f! M AN EXPOSURE OF THK CONDU^T,vP*V I'L OF THE TRUSTEES AND PROFESSORS OF.THK MEDICAL COLLEGE OF OHIO, AND OF THE HOSPITAL OR TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES, st: IN RELATION TO V JOHN P. HENF.Y, M.D. :^#»ftw» 'OtfiW*- ^^^^e-ftseawte^... CINCINNATI: WOOD & STRATTON, PRINTERS. 1833. W^ m V 1/ 'uisCaV ricaJ •&fUi?Uu) fid /? A / V PL £*uyj^ crz-y^ 0i^ lt^^A^dL^Jc^--^C> / ;— tb tJ^U^^J fl^t^ l^ £i^~&/ toirtasvc v-^_jf %* Xoc a.£ /£f* ^^i^.^ZL **^ /4^ <\-t^A^ /Ur^> tiJ-ZA^l JOO/ r J^ rPvcc^oc hai' CINCINNATI: WOOD & STRATTON, PRINTERS. AN EXPOSURE. My name has been so frequently mentioned by the parties to the controversy concerning the Medical College of Ohio, that I feel impelled, by paramount obligations, to present to the public, my own version of the complicated transactions, in which I bore a part, however humble. I have no fear, that any can accuse me of pre- cipitancy, when the narrative of my provocations is read—indeed, my only apprehension is, that my forbearance will be a matter of astonishment, and regret to my friends. To them, an apology is due for this long delay. When, after a series of base aggressions on my character and feelings, the Trustees of the College expelled me in April last, I would at once have published a history of their conduct, had not a most afflictive occurrence in my own family, rendered me for several months unfit for the duty. Their Circular of the 25th of May, somewhat disturbed my tranquility, and demanded, imperatively, an immediate expose; but it was not until the latter end of Sep- tember, that I resolved to print any thing in self-defence. The sud- den outbreak of Cholera, a little after this period, rendered it not merely inexpedient, but a matter of duty to do nothing which might, perchance, disturb the harmony of society, or distract the attention of a single individual, from the momentous concerns of the epidem- ic. When the tornado had passed by, I was more indisposed than at any former period, to commence a warfare with those in author- ity. I did not think better of them ; but when I remembered the incessant and urgent demands which were made on me for profes- sional services, by the most intelligent and respectable portion of the community, I felt redeemed from any injurious impressions my ene- mies may have produced against me" here; and whs williDg to rest my reputation elsewhere, upon the knowledge of me, which was spread over various portions of the West. Such were my feelings, self-complacent, no doubt, some will call them; but well or ill found- ed, they led me to desire tranquility, and to devote myself in an unobtrusive way, to the study and practice of my profession. I had witnessed something of the turmoils of a Medical Sebool. I had seen the subserviency and sycophancy which alone could recom- mend a Professor to the Hon. Board of Trustees. I had tasted the bitter frui s of the malice and detraction of some of my asso- ciates; and I was willing to take my leave of them forever. [4] But I have not been permitted to pursue this course. The subject has been kept constantly before the public, by the busy tongue of falsehood ; and for the purpose of giving an official sanction to my expulsion^ at the meeting of the First District Medical Society, in November last, a resolution was introduced by a friend of the Col- lege, approving of the late re-organization, and lauding the present Faculty. I was not present, but understand that it was in the hand writing of Dr. Mitchell, who seconded the motion and made a speech in its favor. On counting the ayes and noes, Drs. Eberle, Mitchell, and Staughton, recorded their votes in its favor, 'in brass'.' The son of one Professor, the brother of a second, and the cousin of a third, also voted for it! The Hospital surgeon, who owes his appointment to the Faculty, the co-editor of the Medical Gazette, a periodical conducted by Drs. Eberle, Staughton and Mitchell, also voted for it! Thus eight votes were vitiated, by the palpable interest they had in the issue of the contest. Besides these, other votes were given, which proved conclusively to my mind that there was a concerted movement on this subject—that in fact, the measure was carried by a. packed Jury. Those who asked to be'excused, could not have approved the resolution, or they would have voted for it; and if to these, be added tie four noes, we have eleven, a number equal to that which, if delicacy had prevailed, would have been given to the College ! and yet, this is trumpeted forth as proof of the popularity of the college at home. But let us have their own account of this, and similar matters. "First District Medical Society." At the regular semi-annual meeting of the First District Medical Society, held in the Mechanics' Institute, November,27, 1832, the following acts, amona;others were passed: First, to fix the annual election of officer5, hereafter, at 4 o'clock, P. M . of the first day of the session. Second, to approve of the conduct of the Trustees of The Medical College of Ohio, in the following terms, viz: Resolved, that in theopinion of this Society, the organization of the Facul- ty of the Medical College of O. as effected by the Board of trustees in May last, is well adapted to promote the best interests of the Institution, and ia such as ought to be satisfiactory to the profession and the State. On this resolution, there were nineteen in the affirmative, four in the nega- tive, and seven were excused, of whom at least three are known to be friendly to the proceeding. A. Member. jVoi-.27, 1832. Remarks on the PreceeJhig. When this vote is compared with that of the spring meeting Tor president of the Society, the public will be able to judge of the, extent of the influence of the opponents of the College. The candi- dates for the Presidency were two in number, and the election was a fair test of the strength of parties, in regard to the recent act of the Trustees, in new modelling the School. The whole number of votes polled on that occasion, wa3 51, of which 40 were given for the gentleman who was run by the friendi of the College. When it is recollected that the First District Society holds its sessions in Cincinnati, the central point of opposition to the College, and that of course all the influence to be procured by disappointed ambition and neglected vanity was in full operation, the recorded votes of the society as here noticed, cannot fail to produce a just impression on the public mind. [5] The ' remarks' are uucandid and offensive- ' The gentleman who was run by the college,' had been expelled less than twelve months before; and his friendship for the Professors, is exceedingly problematical, whatever may be his love for the college. Wheth- er it be intended to embrace me, under the category of "disappoin- ted ambition, or neglected vanity," I pronounce the insinuation, that I exerted, or attempted to exert any influence, to procure my election, utterly untrue. I did not vote for mvself, as my accu- sers have done ! I considered these movements, as a declaration of war against me; and they would instantly have called forth the statements, which it is the object of these pages to communicate, had I not