. Demonstrator of Anatomy. P. II. WOOD. M. I .. Assistant Demonstrator of Anatomy. AMBHOSK MOKKlsoN, M.D.. I.ecturer on Kxperimental Physiology• Microscopy and Hygiene in Medical Department. P. A. ATCHISON, Jr.. lactiirer mi Medical Jurisprudence. PICK ADD Dol’d,AS, M. D„ Ijccturer on Pathological Anatomy. .IcillN WFSI.FY MADIHN. Ml'.. I.ecturer on Diseases of Prvgnaney. JOHN I.. WATKINS. M. D.. larcturer on Physical Diagnosis. MOSKS II. BONN Kit, M. I).. Lecturer on Fleet ro-theru| cutics. A. B. HAMSFY. M.D.. Leeturer on Venereal Diseases.

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20 THE COM 1ST. Professor T. Itriggs, tin- incmnlient of the chair of Surgery, is another Kentucky scion. Doubtless he drew much inspiration from his surroundings. He conics from a line of note in medicine, and was not long in making his way to tin- front. From Demonstrator of Anatomy in this college ho passed through seven»! chairs to the one he now occupies. The profession in the fnited States has shown its appreciation of him in numerous ways, the latest of which is his appointment as chairman of the Department of Surgery in the International Medical Congress. In the lecture room lie is strictly a teacher. Dr. .las. M. Salford is Professor of Chemistry. He has occupied this chair in three differ- ent colleges. Despite the fact that his looks would not justify the expectation, he is prone to relieve the monotony of a dry chemistry lecture by choice morsels of poetry. He is the state Geologist, a position lie has held for a number of years. He is a gentleman of the old school. Professor W. L Xichol tills the chair of Diseases of Women and Phildrcn. lie is sui !l 'ris With the advantage of ten years’ service ill the Tinted States Navy, he has developed a judgment of remarkable precision and independence, lie is a terror in the green room.” The second class of Professors is composed of one man. Dr. John II. Callender, Professor of Physiology, who Is a class in himself, and the only man of his class. He is intermediate between the old and the young Professors. To his professional acquirements he has added a literary culture far beyond the average scholar. His graceful manner and pleasant voice, added to this culture, gives him a power before an audience that attracts, teaches and charms. He is chairman of the Department of Physiology in the International Medical Congress. His national reputation is deserved. The last division embraces the younger members of the Faculty, Professors s. Itriggs of the chair of operative Surgery, 0. II. Mcnees of the chair of natomy, and G. 0. Savage of the chair of the Eye and Ear. On account of their age. these members of the Faculty get nearest the hoys. Professors Itriggs and Memos are alumni of this department. Pro- fessor Savage was elected to his chair immediately upon his return from Europe, where he had been pursuing investigations upon his branch. The college building, with its museum, laboratory and hospital, occupies a block on South College street. The number of students is about three hundred. Whether they come from the backwoods of Arkansas, with their pants in their boots, but their brains well stocked by their own hard work, or from some southern city with their tight breeches, red cravats and mental i natu, they here meet on the common level of “stewed rats” — a suggestive soubriquet lie- stowed bv the Nashville small hoy. s soon as he arrives here the Med. proceeds to lose his former identity, ami as he passes back and forth over the city he is regarded as a specimen of doubtful biological history, but recognized as falling somewhere between the limits of an earthworm ami a jaekall. The Meds. her»;, as elsewhere, carry questionable reputations. The opinion is afloat that a man cannot bo a gentleman during his three years study at a medical college. That this is mani- festly Untrue is abundantly testified by the manner in which ho conducts himself when he has left the dissecting-room and clinic with his credentials of proficiency in his possession. This same medical student goes out into the work I to light the wolf from his door, to light death from the bedside of others, to introduce infant humanity into the world, and to hand old age tenderly down to the last resting place.