cussion. She has successfully instituted a department or school of dentistry, now in its teens, which is fully equipped with buildings, infirmary, laboratories, and museum; had a class during the session of 1893-'94 of 135 students, and adopted a three-year graded course of study, which went into effect in October, 1891. But the time has arrived when old methods no longer suffice, and when she must enter upon new paths if she would maintain that exalted position which she has hitherto held and which has made her the boast and pride of her alumni. The anouncement has been made that she has taken this decisive step and commenced a new, and, we may hope, a more brilliant career than ever. The following is the official state ment of the reforms determined upon: (1) Uniform written examinations. (2) Uniform gradings, with a maximum of 100, of which a candidate must receive a general average of 65 in order to obtain the degree of Doctor of Medicine. If a candidate receive an average grade of 65, and fall to or below 33 in any branch, he is conditioned, and cannot receive his degree until he shall have passed a satisfactory examination in the deficient branch or branches, such examination to take place at a time to be appointed in October following. (3) The dispensary hours are to be lengthened and special bedside clinics in the hospital are to be arranged for the benefit of third-year men who have passed their examinations in the primary branches. (4) All matriculates must present, as an essential prerequisite, the diploma of a respectable college or high school, or a teacher's certificate, or else pass a preliminary examination in the English branches. (5) A lectureship on hygiene and medical jurisprudence is to be established. (6) A regular three-year graded course will be required of all candidates for the degree of doctor of medicine. A training school for nurses has been established under the direction of the experienced lady nurses who have been placed in charge of the university hospital. The faculty may now justly look to the alumni and friends of the school for their aid in inaugurating these reforms. The time for criticism and censure has passed; they are now in need of our sympathy and active cooperation. Whatever may be the result of their present action, whatever the trials and sacrifices they may be called upon to endure, they may at least take heart in the reflection that "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, they press toward the prize"-the consciousness of duty attempted and principle maintained, a prize without which even material prosperity would be worthless and unprofitable. The opportunity having unexpectedly presented itself, by a delay in the publication of this work, to bring this sketch up to date, the fol lowing additions are here made: In 1891 Dr. Randolph Winslow was elected to the chair of anatomy and clinical surgery. In the same year Emeritus Professors Johnston and Donaldson died, within a few weeks of each other, full of years and honors. Another important event was the inauguration of the histo logical, pathological, and bacteriological laboratory, under Dr. C. O. Miller. Instruction in these branches henceforth becomes obligatory. In 1892 a movement was set on foot by the alumni association for the permanent endowment of the medical school. A board of trustees, consisting of Messrs. Frank Frick, Thomas W. Hall, Richard McSherry, and Lawrason Riggs, and Drs. Henry M. Wilson, Samuel C. Chew, Charles O'Donovan, J. Edwin Michael, and Eugene F. Cordell, was elected and empowered to "receive, invest, and control" the fund to be raised for the exclusive benefit of the school of medicine of the university. This board, which is independent and self-perpetuating, contains representatives from the faculty of physic, the faculty of law, the alumni association, and at large. This composition of the board is required to be continued permanently in its original proportions. This board has already been incorporated under the laws of Maryland. It has no authority to expend the principal, but only the interest, of the fund. Active efforts are now being made by a committee of the alumni association to raise such a fund of not less than $100,000, and with good prospects of success. In the same year (1892) the department of medical jurisprudence and hygiene were united in one lectureship, of which Dr. Joseph T. Smith was appointed the first incumbent. During the year 1893 very extensive improvements were made at the university, which deserve some detailed notice. The necessity of better and more complete laboratories has been appreciated by the authorities for some years. Since the adoption of the three-year term and other advanced methods, this need has become a pressing one. The faculty determined to use the occasion for radical changes in the buildings, etc. Accordingly Practice Hall was built back to the alley in the rear of the lot and carried up another story. This gives the most ample accommodations for a chemical laboratory on the first floor, a histological and pathological laboratory on the second, and a dissecting room on the third floor. The first two will now admit one half of the junior class at one time. The dissecting room is lighted by skylight and side windows, and the floor is made of asphalt so that it can be flushed with hose whenever necessary for cleanliness. It has space for twenty tables. The north end of this floor is occupied by private dissecting and preparation rooms and a crematory. All these apartments are furnished with the most modern and complete appointments. There is an elevator in the building, toilet rooms have been provided in abundance, and there is an archway entrance beneath for vehicles, etc. The main building also has been thoroughly cleaned, renovated, painted within and without, and altered to conform to the changed conditions. The southwest room (formerly chemical laboratory) has been fitted up as a faculty room, the old "green room" opposite being now turned over to the dean. The old dissecting room above these has been converted into a museum. The old wall inclosing the grounds from the front and side has been removed and grass-covered slopes have taken its place. These improvements and alterations, which have cost the faculty about $15,000, have not only changed the entire appearance of the place, but may be truly said to have revolutionized the institution. They were inspected by the profession at a reception given by the faculty on the 28th of October, 1893, and were pronounced entirely satisfactory. In November, 1893, a disastrous fire entirely destroyed the Practice Hall and endangered the main building. There was, unfortunately, but little insurance on the burned building, but the medical faculty, undaunted by the loss, rebuilt Practice Hall during the summer of 1894 on the same plan as before. THE FACULTY OF DIVINITY (1812-1878). On April 5, 1852, this faculty reported "no active organization of the faculty has ever been attempted, and, in view of the character of the department contemplated by the charter, none seems desirable." Its chief energy seems to have been expended in giving honorary D. D.'s, of which six were conferred before 1826 and two in 1860. On March 26, 1819, the faculty report that "Rev. William E. Wyatt, the professor of theology, is preparing to deliver a course of theological lectures during the next winter session." This course was probably given once or twice, for on April 4, 1823, the faculty report that "in consequence of the ill health of the professor of theology, and his absence in Europe during a part of the year, that no theological lectures were delivered to the medical classes during the last session." The last sign of activity is a year later, when they report a course of lectures, as delivered before the medical students on Sunday afternoons on "The Evidences of Christianity and Moral Conduct." After Prof. Wyatt resigned, the post was not filled, and the last member of the faculty of divinity resigned on June 10, 1878.' THE FACULTY OF LAW (1812-1894). (1812 to 1832.) No organization of this department was made until 1822, when David Hoffman, LL. D., gave notice of his intention to deliver a course of lectures in it. He did not begin to do so until the following year, but then began lecturing daily, designing to establish a two-years course of ten months each year. The sudden death, August 1, 1823, of Judge Dorsey, who had a large and successful private law school, aided the new enterprise; but still it received but poor patronage, although aided by university funds. In 1826 the legislature, having taken charge of the affairs of the university, appropriated the balance of the $140,000 authorized by lot* Cordell, p. 49. 1 Cordell, p. 30. 2 |