known, that the proceedings of the Third Distiic Medical Society were about to be published ; and I thought it expedient, on that account, to wait for the belligerant operations which I supposed would succeed it. My forbearance has not been without its utility ; for although it may have encouraged my adversaries, it has, at the same time, afforded me an opportunity of answering, in a^singie pamphlet, all that has been, and I presume, all that can be said against me. I am next assailed by the Trustees of the Medical College of Ohio, who in reply to the Third District Society have insinuated, as they had done in their annual circular, that I was i.icompetent to the discharge of the duties of my Professorship, and 'he Township Trus- tees assisting on this occasion, as they did on a former one, have also entered the lists against me, and proved conclusively their title to be considered friends of the College,' by abusing all who are ob- noxious to the Professors and to the College Board. With this combination of College Trustees, Medical Professors, and Town- ship Trustees, armed with the simple weapons of truth and ji slice, I enter without dismay into the contest. The public wilF observe, that since my expulsion, I have done nothing to obstruct the opera- tions of the College. I have desired peace. I have sought it, not by degrading supplications, but by abstaining from hostility. But with that illiberality which marks the conduct of ray enemies, they have driven me from my repose by goading me with their taunts and their revilings, and to them attaches all the blame of provo- king this controversy. , It is known to all, that I was one of the Professors in the medi- cal department of Miami University—that I was a co-guarantor to a large amount to Drs. M'Clellan and Eberle, by which they were induced to accept stations in the School, and that of course, I ought to be considered one of the founders of that School. I do not allude to this as confering honor, but as implying obligations, not merely on me, but on all who entered the Institution. This the Trustees of the College strangely narrowed down, when they rep- resented Dr. Drake as alone bound to me by pledges of fidelity : Were they ignorant of the fact, that Drs. Staughtou, Mitchell, Drake and myself entered into solemn and mutual pledges not to desert each other, or Dr. Eberle? and with the knowledge of this < [6] fact, what sort of .casuistry can eleven honorable men employ to justify their repeated attempts to detach a portion of the Miami Faculty? That they made such attempts is matter of history; that they were not repelled, that they were in fact encouraged by the Professors of Surgery and of Chemistry is plainly intimated by Dr. Drake in his letter to the Third District Society,and was a subject of common rumor at the time. This has never been denied by either the tempters or tempted. It has also been circulated through this community, that I refused to release Dr. Drake from his pledges to me, and that I entreated him and the other members of the Miami Faculty, not to desert me. These statements are false. Dr. Drake never desired to be released, so far as I ever knew. Had he done so, my consent would not have been withheld for a single moment. The other part of the al- legation is equally unfounded, but more humiliating. I have never degraded myself by soliciting that, which I had a right to demand ; and of this nature, I considered my claims upon Drs. Staughton and Mitchell. Ho re I cannot suppress a fact, which is worthy of remembrance, that Dr. Drake has at various times spurned the most tempting offers to desert each of his associates; but that neither of those who are now in their " pride of place," has ever shewn the least available aversion to desert him. In connexion with this subject, though somewhat out of place, I may be permitted to state, that when Dr. Drake contemplated resigning his station in the Medical College, on account of the limited nature of his chair, and the adherence of the Trustees to Dr. Pierson, after he had failed to come on, I proffered to him to resign, and thus afford the Trus- tees an opportunity of enlarging the sphere of his operations. This h* refused to permit, declaring that if I resigned, it would not for one moment, arrest the movement on which he had determined.— This proves the falsehood of another prevalent rumour, that by the tenacity with which I held to office, I was the cause of driving my friend from the school. Why I did not resign at the bidding of the Trustees, will be shewn in the progress of this narration. Recurring to the order of facts, we find that the Trustees with a perseverance worthy of a better cause, endeairored to detach first one and then another of our Miami associates: and that finally, Dr. Drake, as a compromise—an alternative, and not a choice, pro- posed a plan of consolidation of which the following is a copy. Cincinnati, July 7th, 1831. Gentlemen,—In further reply to your note, offering me the Professorship of the Institutes and Medical Jurisprudence, in the Medical College of Ohio, I beg leave to suggest the following plan of consolidation as the only one, as far as I know, that can leave me at liberty to accept a chair in the Insti- tution. PLAN OF CONSOLIDATION. Anatomy, Dr. Cobb, Institutes of Medicine and Medical Jurisprudence, Dr. Pierson, Theory and Practice of Medicine, Dr. Morehead. [7] Surgery, Dr. Staughton, Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children, Dr. Henry, Materia Medica, and Botany, Dr. Eberle, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Dr. Mitchell, Clinical Medicine, Dr. Drake. I would preferthe chair to which f have affixed my name, to the one offered to me by the Board; but if the friends of Dr. Pierson, would prefer to place him in that chair, I will acquiesce. If the Board fenr an injurious augmentation of expense, I will accept either of these chairs without having it obligatory upon the students, to take my ticket. I am induced to make this suggestion, by the hope that it will promote that consolidation, which your honorable body have expressed a desire to effect, and which could not fail to prove beneficial to the interests of society. I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant, DANIEL DRAKE. To the Hon. Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Ohio." Let us pause for a moment to enquire into the nature of this ar- rangement, which the Trustees promptly accepted. The organization of the Medical Department, of Miami University, had thrown the College Board into a panic. They had endeavored to arrest its op- erations by appealing first to the Legislature, and then to the Law. Failing in both they endeavored to effect the same end by stratagem. Will they deny that the destruction of the Medical Department of Miami University was their object, and that to effect this, they ope- rated on the hopes and fears of some members of the Faculty and that finally they consented to this "plan of consolidation" for the purpose of destroying a rival of which they seemed to have an in- stinctive dread? They say to the Legislature, that they "apprehend- ed injury from the establishment of a rival," and they offered stations in the Medical College to all of the permanent members of the Mi- ami Faculty. Here then were all the essentials of a contract—in the language of the Law there was even a "quid pro quo.11 They say to the members of the Miami Faculty, if you will relinquish your scheme, we will give you places in our College. To this we ac- ceeded, paying the price of Professorships in the College by resign- ing our stations in the University. The arrangement was called a 'consolidation.' It was in fact a compromise of conflicting interests: a compact, by which two opposing and rival institutions were blend- ed into one. Who were the parties to it ? The Trustees of the Medical College, and each one of the Professors of the Miami Faculty. Could either party dissolve it without the consent of the other ? Could all of one party and a majority of the other dissolve it without the consent of the minority? Certainly not. The plain- est precepts of law, and common sense answer in the negative. Now whether Dr. Pierson, first violated this compact by asking conditions, which if granted to all would have ruined the school, or whether, as the Trustees seem to think, Dr. Drake was the first to infringe on the spirit of the compromise, is a matter of no moment so far as my case is concerned. Whatever others may have done, I did nothing to vitiate the tenure by which I held my station. For that station I had resigned my rank in Miami University, and it [8] could not have ent< red into the mind of an honorable man, that the arrangement would so soon have been broken up; that Dr. Pierson would be allowed a year and three months to prepare himself for a chair he was never to fill, and that I would be dislodged at the end of the first session, whether I satisfied my class or not? When I asked a Trustee, if this was contemplated at the time of the re-or- ganization ; he replied no—" if it worked well and harmony prevail- ed.1'' We have their own report to the Legislature dated 19th De- cember, 1831, in which they state that their " expectations had been realized1'' and that "harmony and good feeling, to a very considerable degree prevailed,11—Here we have both of the conditions, on the oc- currence of which, the arrangement was intended to be permanent— and yet the winter is not half over, before the whole system is dis- turbed by the Trustees themselves, prompted as I am led to infer, by the clandestine representations of some one or more Professors. What was my crime? Why was I to be dismissed? I had said that Dr. Pierson had forfeited his claims to a station in the School by failing to come on; and I had refused to desert Dr. Drake, in obe- dience to a very plain intimation from one Trustee to that effect. My colleagues of Miami Faculty, had said the same thing to Dr. Drake and myself, relative to Dr. Pierson, but then they had re- deemed themselves from this heresy by a total neglect of the claims of Dr. Drake, although he had been to them a steadfast friend. Had I deserted him, there can be no doubt that I too would have shared the favor and the confidence of the Board. But these motives for my expulsion, the Board could not public- ly avow, so they encouraged, if they did not instigate every mali- cious rumour relative to my lectures, and my standing with the class. These having circulated in the bye-paths of calumny from the commencement of thesession to the middle of February, reach- ed my ears. I immediately called on a Trustee, who professed to be my friend, to know the cause of the dissatisfaction which was said to exist in the Board respecting myself, and to learn the truth of the rumor that the Trustees intended to remove me. He told me, that it was said, and believed by the Board, " that the class were greatly dissatisfied with me: that I was reported to lecture very badly; even worse than any who had ever been in the school.11 Who was the informant of the Trustees I never could ascertain, although I en- deavored to do so. It was, however, a striking illustration of the character of the Board, that they received statements disparaging to an individual, whom it was their duty to sustain, and protect, without using any means to ascertain their truth—without once hearing his didactic lectures, or extending the common courtesy of informing him what they had heard and believed. By means of false statements, they arrived at the opinion that the class was dis- satisfied, and without a moment's hesitation they meditate my dis- missal. On the 14th of February, I was made acquainted with these facts. I determined to appeal to the class, and if their ver- dict should be against me, to send in my resignation at once. On [9] the next day the following memorial, (which I never saw until it was presented to me by the students,) was drawn up and subscri- by60—there being at that time less than 90 students in attendance. It was subsequently subscribed by three more, and I received sepa- rate testimonials from two others, making in all 71. "The undersigned, students of the Medical College of Ohio, havin- under- IfftJSi1' Hnim°rH' ilbro^that theX ™ nmch dfssatisfied vJith 1 e lectu es tha^ ?hor r' ?erm l\ b,lt Ull act of Justicc t0 tha* Gentleman, to say, that there is no just foundation for such a rumor—that thev have derived much instruct on from him—that he has ParnP^Iv arwi • f a,enve.a i„,i _„„. .u„ „ ,• » n , earnestly and perspicuously travel- led over the subjects usually treated by a Professor of Obstetrics and the diseases ofWomen^ and Children-and that considering thi?ash sfi tcourse! ta^tTih*he7'ni0VhaVheha9'and is »cquit«nf himself with adva£ tage to the pupils, and credit to the Institution." Some ten or twelve students declined signing the memorial, a part of whom acknowledged themselves well pleased with my lec- tures. I have understood that a counter memorial was attempted and actually obtained five signatures. But whether this was pre- sented to the lrustees or not I never ascertained. The memorial of the students came very opportunely to arrest the proceedings of that inquisitorial court, yclept, the Board of Trus- tees. I bave been told that they were about to determine my ex- pulsion cm account of my bad standing with the students, when it was handed to the President, by a deputation of the class. It threw them into a sad dilemma; aud how to evade its force requi- red much consideration. Two modes were attempted, neither of which were successful. One was to insinuate that the students who had signed my memorial were actuated by fear of me—that many of them were candidates for graduation, and were apprehensive I would bear hard upon them, if they did not sign in my behalf. The ab- surdity of this must be apparent to all, when it is known that a majority could always graduate a candidate, and that to oppose me would be the readiest mode of conciliating that majority. But an- other view of the question seemed to quadrate much better with their notions. Wheu they could not make it appear that the young men had any thing to fear from my opposing their grauation, it was declared that their signatures were obtained by threatened violence from a few of my friends. But I had gained no' favor with the Trustees, bv