REPLY 
I 
TO A PAMPHLET 
ENTITLED 
"A STATEMENT OF THE FACTS CONNECTED WITH 
THE LATE RE-ORGANIZATION 
OF THE] 
FACULTY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT 
OF PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, 
together toitb a gomntarg Jisturg nf sai^ gepartet, 
FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT TIME.'' 
PHILADELPHIA: 
KING & BAIRD, PRINTERS, No. 9 SANSOM STREET. 
1 8 5 5. STATEMENT. 
"A statement of the facts connected with the 
late re-organization of the Faculty of the 
Medical Department of Pennsylvania College, 
together with a Documentary History of said 
department, from its origin to the present 
time." 
A pamphlet, thus entitled, has issued recently from the 
press. It is not in truth as it purports to be-a statement of 
facts. On the contrary, it conceals, many facts most material 
to an understanding of the truth, and perverts, others to such a 
degree that they are no longer suggestive of the truth. 
We had desired, not to invite, public notice, to what many 
would regard-although erroneously, as only our private griefs 
-and hence, we have hitherto borne silently, so far as the 
public are concerned, the injuries inflicted upon us-waiting for 
that sure vindication and exposure which time, as it uncovers 
the hypocrisies, and tricks, and deceptions of men, must at last 
work out for us. 
We have not been permitted thus to keep the even tenor of 
our way; for by the publication of this "statement" not only is 
insult added to the wrong already done us, but we are com- 
pelled to reply, lest silence should be understood to mean 
acquiescence, and thus that which is both untrue and unjust, be 
supposed to have received our sanction. 
The Pennsylvania Medical College owes all which gives 
value to its franchises, or character and weight to its degrees, 
to our weary toils and anxieties, and those of three associates. 
One of them (Dr. Atlee) yet lives, and a statement impressed 
with the weight of his name and character will be found in the 
appendix to this pamphlet. 
1 2 
Two others (the late Drs. Grant and Henry S. Patterson,) 
have passed away, and are no more-and not only we, who have 
been bound to them by enduring ties, but the profession, and the 
community, have in memory the witness of their faithfulness 
and their noble talents, all consecrated to the service of this 
institution. Out of these, the hard earned results of their, and 
our, toils and talents,-we, and their representatives, have by 
some dexterous trick been meanly wronged, and it would seem 
to be due alike, to their memory, to our reputations, to the 
Trustees and Alumni of the Institution, that by some simple 
statement of the facts, we should let the truth be known. To 
this duty, without further introduction, we shall at once 
address ourselves. 
On the 7th March, 1832, the legislature gave corporate form 
and character to a pre-existing " Literary and Scientific Insti- 
tution in Gettysburg, Adams County, in this Commonwealth, 
known by the name of Gettysburg Gymnasium." In the pre- 
amble to that Act, they say, that the inducing reason to the 
incorporation of said Gymnasium is, that " it is resorted to by 
a large number, of young men from different portions of this 
State and elsewhere, and promises to exert a salutary influence 
in advancing the cause of liberal education, particularly among 
the German portion of our fellow-citizens." The Act then 
proceeds to provide, that said Gymnasium shall be " Erected 
into a College," (Sec. 2.) and that " the style and title of said 
College shall be Pennsylvania College of Gettysburg," and that 
" it shall be under the management, direction and government of 
all the subscribers to the funds of said institution, by whose pri- 
vate contributions the said funds have been raised, and its present 
Edifice erected." It then provides that those persons shall be 
a body politic and corporate by the name of " The patrons of 
Pennsylvania College, in Gettysburg in the County of Adams," 
and by subsequent sections, they are empowered in the manner 
prescribed in the Act to govern said College, and " to elect 
the Principal and Professors of said College," and " to exercise 
all such powers, authorities and jurisdictions as are customary 
in other Colleges within this Commonwealth," and among 3 
others, that of conferring " such degrees in the liberal arts and 
sciences, or such branches thereof to such students of the Col- 
lege " &c., as " they shall regard as entitled to them," &c. 
(For a copy of the Act see the Appendix.) 
Now we pause here for a moment to inquire-What autho- 
rity and jurisdiction was by this Act of Incorporation conferred 
upon the authorities of Gettysburg Gymnasium ? 
It is too plain for discussion, that this Act did not empower 
them to erect a University-which is an aggregation of colleges 
for instruction in different departments of learning, under the 
charge of a common head, and clothed about and consolidated 
by one charter. It did not empower them to create such an in- 
stitution in Gettysburg-still less one scattered in various depart- 
ments throughout the breadth of the Commonwealth. The Act 
plainly, and in terms designed only to give corporate form 
and character, with a view to increased efficiency to that pre- 
existing institution, the " Gettysburg Gymnasium," and to 
that " said" institution all of its provisions in express terms 
relate. 
Notwithstanding this, however, the Trustees'of Gettysburg 
College, in the County of Adams, did, by resolutions passed 
Sept. 18, 1839, attempt to create " A Medical Department 
in Pennsylvania College," and after appointing Dr. George 
McClellan and others its professors, the resolution proceeds to 
say, " That the said professors be authorized to give their 
instructions in the City of Philadelphia," and " that the fore- 
going gentlemen (Dr. McClellan and Associates) be a com- 
mittee to fill all vacancies, and make such additional appoint- 
ments as may be deemed necessary." 
The inducing cause to this action on the part of the Gettys- 
burg institution, was a suggestion and request of Dr. McClel- 
lan, who had just withdrawn from Jefferson Medical College in 
the midst of controversy, and was ambitious, with his associates 
forthwith to establish a rival Institution. 
• It must be apparent from what has been already stated, and 
from the perusal of the charter of Gettysburg college, that that 
institution did not possess, and could not confer the extraordi- 4 
nary powers which, by this resolution were apparently cenferred 
upon Dr. McClellan and his associates. 
These gentlemen themselves were clearly of that opinion ; for 
before the close of their very first session they perceived the 
total inability of Gettysburg College to establish a department 
in the City of Philadelphia, or to confer degrees in medicine in 
that city; and hence they sought from the legislature the power 
to do so. By asking for this power it was confessed, that it 
was not previously possessed, and by granting it to them, the 
Legislature impliedly declared that they had not previously 
conferred this same power upon the institution at Gettysburg. 
The words of this Act are much relied upon by the authori- 
ties of Gettysburg College, under an impression that by some 
species of implication from its language, either their previous 
acts were sanctioned, or a new power to do that which they had 
already done was impliedly conferred upon them. We, there- 
fore, insert this Act of the Legisture in full. 
