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

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€i)t I=Uap, ns From its iirst session, beginning in 183S, to the present time, a period of se ' enty-hve years, the history of the college shows a spirit of self-sacrifice on the part of its Faculty which is probably unequalled by that of any other institution in this country. Both Faculty anil Ad- junct Faculty ha ' e given loyal ser ice to the institution without adequate remuneration for any teacher and with- out any remuneration at all for most of them. They have spent the meagre funds at their disposal to impro e the teaching facilities of the college. The success of the school in its competition with wealthy and hea ' ily en- dowed institutions is the best proof of the unselfish dexo- tion of its teachers. By no one has greater devotion been shown than by our Dean, Dr. Christopher Tompkins. Elected to the Fac- ulty in 1880 he became Dean in iSq , and has ser ' ed the college in that capacity for twenty years, more than one- fourth of the entire period of its existence. From the time of his election to the present the col- lege has steadily grown greater in faculty, teaching facili- ties, number of students and reputation, until to-dav it has achieved a distinguished position among the medical colleges of this country. This has been accomplished not through the gift of large sums of money to the institu- tion, but through the endowment of an unpaid Faculty, which has unselfishly worked to this end. Cniided by a wise and conservative Dean, whose reputation for honor and integrity has been a bul« ' ark of strength. As Sec- retary of the college I ha e been intimately associated with him in the conduct of its affairs since 1900 and know the truth of these statements. The Old School, in behalf of which we ha ' e success- fully striven, ends its existence as such with the conclusion of the present session. This end is not death, however, but the transition from an humble to a more glorious existence, let us hope. It will retain its name and part of its old Faculty, and will aci]uire the Memorial Hospital, a large part of the Faculty and all of the property of the L ' niversity College of Medicine, which passes out of existence, so far as its name is concerned. These gifts add to the equipment of the Medical College of Vir- ginia, property of the value of at least a half-million dol- lars. With these notable additions to the equipment and teaching corps of the college, it would seem that its honor- able past bids fair to be rewarded by a glorious future. F. M. Ri:.- ni:, M. D.

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Oe I=Uap, ns L. W. Chamberlayne, iM. D., Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics. Thomas Johnson, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and Physiology. Socrates Maupln, M. D., Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy. Dr. Augustus L. Warner was the first Dean, and con- tinued in this capacity until his death, in 1845. Owing to differences between the Trustees of Hamp- den-Sidney College and the Faculty of the Medical De- partment, the latter applied to the General Assembly for a charter as a separate institution, and by an act passed February 25, 1854, the school was incorporated under the name of The Medical College of Virginia. During the session of i859- ' 6o, because of bitter sec- tional feeling, a large number of students from the South attending the medical colleges in Philadelphia withdrew from those colleges and entered the Medical College of Virginia, increasing the number of students to 228, the largest class in its history up to that time and until recent years. In i860, in consideration of an appropriation of $30,- 000 by the General Assembly, all of the property of the college was conveyed by deed to the Literary Fund, the college thus becoming a State institution. With this money a hospital, later known as the Old Dominion Hos- pital, and now occupied by the Dental Department, was erected and other necessary changes and improvements were made. During the war the Medical College of ' irginia con- ducted each year two sessions, of six months each, in order to supply the demand of the army and navj ' for surgeons. It was the only medical college in the Con- federate States which did not close its doors during this period, and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest medical college in the South which has been in continuous operation since its establishment. After the war the Faculty successfully resisted an at- tempt of the Readjuster party, which was then in power, to obtain control of the college by the substitution of a board of visitors, appointed by the Governor elected by that party, for the Board then in control. It was the only State school whose independence was maintained during that trying period. In 1879 an amendment to the charter was obtained, which enabled the Faculty to confer the degree of Grad- uate in Pharmacy, and for several years a course leading to this degree was conducted. In 1897 the college work was divided into three de- partments for the purpose of teaching medicine, den- tistry and pharmacy, and by an act of the General As- sembly, approved February 2, i8q8, the Faculty was authorized to coner the degree of doctor of dental sur- gery as well as the degrees of doctor of medicine and graduate in pharmacy.

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B Coast to Onv urscons Here ' s to Dr. Bosher, whose eye is like tiie hawic ' s, When any one starts to beat it He always stops to look. Likewise to Dr. Geo. Ben, whose hair is getting hoar, Altho O ' Kene is pouring it on, Sonny, give her some more. We would not forget Dr. Horsley, when he sounds his favorite note, Let ' s go back to Principles of Surgery — The race-horse and billy-goat. In the midst of so many surgeons, it ' s perfectly safe to get sick, For Dr. Willis says, No harm can come If you ' ll continue washing out the ' stomik ' . But before we close this toast. Dr. Robins we ' ll kindly mention. For it was he who gave the Seniors h — 1 For failing to give attention. This toast would be incomplete without protection, fixa- tion and distraction. And if you want Billy ' s name to vour sheets. Be sure these three to mention. W. H. R., ' 13.