showing that I was respected by the Class. On the contrary, they hated me the more, because I would not suffer myself to be disgraced by mistate- ments. They had drawn on the warm and generous feelings of youth, and had their bills protested. They next made a call on the frigid councils of age, and were not disappointed. A communica- tion from the Hospital Trustees was soon at their command. On the 19th or 20th of February, a College Trustee informed me that there were rumors from the Hospital prejudicial to my charac- ter. I explained the whole matter to him, and on the 20*th, wrote a statement, which lay on my office table one week, simply because I did not think the charges important enough to require a written answer. But on the 27th a friend informed me, that allegations of t 10] a most seriou9 character had been sent to the College Board by the Hospital Trustees, and that I ought to take measures to remove the impressions they had made, as the College Trustees intended to ba-e my expulsion upon the statements they had received. Imme- diately I addressed a note to the. President of the Board, and t> the Trustee, to whom my retained letter had been directed. In each communication 1 defied m> accusers to the proof of any allegation unfavorable to my character as connected with the Hospital. I heard not one word more in relation to this subject, until the first of March at 9"oclock P.M. when the following communication was received by the Faculty. "Resolved, That a committee of one from the Board of Trustees, be appoin- ted to convey to the Faculty through their Dean a copy of the communica- tion of the Township Trustees, with'a request that he submit the same, and that such measures be taken by them as may be deemed necessary to remove any ground of complaint that may exist. Whereas, Mr. Burke was appoint- ed the committee to carry this resolution into effect. W. CORRY, Secr'y." [Extract from the Minutes, February 24, 1832.] With this came the communication referred to, which the College Trustees had rolled "as a sweet morsel under their tongues," for seven days all of which time they no doubt firmly believed that I was guilty; for those gentlemen, although many of them are Lawyers, reversed as to me, the humane maxim of the Common Law,that "inno- cence is presumed, until guilt is proved." The communication of the Township Trustees was read to the Faculty, when I instantly demanded an investigation. The Faculty appointed a committee consisting of Drs. Moorhead, Cobb and Eberle; and, as is evinced in their late Bulletin against me, the recollection of the Township Trustees is very bad, I will inform them that this committee went to the Hospital at 3 o'clock on the 2d of March, 1832, and the exami- nation of the witnesses designated to the College Board, by them- se!ves,took place in the student's room, in presence of the committee, ofMr.Linley then Hospital Surgeon, of myself, of Mr. Richardson I think, and of the matrons, nurses, &c. Dr.Moorhead wrote down the minutes of evidence, which is now on file, or ought to be among the archives of the college. This evidence acquitted me of all culpa- bility, and at the succeeding meeting of the Faculty on the 3d of March, the report was presented sigtiedby Jno. Moorhead—Jno. Eb- erle and J. Cobb; thereupon Dr. Eberle introduced the following resolutions which passed unanimously: Dr. Moorhead being absent and Dr. Henry not voting. "Resolved, that from the report of the committee appointed to enquire into the validity of the allegations made by the Trustees of the Commercial Hos- pital, in a communication addressed by them to the Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Ohio, it does not appear, that there is any truth or correct- ness in any of the charges or criminations made in 3aid communication, against the Professor of Obstetrics. Resolved, that the result of this investigation be communicated forthwith to the Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Ohio." [11 [ The result wag communicated the same evening, and that some of the Board of Trustees should now say, " they had never instituted an inquiry on the subject," is incredible, when they had the whole records before them, and when the President of the Board in dis- missing me, states explicitly, that they consider "the Report of the Faculty (wih the accompanying documents) a complete refutation of all the slanders propagated against me as a Professor;" 1 marvel much therefore, that the prompter and writers for the Township Trustees, should venture on so palpable a falsehood, nor is there one word of truth in their whole pamphlet in relation to myself—and I may truly say of it, as Dr. Eberle said of their communication to the College Board, that " it is one of the most mendacious attempts to injure the reputation of a medical man, that has ever been wit- nessed." The Township Trustees are recorded, on the Books of the College, and of the College Board, as the propagators of slan- der, and yet the writing Professors publish in the first number of their Gazette, "from personal observation, we know that the best feelings are cherished by the Township Trustees towards this rising school, (meaning the Medical College of Ohio, with a decrement of six- ty eight in a single year,) " and that the weight of their influence has been cast in its favor." Are we to understand that they are affiliated propagators of slander ? But how has " the weight of their influence been cast in its favor"? Is it by defaming a colleague, whom the Trustees of the College wanted to get rid of? I doubt whether they could perform a more acceptable service. By way of showing the collusion, or to use a milder term, the combi- nation between the two Boards of Trustees, I will relate a fact. Sometime before the slanders from the Hospital were fully concoc- ted, the Trustees of that Institution told Mr. Linley, the Hospital Surgeon, that the College Board were about to remove me. Here, then, was a mutual understanding, which could only result from concert, for there is no legal connexion betwteen the two sets of Trustees. But to return to the Trustees of the College. They had been disappointed in their expectations from the Class—they had been foiled in the allegations of the Hospital Trustees, and they were thus compelled to dismiss me on some other ground. During the time they had been endeavoring to expel me, first for one and then for another cause, they had been planning the reduction of Professor- ships, as a dernier resort, and on the 22d of February, they sub- mit to the Faculty the following protocol. "The Trustees having understood, that several medical men of experience and judgment, have expressed an opinion, that the condition of the Medical College of Ohio, would be improved, and its utility increased by reducing the number of professorships to six,—Therefore, Resolved, that the Board of Fac- ulty be respectfully requested to communicate to the Board of Trustees their opinion on that subject.