An Act to authorize the Faculty of Pennsylvania College to 
confer the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. 
" Whereas, the Trustees of Pennsylvania College, at Get- 
tysburg, in this State, have established a Medical Faculty in 
the City of Philadelphia, consisting of the following persons :- 
George McClellan, Samuel George Morton, William Rush, 
Samuel Colhoun, Samuel McClellan, Walter R. Johnson, for 
the purpose of qualifying their pupils and others for the Degree 
of Doctor of Medicine. 
Sect. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in G-eneral 
Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the 
same, That the Medical Faculty of Pennsylvania College, of 
Gettysburg, be, and are hereby authorized to confer Medical 
Degrees in the City of Philadelphia, under the same rules, and 
regulations in regard to the term of study, and the qualifica- 
tions of candidates, as may for the time being, be adopted by 
the University of Pennsylvania. 
Sec. 2. That hereafter it shall not be lawful for any College, 
incorporated by the laws of the State, to establish any faculty 
for the purpose of conferring degrees, cither in Medicine or the 5 
Arts, in any City or County of the Commonwealth, other than 
that in which said College is, or may be located. 
" WILLIAM HOPKINS, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
11 WILLIAM T. ROGERS, 
Speaker of the Senate 
" Approved the sixth day of March, 1840. 
DAVID R. PORTER." 
It is impossible to read this Act, even hastily, without observ- 
ing-First, That it nowhere confers upon the " Trustees of 
Gettysburg College, in the County of Adams," any power 
whatever. Second, That it nowhere ratifies any Act which 
they had previously done. It simply recites a fact, viz.: That 
certain gentlemen whom it expressly names had been asso- 
ciated as a Medical Faculty, and it then proceeds to grant 
to these gentlemen, the power to confer degrees in medicine. 
As if to exclude any conclusion, that this is to be a subordinate 
department of Gettysburg College, it expressly declares that 
its course of medical instruction shall be such as is for the time 
being prescribed by the University of Pennsylvania-and then, 
by a closing section, it forever forbids a repetition of such 
experiments as had been thus vainly, and unlawfully, tried by 
the Gettysburg Institution. 
It cannot possibly be pretended that from this Act, the 
Gettysburg College derives power either to prescribe the 
species, the quantum, or the mode of instruction, or the power 
to confer the degree. By its express language all these are 
placed elsewhere-and yet these comprise all the vital func- 
tions of such an institution. 
It has never been, for it never could be gravely contended, 
that by its charter of 1832, Gettysburg College, in the County 
of Adams, was empowered to establish a medical department 
anywhere; and least of all in the City of Philadelphia. But 
it is said, that by some species of implication from the lan- 
guage of this Act of 1840, it is endowed with such authority. 
Let us briefly examine this pretension. In the first place it is 
not easy to see how this could be done by an implication from 6 
the language of the Act, when by express words it deposits 
every vital element of such an institution, elsewhere than in the 
Trustees of that College in the County of Adams. 
In the next place it has come to be regarded as text law 
that no corporation ever takes any of its essential powers by 
implication. In a recent case (Com. v. Erie and North East 
R. R. Co.), Chief Justice Black happily expressed the law on 
this subject in delivering the opinion of the Supreme Court in 
these words: 
" In such cases, ingenuity has nothing to work with, since 
nothing can be either proved or disproved by logic or inferen- 
tial reasoning. If you assert that a corporation has certain 
privileges, show us the words of the Legislature conferring 
them. Failing in this-you must give up your claim for 
nothing else can possibly avail you. A doubtful charter does 
not exist; because what ever is doubtful is decisively against 
the corporation." 
And again, in the case of The Bank of Penna, v. The Com- 
monwealth, 7 Harris 152, it is remarked by the same learned 
Chief Justice: 
" If Acts of incorporation are to be so construed as to make 
them imply grants of privileges, immunities and exemptions 
which are not expressly given, every company of adventurers 
may carry what they wish without letting the Legislature 
know their designs. Charters would be framed in doubtful or 
ambiguous language on purpose to deceive those who grant 
them; and laws which seem perfectly harmless on their face, 
and which plain men would suppose to mean no more than what 
they say, might be converted into engines of infinite mischief. 
The Legislature, without knowing or intending it, might be 
thus induced to disarm the State of its most necessary powers 
and transfer them to corporations. The continued existence of 
a government, under such circumstances, would not be of much 
value. There is no safety to the public interests except in the 
rule which declares that the privileges not expressly granted in 
a charter are withheld." 
This salutary rule in the construction of charters, is founded 
upon an ancient and well founded jealousy and distrust of cor- 
porate bodies. 
If we measure by it either the charter of 1832, granted to 
Gettysburg Gymnasium," or the Act of 1840, authorizing a 7 
certain institution in the City of Philadelphia, to confer degrees 
in medicine, it will be impossible for any sane mind to conclude 
that by either Act is this institution planted in the County of 
Adams, authorized either to create, or to maintain, a medical 
department in the City of Philadelphia. 
Here, then, let us pause for a moment, and reviewing the 
history already given, inquire how were Dr. McClellan and his 
Associates related to this medical institution, and under what 
(if any) external allegiance after the passage of the Act of 
1840 ? 
If it be true, as we think we have conclusively shown, that 
this Gymnasium at Gettysburg, in the County of Adams, could 
not lawfully create, or control, this medical institution in the 
City of Philadelphia, the correlative proposition is true, that 
no allegiance was due from the medical school to the institu- 
tion at Gettysburg. And how in truth and in justice can it be 
otherwise? For what were these gentlemen instructors in 
medicine indebted to the College at Gettysburg? Not for 
their original establishment as associated instructors in medi- 
cine ; for to them as to other citizens, belonged the right of 
voluntary association for this, as for any other lawful purposes. 
Not the power of Conferring degrees; for this by the Act of 
1840 is expressly conferred on these gentlemen themselves, 
thus associated as professors. Not for a system of instruction; 
that is required to conform to the system of the University of 
Pennsylvania. Not for a building; that was provided for 
them as we shall hereafter show under another charter granted 
in 1849, and then only by their own liberality and that of their 
friends. 
If a College is the institution of associated teachers with a 
prescribed system of instruction-endued wTith the power of 
expressing by the conferring of a degree, its sense of the pro- 
ficiency and competency of its pupils; and provided with a 
building and appurtenances appropriate for its business of 
instruction we ask; for which one of these attributes of a 
College, to say nothing of them all, is this indebted to the 
Gettysburg Institution ? 8 
We cannot pause longer to discuss this question-for we can- 
not suppose in view of what has been stated, that doubts in 
relation to it can inhabit any candid mind. 