*' What does the Dean,Dr.Staughton,under this etate of things? Sum- mon the Faculty, and submit the matter for their consideration? No! [ <2] but pretending a want of time, he requests a separate and early ans- wer, although the Trustees had referedthe matter to the.Board of Fac- ulty without even expressing a desire for its speedy action. Here wasashrinking from responsibility which ought not to have been tolerated. It served, however, to conceal from the inspection of colleagues the conduct of each other. Had the Faculty met, I haz- ard nothing in the opinion, that some who wrote affirmative or eqiv- ocal answers, would not have ventured to display such a wanton violation of principle as was evinced in their assent to the propo- sition of the Trustees. But taking them in detail—appealing to their fears—or their hopes; sordid motives piedominated, and un- sustained by the strength which the mass would have given, and unawed by the denunciations that could not have been suppressed, my colleagues with the exception of Dr. Drake, yielded to the views of the Trustees and advised the reduction. The turpitude of this transaction, whether we view it in reference to the Trustees or the Faculty, must be apparent to all who will frankly consider it. As a compromise the Trustees had established eight Professorships. They had only a month or two before in their report to the Legis- lature, recognized the existence of that number, (without how- ever once alluding to the indulgence granted to Dr. Pierson, the ab- sentee,) and said " we feel gratified in stating that our expectations have been realized." But their own re-election was then pending in the Legislature, and a favorable report of the school was neces- sary to secure that object. No sooner are they re-appointed than their tone is changed. They endeavor to drive me from the college covered with the ignominy they had themselves cast on me. Failing in this, they resort to the Professors and obtain a sanction for the reduction of Professorships—and this too, let it be remembered, after Dr. Drake had reduced the number, by resigning. I put the question to all concerned, whether the present arrange- ment of the Faculty was not contemplated early in the winter ? Whether my degradation vvas]not one of the means,to bring about this arrangement? And whether finally, the Faculty did not know expli- citly that my expulsion was the object of the contemplated reduction, and that thereby Drs. Moorehead and Pierson, would be translated, and Dr. Eberle promoted? Will they tell us when these changes were " concocted ?" But I ask in vain. The appeal of the Trustees to the Faculty on this occasion was an insult and should have been resented as such. But the Trustees knew their men. They did not " reckon without iheir host." Thus under the shallow pretext of advice of the Faculty, an advice extorted or fraudulently obtained, they attempt to justify themselves to the world forvio- lating their plighted faith and inflicting on an individual a wanton injury. In their Circular issued 25th of May last, they involve them- selves in an absurdity beyond their power of extrication. They Btate that the unexpected resignation of Dr. Drake seemed to im- pose on the Trustees the necessity of reducing the Professorships [ 13 ] to six. By what process of reasoning did they reach this conclu- sion? Dr. Drake's resignation may have rendered it proper to abolish his chair, or imposed the necessity of a new appointment, but certainly no necessity grew out of it to break up the organiza- tion of the school by " vacating the Professorship of Obstetrics," and " abolishing that of the Institutes." In their reply to the Third District Society, they state the matter thus, " Now if any question of preference arose, it related solely to Dr. Henry, and Dr. Pierson, and the Trustees decided it correctly. Dr. Henry had never officiated in a Medical Institution, and was as Dr. Drake described him, "an untried man.11 What can be more illogical than this attempt at argument. If there were a question of prefer- ence between Dr. Pierson and myself, who produced it? The Trus- tees themselves—they had reduced the Professorships, that it might arise; and as a matter of course, they decided in favor of Dr. Pier- son. I was, at the time this question arose, officiating in a medical institution, and the Trustees garble an expression used by Dr. Drake six months before, and apply it to me, without its qualifying circumstances. Dr. Drake had been setting forth the pretensions of Dr. Eberle, and then goes ou to say, ' Dr. Henry is comparatively an untried man.' But what was true then, could not, without a great stretch of courtesy be considered true, when 1 had lectured four months to the largest and most intelligent Class ever assembled in Cincinnati. They continue, " on the contrary, Dr. Pierson was al- ready a member of the institution, and had abandoned his other prospects, accordingly." "And because he was not thrust out of it, to make way for Dr. Henry, the charge of favoritism is brought against the Trustees." The first sentence of this extract is just as true of me as of Dr. Pierson, and the last conveys an idea, which in no sense, that I can understand it, is true at all. We were both in the institution. There were chairs enough for each of us. He did not want mine, and I had never asked the Trustees to give me his. It is absurd therefore to say that any person desired him to be thrust out to make way for me. r After the re-organization by which I was displaced, the Trustees published the following encomium on the Faculty:—"It is believed that all the chairs are now rilled by Professors whose talents and de- votion to Medical science will bear an advantageous comparison with those of any institution with which we are acquainted." And in their late pamphlet the same idea is reiterated as to a part at least of their Faculty. Nothing can excuse the absurdity of such state- ments but the ignorance of those who make them: the first part of this sentence conveys fheimpression that the Faculty had been improved by the changes. No one, who kpows any thing on the subject, pie- tends that this is so. To say nothing of myself, they have lost Dr. Drake and gained Dr. Pierson. Is this an improvement? An appeal to the Profession in the West, would answer in the negative. The last clause is equally unfounded. It is presumed that the Trustees know nothing of the Philadelphia Schools, or these of New-York, [ 14] or Baltimore, but surely they are acquainted with that iu Lexington. Without entering into a comparison, which would be anything but "advantageous" to the Medical College, I have only to say, that no student or medical man, who will alternately spend a winter in each place, can for a moment hesitate to give the preference to Transylvania. I may be permitted to say, in reference to myself, that the nd- dress of the students to the Trustees was not the only testimonial I received of respect and confidence. After the delivery of my valedictory, a deputation of the Class waited on me, io request a copy for publication, " as an act of justice to myself, and a refuta- tion of the slanders with which I had been assailed." No other Pro- fessor but Dr. Drake received this houor; it was pointedly denied to all the rest. But the zeal of my young friends did not then cea3e. Twenty, out of the thirty two Graduates, who were in