On the 6th of Nov., 1843, Dr. McClellan and his Associates 
executed a writing in these words: 
" The undersigned, late members of the Faculty of Pennsyl- 
vania Medical College in this City, do hereby relinquish all 
right to and use of the charter of said Institution in favor of a 
new Faculty to be composed of Wm. Darrach, Henry S. Pat- 
terson, William R. Grant and John Wiltbank and their Col- 
leagues. 
li Saml. Geo. Morton. 
" Geo. McClellan. 
" Saml. McClellan. 
" William Rush, 
" Philadelphia, November 6, 1843." 
These gentlemen were four of the six corporators named in 
the Act of 1840. One of the six, Dr. Colhoun, had deceased 
in the year 1841, and Dr. Bird, his successor, and Professor 
Walter R. Johnson, the remaining Professor, had removed 
from the city. By its execution these gentleman, to the extent 
of their power to do so, translated Dr. Darrach and his three 
associates to the position they had themselves occupied, and 
clothed them so far as they were able with the franchises of 
the school. 
If these gentlemen were themselves subordinate to the Get- 
tysburg Institution, then were their sucsessors also subordinate, 
and if they were not, Dr. Darrach and his Associates succeeded 
to a similar independence. We speak of an independence in 
fact. That no lawful duty of subordination of the Philadel- 
phia to the Gettysburg Institution existed, and that that insti- 
tution was by law incapable of receiving the allegiance of a 
subordinate department in the City of Philadelphia. It is, 
indeed, true that the Faculty, through all the various changes 
in its composition, have by their acts impliedly ever recognized 
the existence of some species of relation to the Gettysburg 
Trustees. What that relation was-how created-and by what 
limits circumscribed nowhere appears to have been accurately 9 
defined. It was, in truth, due only to the fact, that having been 
originally permitted to organize under a fancied, but not real 
power, in the charter of Gettysburg College, a dignified and 
respectful courtesy on the part of Dr. McClellan and his Asso- 
ciates, induced a tacit submission to the continued claim of 
authority, on the part of that institution. Their successors 
patiently followed in their footsteps, unwilling to disturb the 
seeming aspect of affairs which had as yet been attended by no 
harmful consequences. Hitherto these claims were shadowy 
and vague, and these peaceful gentlemen quietly yielded to 
them, for they desired to invite no controversy. That by so 
doing they conferred no real power, can be made very plain. 
The proposition is simply this, viz:-That by repeated acts, and 
numerous statements written and verbal, the medical faculty 
from their first organization, recognized the existence of con- 
trolling power in the Trustees of Gettysburg College over this 
as a subordinate department of their institution, and from these 
admissions, it follows, (thus it is argued) that this is a subordi- 
nate department, and under their control. 
Now it has been already shown that a corporation never pos- 
sesses any powers except those which are expressly given, and 
that not even by implication from the Acts, or the language, of 
the legislature itself-which possesses creative power over cor- 
porations is any power ever conferred upon them. It follows 
with irresistible force that still less by any acts or declarations 
or recognitions however solemn, however repeated, can any 
powers be impliedly conferred upon a corporate body by pri- 
vate individuals. It will scarcely be argued that these medical 
gentlemen could, by words the most express and positive, create 
a corporation or endue with further powers one already exist- 
ing. Still less can it be said they could do so by inference, or 
implication, or any other form of recognition. 
The Faculty thus reconstructed on the 6th of Nov., 1843, 
entered speedily upon their duties; the six chairs being filled by 
Doctors Darrach, Wiltbank, Grant, and Patterson, and at the 
commencement of their second session, they invited Dr. David 
Gilbert and Dr. W. L. Atlee, to become their colleagues. 10 
Through many doubts and trials and disappointments, in com- 
petition with well-endowed schools of ancient name, with able 
Faculties-wearily, and, yet patiently, they toiled to build up 
again, and give increased and increasing strength, to this shat- 
tered institution. 
With what success it might, under other circumstances, seem 
indelicate for us to say. Yet as the basely unfounded imputa- 
tion of lack of success and unpopularity has been the reason, 
and the only reason assigned for the trickery and malversation 
by which rights honestly acquired, and made dear by years of 
self-sacrificing toil, have been seized upon and appropriated- 
it will be proper that we should speak of the success of the 
school in answer to this imputation. 
We found it disorganized and disbanded-its success hitherto 
had been very small, and controversies among its professors had 
weakened, and, perhaps, loosened altogether its hold upon popu- 
lar regard. Gradually it grew-attracting confidence and respect 
as time passed, and gave assurances of its permanency, and of 
its continued adhesion to the elevated principles upon which it 
was re-organized. These principles were not popular. They 
had no tendency to bring sudden success, or attract those who 
sought to penetrate the mysteries of medical faith from motives 
earthborn and impure. We were content, noiselessly and pa- 
tiently, to lay solid foundations for enduring success-well 
knowing that the character and the competency of those who 
went forth bearing the honours of the school, should furnish at 
once our highest reward and our best title to continuing and 
increasing confidence. 
Our hopes were not disappointed. Gradually, but steadily, 
this feeble institution grew into true and healthful strength. 
A. reference to its catalogue will show that, the graduating 
classes of the successive years of our connection with its admi- 
nistration, were respectively, 7-14-36-32-40-36-34- 
36-35-55. In 1853, the year which succeeded the election 
of these gentlemen, who impute to us incompetency and unpopu- 
larity, the school attained to a graduating class of 55, and 
numbered for the session 148 matriculants, being much the 11 
largest class known to its history. The ensuing year was 
marked by a reduction in the number of graduates to 39, and 
in 1855, at the close of a session, exclusively conducted by 
those gentlemen, their number was reduced to 32. These 
figures seem to indicate progressive decline and a misconcep- 
tion of who they are to whom this charge of unpopularity and 
incompetency should justly be applied. 
As the school increased in numbers, there was felt more 
deeply the need of the erection of a suitable and permanent 
building for its accommodation; and to this duty earnestly 
and successfully we then addressed ourselves. The chaste 
and beautiful edifice, gracefully proportioned and admirably 
adapted to its purposes, in which this Institution is located, 
was the offspring of our toil and capital, and those of our 
then associates in the Faculty, aided nobly by a few friends 
whose kindly sympathies and regards for the faculty as 
then composed, induced them liberally to embark both time 
and money in this self-denying work. To us, and to them, 
there remains now the painful recollection, that from these 
College premises, which so beautifully and with so much 
fitness embodied and expressed these kindly sympathies and 
affections those for whom they were felt, are thrust out and 
excluded, and they who have outraged and trampled upon those 
for whom these premises were reared are now enjoying them. 
On the 29th March, 1849, the Legislature passed an Act 
entitled "A Supplement to an Act authorizing the Faculty of 
Pennsylvania College to confer the degree of Doctor of Medi- 
cine, passed the 6th day of March, 1840." It is worthy of 
remark in passing that this A.ct is not supplementary to the Act 
incorporating Gettysburg College, but to the Act empowering 
certain gentlemen to confer degrees in medicine. By this Act 
a number of our most respected citizens, each one of whom was 
connected by some tie either of kindred or affection, to some 
member of the then existing Faculty were incorporated and 
empowered to erect a building for the use of this institution. 
Among these corporators were numbered Judge Kelley, Jos. 
Patterson, Esq., John McAllister, Esq., Thos. Robins, Esq., 
Ambrose W. Thompson, Esq., Morris Patterson, Esq., Henry 12 
Lelar, John Anspach, and others as well known and esteemed 
among us. 
On the 23d of April, 1849, Dr. Darrach purchased, on most 
favourable terms, the premises in South Ninth Street, now 
occupied by the College buildings, and on the 19th September, 
1849, conveyed the same to the corporation. Immediately 
afterward, at a cost of nearly thirty thousand dollars, contri- 
buted by the Faculty, by these gentlemen trustees, and by a 
few other friends who were induced to do so through their per- 
sonal influence, the building was erected, and afterward, at the 
cost of more than four thousand dollars, contributed by the 
Faculty, it was furnished and fitted for its purposes. As from 
the building, so also from the furniture and appliances, thus pro- 
cured at our private cost, and that of our associates in the then 
existing Faculty, have we been excluded, and with the building 
and the franchises of the school, and its good name acquired 
by our toils, our private furniture and conveniences for teaching, 
were also seized upon and appropriated. 
In this building, the Faculty, whose labours had gathered and 
established the school, and whose capital contributed by them- 
selves, or induced to be contributed by others from motives 
purely personal to that Faculty, continued harmoniously and 
successfully to labour until the death of Prof. Grant on the 
28th of March, 1852, and the subsequent resignation of Dr. 
Atlee, deprived the school of the invaluable aid of their 
high capacity and distinguished standing. The inducing causes 
of this resignation were the bad faith and.deceptions of Dr. 
David Gilbert, who first induced Dr. Atlee to enter the school, 
in a department uncongenial to his tastes, under pledges of an 
ultimate transfer to the Chair of Surgery, for which he was so 
pre-eminently fitted, and the subsequent refusal of Dr. Gilbert 
to comply with his honourable obligation in this respect. A 
note from Dr. Atlee to Dr. Darrach, in the Appendix, will 
more fully explain this transaction. 
Into these vacancies were introduced Dr. Reese and Dr. Allen, 
and a seventh Chair-that of the Institutes of Medicine, being at 13 
the same time established in the institution by a vote of the 
Faculty, Dr. F. G. Smith was invited to become its incumbent. 
We pause here to remark, that these gentlemen were invited to 
partake freely and equally with ourselves of results achieved by 
years of responsible toil and anxiety. The doubts and uncer- 
tainties of a new experiment-the devotion of time and health 
and talent, withdrawn from the pursuit of well-established prac- 
tice and invested with no sure promise of return-the large 
expenditure of our own money, and the larger investment of 
others made through pure faith and trust in us-these, all, had 
been for us; and now were these gentlemen kindly and con- 
fidingly invited, to come freely in, and become, though not par- 
takers in the struggle, yet full partakers of its reward. How 
they repaid this kindness when our vital heat had warmed their 
frozen joints will presently appear. 
In the month of Sept., 1853, Dr. Patterson, enfeebled by 
disease and by too great a devotion to his duties, and, perhaps, 
already conscious of the near approach of that event, which in 
April, 1854, removed him from relations and associations which 
have been made memorable from their connection with his name, 
was transferred to the Emeritus Professorship, and Dr. John B. 
Biddle was appointed to that Chair thus made vacant. This 
transfer we deem it hardly necessary to say, in contradiction of 
the preposterous statement of the pamphlet, to which this is a 
reply, was not made by request of Dr. Patterson. It was pro- 
posed by the Faculty, and accepted by Dr. Patterson reluct- 
antly ; for his thoughts and hopes inspired by a pure love for 
his duties, and by the conscious possession of an intellect which 
grew, it may be, brighter and more unclouded as the body 
became weaker and less able to endure its earnest movements, 
still pointed to a continued discharge of his office, aided, per- 
haps, by an adjunct Professor. And here it may not be out 
of place to speak a passing word of the loss to this institution- 
this community, and his entire profession, by the untimely 
decease of Dr. Patterson. This gifted man, so learned, so 
honoured and so loved, has passed away forever, just as the 14 
ripe fruit of matured intellect gave sure proof that his early 
promise though great was quite fulfilled. 
Possessed of much of the natural susceptibility of genius, 
combined with an intellect of great native vigour, which an 
effective discipline had excellently trained, and moved withal 
by a heart full of kind and genial feeling, it is not strange that 
his hold upon the deepest veneration and regard of all his stu- 
dents was firm and lasting. How gratefully he is remembered 
is attested by the numerous letters of widely scattered graduates 
whose unbidden tributes to his talents and his worth, speak 
alike of their affectionate remembrance of his gentleness of 
heart, their esteem for his high character, and their admiration 
of his noble talents. 
His death was a loss not easily repaired, and which to this 
institution has by no means been repaired. 
The session which terminated in March, 1854, was the last 
of our active connection with the school. It is proper that we 
should remark the condition of the school at the commencement 
of this session. At no previous period of its history were 
greater encouragements or higher grounds of hope presented. 
If in some degree these were disappointed by a somewhat dimin- 
ished class of students, it were surely more charitable to believe 
that this was due to lack of confidence in new Professors now 
first connected with the school, than in those older incumbents 
whose popularity was already proven by success. 
Soon after this commencement of the session, these newly 
elected gentlemen, in unison with Dr. David Gilbert, prepared 
to execute what we firmly believe was a preconceived purpose 
at the time of their entrance to the school. These gentlemen 
had long formed a medical clique devoted to the rapid prepa- 
ration of students for graduation by the aid of quizzing classes. 