the city at Commencement, enclosed me the following memorial and remon- strance, which was never transmitted to the Board, because I wa9 tired of accumulating evidence, which, if examined at all, served merely to create a more dogged resolution to dismiss me. Cincinnati, March 3, 1832. To the Honorable the Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Ohio. We, the undersigned graduates of the present session, have heard with regret, that your honorable body have for sometime had it in contemplation to remove Professor Henry from his chair. It is now upwards of four months, since we began to have intercouse daily with that gentleman us our public teacher, and one of the examiners for our degrees. Throughout the whole period, he uniformly manifested a full and accurate knowledge of the various subjects of his course. In the demonstrative parts, he has been successful and instructive, iu his reasoning; clear and cogent, in his deportment honorable and gentlemanly, and acceptable to the Class. His attendance at the lecture room has been punctual, and his devotion to his duties, exemplary. On the whole, w^ believe that the interests of the College do not require his removal. We would therefore respectfully petition your honorable body to relin- quish the design." The reason which my young friends gave for getting up this me- morial on the same subject with that presented to the Board in Feb- ruary, was, that they were then in a situation, in which the purity of their motives could no longer be questioned, and they could not go home without making every effort to repair the injury the Trus- tees and some of the Professors had done me. A large part of the same graduates petitioned for the transfer of Dr. Moorehead to the Institutes, assigning, among other reasons, that he had not lectured on more than half the diseases belonging to his chair. I am re- jected by the Board, in despite of the wishes of the C\ass, and Dr. Moorhead is transferred to my chair, although he had never finish- ed the subjects of his own. [ 15] But the evidences of the attachment of the students did not even then terminate. A class of eight or ten remaining in the city during the summer for medical instruction, solicited me to lectuie to them, leaving subjects, terms, and time to my own decision. This does not look much like di->a ^faction with my teachingduring the win- ter. Will the Trustees tell us how many attended the summer lec- tures of the Faculty of the Medical College? I may be indulged in one or two additional remarks. In the "consolidated" Faculty there were three members directly or indi- rectly from Philadelphia; and yet the great state of Pennsylvania sent us only six pupils : while from Kentucky, in which there is a justly cherished Medical School, we had thirty two. I confess, I was gratified at this result, although my enemies may say I had no influ- ence in producing it. It was at all events a contingency, which was quite suspicious; and coupled with another contingency, it assumes a graver front—the number from that state during the present session is only six ! The Kentuckians are a proud people. 1 understand fully the impulse which would induce them to desert a school, in which the character, the feelings, and the rights of the humblest of her sons had been disregarded, and outraged. From the foregoing narration it conclusively appears, that if the wishes of the class had been regarded, I would not have been dis- missed. I recur to the conduct of the majority of the class of 1831 -2, with the most grateful emotions. The ingenuous impulses of youth weie blended with the firmness of manhood, and 1 look to my official connexion with them as one of the brightest and most cheering incidents in my journey through life. In whatever scenes they may be cast, they will carry with them my warmest prayers for their success and respectability. Why was I removed ? There had been no collision between any member of the faculty, and myself. Drs. Eberle, Drake, and Moorehead, near the close of the session, did me the honor of at- tending a social party at my house; Drs. Cobb, and Mitchell had assigned indisposition as the reason why they were not also present, and'Dr. Staughton assured me a few weeks afterwards, that he " had uniformly spoken of me in terms of respect ; as a man of tal- ents, end one who would deliver a good course of Lectures," and Dr. Eberle had also to Dr. Drake expressed his approbation of my lectures. The spectacle of dismissing a Professor who had ac- quitted himself to the satisfaction of the class, and who had receiv- ed the approbation of several members of the Faculty, and maintain- ed social relations with all, is curious, if not unique. I will give the letter of the President of the Board of Trustees, which assigns the reason. Cincinnati, April 7th, 1832. DEAR SIR—The Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Ohio, have directed me to inform you that in the re-organization of that Institution you have been excluded Not from a belief of any of the slanders propagated against you as a Professor, against all of which they consider the report of the Faculty, (with the accompanying documents,) a complete refutation; [ 16] but from a conviction that the number of the Professors out;ht to be dimin- ished, in doing which, others have been preferred, whose claims were older and of paramount obligation. Yours, Respect fully, W. CORRY, President. DR. JOHN F. HENRY. I am here told that the Trustees do not believe " any of the slanders propagated against me as a Professor," which they are pleased to say have been completely refuted. The reason they as- sign for my removal, amounts to an acknowledgment of bad faith on their part, for they had created a Faculty of eight as a compro- mise, and should not for any reason, less cogent than neglect of duty, or incapacity, have permitted themselves to meditate, much less to effect its reduction. But if the facts and inferences of this pamphlet be correct, the reduction was a mean of removing an obnoxious individual, and not an end relating solely to the pros- perity of the College. Had the class petitioned my removal, that would have been the avowed reason for dismissing me. Had the false allegations of the Hospital Trustees been proved, I would have been sent forth with a blight upon my character, which would have descended with me to the grave. But neither of these much coveted grounds of removal could be sustained, and as a der- nier resort, the reduction takes place. But let us go a little deeper into these matters, and enquire why I was hunted down by the mot- ley crew of Medical College dependents. I have already said that my friendship for Dr. Drake, and refusal to desert him, joined with my expressed opinions in reference to Dr. Pierson, originated, as I believed, all the opposion to me; and the desire of restoring this gentleman to Materia Medica, which, owing to the variety of conflicting interests, could only be done by my removal, led the Trustees to reduce the Professorships as the least exceptionable mode now left them for effecting that object. If these be not the real motives which governed the Trustees in expelling me, . I frankly