A system like this, which is a species of hot-bed process, not 
tending to produce healthy-minded and competent physicians, 
and which holds out no higher test of medical competency, and 
no more elevated standard of medical ambition, than the mere 
ability to pass an examination, was wholly inconsistent with our 
views-with the declared policy, and with the previous conduct 15 
of this institution. Unable to sympathize with such purposes, 
we were not congenial with these mercenary gentlemen, and a 
desire to fill our places with others of their own way of think- 
ing and feeling, was the next step in their progress. 
To supplant those who had founded and who cherished with 
an earnest love, a system of medical instruction which had for 
its only and its noble aim a total forgetfulness of self, in the 
thorough, careful and conscientious training of students for the 
high and responsible duties of the good physician ;-who sought 
their reward not so much here as hereafter, and whose higher 
path of duty faithfully pursued was a constant and ever present 
rebuke to men of mean and sordid motives; this would appear 
to be after all little else than the natural instinct of those whose 
best appreciation of a Professor's hopes and duties were measured 
by the profits of his Chair; whose lofty mark for a student's 
aim, was the capacity when duly crammed and quizzed to pass 
examination,-and when passed to find his best and only proof 
of fitness for important duties in some well adorned sheep-skin, 
appropriately inscribed with the names and titles of those who 
thus prepared him, and thought him well prepared for the 
duties-the trials, and beyond all the responsibilities of the 
medical man. We shall not be surprised, as we proceed to find 
in such gentlemen a line of policy, which will not seem to us 
consistent with a high-toned and noble standard of manly 
honour, nor will it seem strange that they should be forgetful 
of the just rights of others, and in the eager pursuit of an end 
be unmindful of the claims of honour and of conscience in their 
choice of means. We confess the disappointment of our long 
cherished respect and esteem for three of these gentlemen- 
the antecedents of the other two leave us no room for surprise or 
wonder at the course they now pursued. 
The system of quizzing classes, conducted by a separate com- 
bination of three of the Professors for their own private benefit, 
was productive as might have been foreseen, of the evil effects 
which an institution so undignified and unbecoming must neces- 
sarily produce. It induced a close and dependent relation of 
those Professors to their pupils which impaired the freedom of 16 
their judgments, when called upon as Professors to govern 
them, or, in a final examination, to approve them as qualified 
for their degrees ; and in the student, in return, was begotten a 
disposition to ingratiate himself with these gentlemen with 
whom intimate relations were thus established, by such compli- 
ances as might pander to the vanity, or minister, perhaps, to 
the selfish designs, of these Professors. The fruits of this sys- 
tem were plainly seen in succeeding events. Almost from the 
hour of the election of these gentlemen, there was seen to be on 
their part a purpose expressed by numerous acts to subvert the 
established policy of the school, and to convert it simply into 
an instrument of pecuniary gain; and to accomplish these 
results they plainly purposed from the beginning to remove 
those whose past course and avowed purposes were plainly 
inconsistent with these designs, and to replace them with those 
of more compliant mood or of kindred feeling with themselves. 
The election of Dr. Allen was followed by his demand that 
the Demonstrator of Anatomy should thenceforth be chosen by 
himself, and not as in past times had been the rule by the 
Faculty. To this his associates gave consent, and the then 
demonstrator resigned, and received his re-appointment from 
Dr. Allen, and became of course his defendant-compliant in 
all things with his will and wish. 
Next they assailed the long established Medical Clinic con- 
ducted as it should have been by Dr. Darrach, " Professor of 
Theory and Practice of Medicine." Without one word of warning 
or consultation with him. Dr. Allen moved that the present 
method of conducting the clinic be abolished, and that the 
hours of from 12 to 2 P. M., of Wednesday and Saturday be 
appropriated by the Faculty to clinical teaching. By so doing 
two hours in each week were taken from the Chair of Theory 
and Practice. Dr. Darrach of course objected, but finding this 
uncourteous purpose fully resolved upon, he asked and obtained 
leave voluntarily to yield these hours. Dr. Allen protested, 
and placed upon the minutes his protest against this voluntary 
course, because in his view the faculty had the right to take 
away not only two but all the hours if they saw fit. Dr. Allen 17 
then moved, and his compliant friends resolved-That Dr. 
Smith take immediate charge of the Medical Clinic. Presently 
Dr. Wiltbank was assailed, and Dr. Allen deliberately moved 
that his morning hour from 11 to 12 o'clock, be given to Dr. 
Gilbert, because the Chair of Surgery was more important than 
that of Obstetrics. 
In a short time, Dr. Allen, by the aid of these his peculiar 
friends, established a night class in Surgical Anatomy, in the 
College building, for his own separate profit; and, at last, as if 
best to proclaim the final overthrow of the high standard of this 
medical school, he established, as we believe, in the College 
building, for his private gain, a Sabbath quizzing class. 
There remained yet one source of profit unsecured, and that 
at least claimed attention. Upon the covers of "The Medical 
Examiner," for the past year, will be found an advertisement 
which reads as follows: 
SKELETONS AND ANATOMICAL PREPARATIONS. 
The subscriber is prepared to furnish Skeletons, either arti- 
culated with wire or separated; arterial and ligamentous pre- 
parations of bones and separated heads. He will also attend 
promptly to the articulation of Skeletons and the preparation 
of models suitable for demonstration in Medical Schools. 
Robert H. Nash. 
Medical department of Pennsylvania College, 
Nov. 1854 eom-ly Ninth Street below Locust. 
And so at last Mammon reigned supreme, and this temple 
built from pure motives and consecrated to higher purposes, 
was wholly prostituted. 
Quizzing classes upon week days and quizzing classes upon 
the Sabbath-the manufacture of models, and the sale of skele- 
tons ; these were the high purposes to which henceforth it was 
devoted. 
On the 23d of Jan. 1854, just after a sudden and afflictive 
family bereavement, Dr. Gilbert called on Dr. Darrach, upon what 
was first supposed to be an errand of sympathy and condolence. 
He stated that he came at the request of five of the Faculty, 
and as their representative, to request Dr. Darrach to resign. 18 
He said the school was declining, and that Dr. Darrach and 
Dr. Wiltbank were unpopular, and were the cause of it. He 
invited a quiet resignation, lest an excitement should injure the 
College, and proposed in that event to make Dr. Darrach an 
Emeritus Professor. With a view, no doubt, to beget dissen- 
sion between us, he basely insinuated to Dr. Darrach that Dr. 
Wiltbank was the authority for much that he stated defamatory 
of his position. 
On or about the 1st of February, Dr. Reese called upon Dr. 
Wiltbank, and with many apologies made a similar statement 
to, and a similar request of him. Dr. Wiltbank being ignorant 
of Dr. Gilbert's visit to Dr. Darrach, felt great surprise, espe- 
cially as three of the five had recently assured him that they 
had never heard from any quarter a murmur of complaint 
against him, as a teacher in the College. He replied, that he 
was then, as he had ever been, willing to make any reasonble 
sacrifice for the prosperity of the College, and that if Dr. Reese 
would furnish him with the reasons which had induced the five 
to solicit his resignation, and these reasons were satisfactory, 
he would immediately relinquish his Chair. These reasons 
were promised but were never given. There is no doubt that, 
if Dr. Wiltbank had consented to turn traitor to his former 
associates, as one of their number had done, he would have still 
retained his position. 
We pause here for a moment to allude to that, which was 
then to both of us unknown, but which has since been disclosed. 
A paper originating with one or more of the private students 
of Drs. Allen and Gilbert, had previously been indus- 
triously circulated, stating our unpopularity and the necessity 
of our resignations. To this paper a few signatures were 
obtained, but only by the use of the meanest and basest false- 
hoods. 
To some it was said we desired it to be signed, because we 
wished to be transferred to the Emeritus Professorship. To 
others it was threatened; the majority of the Faculty being 
opposed to Dr. Darrach, and Dr. Wiltbank, will refuse to pass 
you to your degree in the final examination, if you fail to sign 19 
it. To others it was urged to sign it; for a majority of the 
Faculty request you to do so. One sick student, who was then 
under the medical care of Dr. Darrach, and who was greatly 
enfeebled by sickness, was visited at his bed-side, it is believed, 
upon good foundation, by Dr. Gilbert, and his signature, after 
repeated requests, extorted from him, and that at the very time 
he was receiving the professional visits of Dr. Darrach. 
Here was seen with clearness and force the harmful results of 
these quizzing classes. This paper originated with members 
of this class. Its signatures were altogether induced by appre- 
hensions of the power of rejection by this combined majority of 
the Faculty, or by a desire to obtain their favor and approval 
by acts accordant with their wishes. There can be no better 
evidence of this, than the regretful letters sent to us by most of 
the signers, expressing, with these reasons, sorrow for an act 
now felt to have been unjust and uncalled for. 
We have no patience with which to dwell upon these sickening 
and contemptible tricks. In the Appendix will be found letters 
selected from a large number received, which will fully sustain 
these statements, and still other letters selected from more than 
a hundred, are there given, showing how base and how untrue 
were these charges of unpopularity and incompetency. We have 
added to these; resolutions adopted by the Alumni of the Insti- 
tution, expressive of their appreciation of the conduct and 
course of these gentlemen, and of the affectionate remembrance 
and esteem they have for us. These resolutions were passed 
unanimously, after hearing patiently Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Dar- 
rach in explanation of their course. 
In the midst of sore trials it has been our greatest conso- 
lation, that with a voice almost unanimous, earnestly, heartily, 
impulsively, have the Alumni of this institution rallied to our 
support, and indignantly denying each imputation against us- 
have placed their names, their influence, and their services at 
our disposal to vindicate and redress the wrong done at once 
to them, to the institution, and to ourselves. 
On the 22d March, 1854, these five gentlemen, to whose 20 
communications through Dr. Gilbert and Reese, no attention 
had been paid, addressed Dr. Darrach, as follows: 
To William Barrack, M. B. 
Dear Sir :-The undersigned, your colleagues in the Faculty 
in the Medical Department of Pennsylvania College, respect- 
fully represent to you;- 
That some two months since a verbal communication was 
made to you by Dr. Gilbert in their behalf, with reference to 
the state of the college; that the undersigned designed this com- 
munication to be of a friendly and private nature, and the most 
delicate and appropriate w7ay of addressing you upon the sub- 
ject. As you have not thought proper to reply to this commu- 
nication of the undersigned, they beg now again more formally 
to call your attention to the topic upon which you were 
approached by Dr. Gilbert. Now, as then, they desire to do 
this in the most respectful and fraternal spirit-although they 
cannot but feel that this spirit has not been wholly responded 
to, in the appeal which has been made to some of the Trustees 
of the College Building, and in the unfriendly position which 
some of these gentlemen have been led to occupy. 
The undersigned, indeed, have heard in various quarters, 
that the friends of Dr. Darrach assume, that himself and others 
among what are termed the "older" members of the Faculty, 
occupy peculiar relations to the institution: that, in fact, the 
ground is taken, that the school is really their school, the col- 
lege property a private investment of their friends, and that the 
junior members of the Faculty, owing their Chairs to the "kind 
preference" of their "older" colleagues, are bound to recognize 
the tenure of the latter as indefeasible and sacred beyond scru- 
tiny and inquiry. 
The undersigned must, however, remind Dr. Darrach, that 
not one of them ever directly or indirectly, solicited an appoint- 
ment in this school; on the contrary, their appointments were 
urgently pressed upon them and accepted only after much hesi- 
tation, (as he well knows, in some cases at least,) and with many 
misgivings. That the undersigned are fettered in their rela- 
tions to the school by a debt of gratitude to Dr. Darrach, or 21 
any one for coveted positions, is the very reverse of truth; on 
the contrary, representations were held out as regards the 
income of the Chairs which have been since found to be much 
wide of any actual receipts. All of the undersigned who lately 
joined the Faculty, may most unhesitatingly say, that, in 
taking of these appointments, they sacrificed engagements much 
more lucrative. And while they are not disposed to tax any 
one with positive exaggeration as regards the receipts of the 
school upon their entering it, they feel that the representations 
made to many of them, have proved to have been coloured by 
flattering anticipations rather than based upon actual facts. 
The undersigned desire now simply to say,-that in entering 
the Faculty of the Medical Department of Pennsylvania Col- 
lege, they responded to an invitation which they believed to 
have for its object the building up of a great medical school. 
That the numbers of the class for the session just closed, (in 
the face of a large increase in the classes of Jefferson College 
and the University,) show conclusively that this hope is unat- 
tainable. 
That inquiring into the causes which prevent the advance of 
the school is an opposition to no private or public obligations. 
That there is no tenure of appointment in the school beyond 
the claims of popularity and capacity. 
That the undersigned, in no spirit of arrogance, but with 
much pain, now formally but respectfully submit to Dr. Dar- 
rach their settled conviction, that his course of instruction is 
unsatisfactory to the class, and is a main obstacle to the growth 
of the school. 