confess, that I do not know what were. But whether I am right or not, they cannot be so, for their letter to me is totally inconsistent wiih their published report to the Legislature of Dec. 19, 1832. To one point more I will call your attention. If they were men of stern integrity and candor, a high sense of honor would have impelled them to deny publickly the truth of the statements, which the Hospital Trustees affirm they received from " some" of their Hon. body. I take my leave of this Board of Trustees with much pleasure. In their private characters I profess to have no knowledge of them. As Anthony would say, ''they are all honorable men." But as public functionaries, I have found them partial, unfaithful, and un- just. In private intercourse, they may be amiable, they may ob- serve their contracts; and some may preach, bat none can practice the divine precept, do unto others as you would they should do un- to you. In their corporate capacity, (Sir William Blackstone says, " Corporations have no souls,") they have disregarded the obliga- [17] tion of compacts, and the rights and feelings of individuals. It would be considered vain and arrogant, if I were to add, the inte- rests and honor of the institution over which they preside. I must not omit a passing notice of my late colleagues of the Mi- ami Faculty. I have already stated what were the rumours in reference to two of them before the reorgnization ot the Medical College in 1831. But let us look at their conduct in another relation. They were members of the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine for summer Lectures. They were connected with some of the most re- spectable city practitioners. One course of Lectures had been de- livered, and arrangements were making for a second, when these three professors, without giving any notice to their associates, de- serted, and formed a summer School, under the exclusive auspices of the MedicalCollege of Ohio. Dr. Staughton, the Dean, without au- thority, from the Faculty, attached a notification of this new arrange- mentto the annual catalogue. When our late colleagues of the Acad- emy, saw it, their indignation was uttered in a tone,wbich could not be mistaken. This was followed by the most contemptible shuffling, and undignified prevarications, on the part of some of those who belonged to the College. These occurrences were simultaneous with the machinations for my expulsion from the College. My adhe- rence to those gentlemen who had united themselves with us, when in ourMiaini enterprise, we greatly needed the countenance of our friends, no doubt convinced my associates in the College, that I was altogether unfit for the selfish system, which they had adopted. It thus appears, that those who contemplated deserting me, when members of the Miami Faculty actually deserted me in the Cincin- nati Academy of medicine. As my colleagues in the Medical College of Ohio, they tamely succumb to the plans of the Trustees, and advise a reduction of the Professorships, knowing at the same time that this reduction was intended to operate upon me. No doubt exists in reference to the conduct of Drs. Mitchell and Staughton on this subject; but Dr. Eberle had declared to Dr. Drake and myself, that the trustees ought not to remove me. That it would be so flagrant an act of injustice that it would be impossible for the College to prosper un- der it, and that he had written an answer decidedly hostile to the reduction. The diminished state of the class establishes his claim to the title of a prophet beyond the posibility of a doubt. But as to the nature of his letter, I have received opposite statements. Two of the Trustees declared to two of my friends, that the Board interpreted it in favor of the measure. A Trustee repeated the same thing to me. I leave the discrepancy to be settled among themselves. The epistle was no doubt a master-piece of equivo- cation : looking to the promised chair of the Theory and Practice, and yet faintly dwelling on the obligations of faith, honor and jus- tice. Even so late as the 16th of March, in his letter to Dr. Drake he adopts the same duplicity of style, acknowledging that the ar- rangement which has since taken place, was agreed on by the 3* [ 18] Board; protesting that he bad nothing to do in the " concoction" of the scheme, and yet in almost the next sentence talking about the " relinquishment of his wishes to obtain the chair," which he now holds. As he openly declared that the chair of Obstetrics ought not to be vacated, why did he, not merely submit to it, but actually entertain " wishes to obtain the chair," which could only be given to him by effecting my removal; and then the declaration, plainly indicating his intimate acquaintance with the views of the Board, that a Chair must and will be provided for Dr. Pierson,* when he already held the Institutes, proves that the restoration of this gen- tleman to Materia Medica was the cause of my dismission, and un- folds to us the manner in which Dr. Kberle's "wishes" to obtain the Practical chair, were to be gratified. Instead of contenting himself with the declaration that he had nothing to do in the 'con- coction' of this iniquitous scheme, had Dr.Eberle told the Trustees, that he would not accept the chair of Theory and Practice, if coupled with my displacement, the whole intrigue would at once have been arrested. The obliquity of this Professor's course is the more sur- prising, as I had entered into legal obligations to a large amount to induce him to come here; and when the profits of last winter's lectures were likely to fall short of the sum guaranteed to him as a Professor of the Miami School, I offered, in conjunction with Dr. Drake, to make up the deficiency. He had acted a manly part to- ward me in relation to the slanders from the Hospital, and 1 was deluded by this show of friendship. But if I am not greatly mis- taken, at that very time he was indulging his " wishes to obtain the chair" of Theory and Practice; and the arrangement by which he was to be promoted, and I removed, was definitely agreed on by the Board. It was with much reluctance I surrendered my good opin- ion of Dr. Eberle, and I now leave him to that public opinion, which sooner or later will assign to him its appropriate award. Our inter- course began by a guaranty on my part. It ended by duplicity and final desertion on his. It is with no feelings of delight, 1 bring before the public any thing accusatory; but my situation is so peculiar, that one of my defences against the slanders of the Hospital, implicates the char- acter of one of my late colleagues, Dr. Staughton. Had the Hos- pital Trustees been really as anxious as they pretend when accu- sing me, to discover, expose, and correct abuses, they could not have overlooked the Surgical Department, in which two cases of death, from Compound Fracture, occurred in a period of about six months. In the first, Dr. Staughton convened the Faculty to de- cide on the propriety of amputation ; stating his opinion that the swelling of the limb was the result of internal Haemorrhage. The Faculty met. As soon as the dressings were removed, it was appa- *See his letter to Dr. Drake in the." Correspondence of the Third District Medical Society." [ 19] rent, that mortification had extended from the thigh to the abdomen- An experienced surgeon does not now-a-days let mortification come on without knowing it. The man was dying, and expired in two hours after we left the Hospital. The Surgeon is on the one or the other horn of the dilemma. He either did not know that mortifi- cation had taken place, or he wanted to operate notwithstanding its existence. 