That this opinion of his colleagues is fortified by the solemnly 
expressed verdict of the class and by the opinion of the profes- 
sion generally-in the obtaining of which, the Faculty both 
individually and collectively disclaim all personal application. 
That Dr. Darrach must admit, even if disposed to retort upon 
the undersigned the charge of incapacity-that they were his 
own selection, and that it may be fairly assumed, that no faculty 
can be organized with him, which will offer better prospects of 
success than the present. 22 
If then it can be fairly proved that the school cannot be ele- 
vated to a position worth struggling for, under the present con- 
stitution of the Faculty, is it too much to expect of a high- 
minded gentleman, that he will retire from a position in which 
he fails to satisfy those whose approval is essential to his use- 
fulness, and that some sacrifice of personal feeling shall be 
offered for the good of the institution in which all connected 
must feel a paramount interest. 
In making this appeal to Dr. Darrach, the undersigned must 
again express their deep regret, that they have felt called upon 
to urge it. They most cheerfully bear testimony to Dr. Dar- 
rach's varied talents and learning, and courteous bearing in all 
Faculty relations, and they pray him to believe that, if they 
have failed to communicate these views in the most acceptable 
manner, they have been at least thoroughly desirous not to for- 
get what is due to him, while discharging a duty to themselves. 
The undersigned have only to add to this communication, 
that in the event of Dr. Darrach's retiring, they are prepared 
to relieve him and his friends of whatever amount of loans on 
the building they may wish to dispose of, and that they confi- 
dently expect that this appeal will meet with the prompt atten- 
tion of which they deem it worthy. 
Very Respectfully, 
Philadelphia, March 23, 1854. D. Gilbert. 
John J. Reese. 
5^ P. M., March 23, '45, J. M. Allen. 
before Aiderman Ogle, Francis G. Smith, Jr. 
J. B. Biddle. 
Failing to accomplish their purpose in this mode, these gen- 
tlemen resorted to the strange expedient of seeking to obtain 
exclusive possession of the College premises, through the aid of 
the Janitor, Mr. Wynkoop. 
On the 18th of February, 1854, these five gentlemen hastily 
summoned to the Faculty room this worthy man, who for many 
years had usefully and faithfully filled his humble post, and 
required him at once to say, whether he would recognize a 
majority of the Faculty as the Faculty-and whether he would 23 
on their demand deliver them the keys. A paper to this effect 
was shown him, and his signature required on pain of instant 
dismissal. Surprised and amazed by this sudden call, he asked 
time to consider, and requested a copy of the paper he was 
asked to sign. A brief time for reflection was allowed him, but 
a copy of the paper was refused. On the same day he was 
removed from his post, and as his dwelling was in the College 
building he was deprived of all access to portions of the pre- 
mises indispensible to his family comfort-his windows and 
doors were nailed shut, and means almost too disgustingly vile 
to be here detailed were resorted to, to compel him to withdraw 
from the premises. 
Affidavits in the Appendix to this statement, detail fully this 
contemptible scheme, and show how unmanly and unworthy 
were the means employed to punish his refusal to aid these 
gentlemen in their unhallowed schemes. 
The discharge of Mr. Wynkoop was followed by the removal 
and change of the locks and keys of the building, and thus, in 
truth, was forcible possession taken of the College premises by 
these five gentlemen, with the intent thus to proclaim their 
exclusive occupancy-since it was because Mr. Wynkoop had 
refused to recognize them as the Faculty, and to deliver the 
keys on demand to them, that he was removed and the fasten- 
ings of the building changed. 
Mr. Wynkoop was specially empowered by the Trustees, as 
their watchman for the safety of the building to remain upon the 
premises; but in a little time wearied and exhausted by these dis- 
gusting annoyances, he was compelled to withdraw; and so, at 
the same time, was a humble, yet faithful officer of the institution 
causelessly and cruelly removed from a post he had so long and 
so worthily filled, and the power of the Trustees over the pre- 
mises they had built, and for whose safety it was their duty to 
care, publicly set at defiance. 
In the month of April, the Trustees of Gettysburg College 
met. Of this body Dr. Gilbert is a member, and availing him- 
self of his position, in the absence of both of us, he read to 
that Board a lengthened statement, to which we had no privi- 24 
lege of reply, and induced the passage of a resolution in which 
among other things it was provided, that said Trustees " hereby 
expressly confer upon them (the Medical Faculty,) and their 
successors, the power, if such power has not heretofore been 
conferred upon them, not only to fill vacancies which may occur 
in their body by death or resignation, and to create and fill 
new Professorships-but, also, when the said Faculty or their 
successors may deem the interests of the College to require it, 
to vacate any Professorship or Professorships by removing 
from the said Faculty the incumbent or incumbents thereof ', and 
to fill the vacancy or vacancies thus created, as if they occurred 
from, death or resignation. 
No comment upon this resolution can be necessary. Its pur- 
pose is more than transparently clear. Its design was purely, 
only, simply the removal of Dr. Darrach and Dr. Wiltbank 
from their Chairs. The insertion of their names in the power 
of removal could add no clearness or force to this plain design. 
We shall not pause to ask these gentlemen Trustees of Get- 
tysburg College, how it was that they reconciled with their 
sense of right the removal from their posts unheard, and with 
no opportunity for vindication or defence, of gentlemen, not 
less respected or respectable than they are, or their accusers 
were ever thought to be. The inquisition permitted its victims, 
if not the production of witnesses, at least, a hearing in their 
own defence. It were charitable to believe that these Gentle- 
men Trustees of funds, and a system of instruction in the libe- 
ral arts and sciences, and some of them at least ministers of 
that Gospel which speaks of good will to men, and teaches us 
to do unto others as wre would they should do unto us, believed, 
indeed, that their resolutions were, as in truth they are, harm- 
less and without power. 
Now we pause for a moment to enquire what were the pur- 
poses and designs of these five gentlemen professors at the 
period of the passage of this resolution ? Does not the 
answer spring at once unbidden from the lips-Their purpose 
was to remove us at all hazards from our posts, and to fill 
our places with others of views and feelings kindred to their 25 
own. What other construction can be placed upon their acts ? 
Did they not request us to resign-at first verbally through 
Drs. Gilbert and Reese-then in writing in their letter to Dr. 