1 leave him to extricate himself. Another man died of compound fracture of the bones of the Leg, on the 11th of Febru- ary, 1833. Dr. Staughton saw thii man on the 6th of Februaiy, for the last time, although, daily importuned by Mr. Linley,* and daily promising to visit him—and when the Hospital Trustees were distorting every circumstance to obtain accusations against me, Mr. Linley with that honesty of heart, which is so conspicuous a trait of his character, told them of this neglect of the surgical Pro- fessor. They acknowledged that it was not right, but the Professor had so much to atend to, they supposed he had not time ! A shameful plea of justification to screen one Professor, when they were making it a ground of complaint against another, not that he did not come when sent for, but that he was not sent for at all. I have authority for saying that the present Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Mitchell, either placed or suffered to be placed on the Bench- es of his Laboratory, the lying pamphlet of the Township Trustees, for the purpose of distribution among the Students. Here then is the chief functionary of the College employed in the circulation of falsehood, knowing it to be such, for the records of the college contain abundant evidence that the whole so far as it implicates my- self is a tissue of falsehood, from beginning to end; and it should be remembered, that this Professor himself voted for the resolu- tion of the Faculty, acquitting me of all culpability in reference to the very charges contained in this pamphlet. He should have shun- ned all further connexion with men who had been virtually pronoun- ced slanderers by hisown vote, and by the very Trustees to whom he owed his own appointment. My defence would be incomplete, if I omitted to state, that I repeatedly urged my associates to prosecute the Miami Scheme, as the one best calculated to advance the objects of medical science, as well as the permanent interests of each one of us. I permitted my name to go to the College Board with much reluctance, con- vinced as I was by many indjcarions, that although I presented tes- timonials of which any of their Hon. body might have reasona- bly been proud, I could expect no favor#le consideration of my claims. But I felt that if they persisted in the scheme of *Much effort has been made to depreciate this young gentleman, and some how to connect him with me. He was placed in the Hospital when I was confined to my bed, and had 1 been present, my vote would have been given to another. But he proved himself competent, honorable, and uoright- and gained, as a matter of course, the rooted animosity of the Hospital Trus- tees. When he left the Hospital, Dr. Staughton, as Dean, certified that he had discharged the duties of House Surgeon to the Hospital, to the satisfac- tion of the Faculty. [ao] breaking up the Miami Faculty, it was my privilege to be made a participant in any arrangement, which might supercede it. After my appointment, if any Trustee had told me, that the Board wished me to resign at the end of the first Session, although it would not have removed the imputation of bad faith from their proceedings, I would have looked on it as my best alternative, and gratified their desires. But the first indication of a wish to get rid of me, was coupled with the most disparaging statements, and these were reit- erated with such unwearied perseverance, from so many different sources, and in so many clandestine ways, that there was no time at which I could have tenrlered my resignation, without leaving some allegation or insinuation unanswered. I appeal to every hon- orable man, whether a resignation under such circumstances would notjjave been construed into an ackuowlegement of the truth of the charges against me. Some may say I have written these pages for the purpose of ope- rating on the Legislature, against the present Board of Tiustees, and with the hope of being re-instated in the College. I have no such design, and no such hopes. But the greater part will ac- cuse me of hostility to the College. If I were hostile to it, I would * resolutely oppose reform; for its worst enemy could not desire to see its condition more humble and degraded than it is at present. I have written and published from no love of controversy. My sole object is to defend my character from the aspersions cast upon it by the host of my persecutors, from the Hon. Board of Trustees of the College, to tlie no less Honorable Board of Trustees of the Township, and their humble retainers and dependants. My motive has been self-protection. Relying on the justice of my cause, and abstaing from wanton injury of the character and feel- ings of others, I send these pages forth, with but little fear of the result. " Defence is a good cause and Heaven will prosper it." JOHN F. HENRY, M. D. Cincinnati, January 21,1833. APPENDIX. An article appeared in the Cincinnati Daily Gazette of the 6th Dec, headed ' Cholera and the Medical College of Ohio,'in which the writer, who is generally reputed to be Dr. Mitchell, endea- vored to make it appear, that the small size of the class this winter was attributable to Cholera alone. «. As soon as this article was seen in Lexington, the pupils who had been here last winter, but who are now in attendance there, trans- mitted a reply for publication in the same Gazette. In this they assign the late reorganization of the College, and not the Cholera, as the cause of their deserting the Medical College of Ohio. From their communication we make the following extract:— Mr. Hammond, An article appeared in your paper of the 6th inst. headed " the Chol- era and the Medical College," indirectly accusing us, as pupils of that in- stitution at its last session, of being deterred from returning to it this winter by the Cholera. This imputation might have been made with some show of truth, if no change had taken place in the organization of the Faculty of the Medical College of Ohio: but as it is, we beg leave to inform the writer of the above named article, that we are attending Lectures in Transylvania Uni- versity, through choice, and were not influenced, in any degree, by the dread of Cholera. NOTE. For the information of persons at a distance, the names of the Board of Trustees of the1 College and of the Faculty are subjoined. TRUSTEES. W. Corry, Pres't. S. W. Davis, Sec'ry. Hon. Jacob Burnett, Hon. George P. Torrence, Nathaniel Wright, Esq. Bellamy Storer, Esq. Daniel Gano, Esq. Joseph Gest, Esq. Dr. A. Duncan, Rev. Wm; Burke, Rev. O. M. Spencer FACULTY. Dr. Cobb,—Anatomy, Dr. Pierson,—Materia Medica, Dr. Staughton,—Surgery, Dr. Moorhead,—Obstetrics, Dr. Eberle,—Theory and Practice, Dr. Mitchell,—Chemistry. "^"i^*^ \ • I /