Darrach, of March 22,1854 ? Did they not require the Janitor 
to recognize them only as the Faculty, and to deliver his keys 
to them only, and when he refused, did they not remove him, 
and themselves, by force, take full possession of the College 
building ? Did they not ask and obtain from the Gettysburg 
trustees a resolution, granting them power to " vacate any pro- 
fessorship or professorships by removing the incumbent or 
incumbents thereof, and to fill the vacancy or vacancies thus 
created, as if they occurred from death or resignation ?" Did 
they not by insults and petty injuries of more than daily occur- 
rence, render our continued association with them painful and 
distressing, hoping at last thereby to weary out our patience, 
and induce us to resign ? 
We were blind indeed, and weak indeed, if in all these 
things we failed to see clearly, as if written with sunbeams, 
the exact purpose they entertained. Under such circumstances 
longer endurance might seem to leave us justly chargeable 
with weakness if we failed boldly to assert our rights. It was 
then that we passed, after anxious care and deliberation, reso- 
lutions, for the lawfulness of which we appeal with full confi- 
dence to the argument with which, in the opening of this 
statement, we have taxed your patience, and for the justice 
and propriety of which we appeal with equal force and earnest- 
ness to the statement of our wrongs and injuries, with the 
long details of which we have already wearied our indulgent 
readers. 
These resolutions we insert entire. 
" At a meeting of the Medical Faculty of Pennsylvania Col- 
lege, held at the house of Prof. H. S. Patterson, upon the call 
of the President, on the 29th April, 1854, present Drs. Dar_ 
rach, Patterson, and Wiltbank, the following preamble and 
resolutions were unanimously adopted : Whereas, the Legisla- 
ture of Pennsylvania, by an act approved on the 6th Marcin 26 
1840, granted to Geo. M'Clellan, S. G. Morton, Wm. Rush, 
Samuel M'Clellan, and Walter R. Johnson, under the name, 
style, and title of the Medical Department of Pennsylvania 
College, the power to confer medical degrees in the city of 
Philadelphia; and, whereas, the 7th section of said act pro- 
vides : ' that hereafter it shall not be lawful for any college, 
incorporated by the laws of this State, to'establish any faculty 
for the purpose of conferring degrees, either in medicine or 
the arts, in any city or county of the Commonwealth, other 
than that in which said college is or may be located,' thereby 
prohibiting such appointment of any member or portion of a 
faculty; and whereas, the said Geo. M'Clellan, &c., in their 
public announcement (never disputed) claimed that the con- 
cerns of the Medical Department of Pennsylvania College 
are under the exclusive control of the Medical Faculty, 'who 
assume the character of a Board of Trustees; and whereas, 
the said G. M'Clellan, &c., did, by a properly certified docu- 
ment, dated , convey to Drs. Darrach, Patterson, Grant, 
and Wiltbank, all right, title, and interest which they pos- 
sessed to the said college, its charter, power, and privileges, 
with authority to fill vacancies, and to appoint their succes- 
sors ; and whereas, certain persons who have been introduced 
by said corporators into the faculty have conducted them- 
selves in a manner injurious to the Institution and derogatory 
to the character of the profession, promoting insubordination 
and discord, and laying themselves open to a criminal prose- 
cution, which is now impending; therefore, 
Resolved, I. That the undersigned, being a majority of the 
corporate faculty of the Medical Department of Pennsylvania 
College, fall back upon, and claim the powers formally con- 
veyed to them by the original grantors of said powers, 
among which is the right to vacate a chair, which follows 
necessarily from the right of appointment, unless otherwise 
provided. 
Resolved, II. That we hereby declare the chairs of Anatomy, 
Surgery, Chemistry, Materia Medica and Institutes of Medi- 27 
cine in the Faculty of Pennsylvania College vacant, and that 
Jonathan M. Allen, D. Gilbert, J. J. Reese, F. G. Smith, and 
J. B. Biddle are not members of said Faculty. 
Resolved, III. That we will proceed to the reorganization 
of said Faculty upon proper principles and in proper hands 
at our earliest convenience. 
Resolved, IV. That we do not recognize the right of any 
board or body of men to interfere with our appointments 
made in accordance with the grant of power above specified. 
W. Darragh, 
President. 
J. Wiltbank, 
Secretary, pro tern. 
We cannot better embody or express these reasons than by 
inserting at length our letter of May 23, 1854, communicating 
our action in this respect, and its inducing causes. 
P hila da., May 23, 1854. 
Gent. 
Your favour of the 20th, addressed substantially in dupli- 
cate to both of us, has been received, and we desire to reply, 
only because we would not wish that silence on our part 
should be interpreted into acquiescence in the views and state- 
ments of your letters. 
In answer to your enquiry we state unequivocally we have 
not " withdrawn from participation in the affairs of the Col- 
lege," nor do we propose to do so. On the contrary, con- 
scious of our rights, and of that which is due to our own 
dignity and self-respect, we purpose firmly to maintain that 
position which is at once just to ourselves, to the Institution, 
and to those gentlemen who, partly through our persuasion, 
have lent to it the sanction of their names and the aid of their 
capital. 
It may not have occurred to you to enquire into the history 
of this College, and a reference to it may aid us in defining 
our respective positions to the Institution. 28 
It was originally founded by the Trustees' of Pennsylvania 
College at Gettysburg, without authority of law. That Col- 
lege appointed certain gentlemen to professorships, and it was 
presently seen to be the case, that as the Institution possessed 
no powers outside of Adams county, it could confer none, and 
that hence this new Faculty were powerless. 
Under these circumstances the legislature passed their Act 
of March 6, 1840, conferring upon these gentlemen, by name 
as a Medical Faculty, the power of conferring degrees in 
Medicine. 
The power possessed by these gentlemen has been specifi- 
cally assigned, in due form of law, to the late Drs. Patterson 
and Grant, and ourselves, and these powers are now deposited 
with us. 
The college edifice was built by the noble kindness of per- 
sonal friends of the gentlemen whose names we have mentioned 
to you above, and though corporate in form, yet in truth it 
was for their especial use, and was the offspring of kindly 
sympathies and personal regards for them. 
It should not be thought that either these friends, or those 
to whom their kindness had been thus displayed, would lightly 
regard the proposed thrusting out of the very men who had 
built the college, and of those for whom it was built, and that, 
too, by individuals who had been invited in a spirit of kindness 
within its walls, to participate in the enjoyment of that which 
had been matured by so much toil, anxiety, and responsibility. 
To avert such a result was a duty at once to our own self- 
respect, to our rights, and to those friends who had so kindly 
interested themselves. 
Under these circumstances, and warned, first, by the positive 
refusal of yourselves to recognize and respect the just rights 
of the trustees, for the observance of which the Faculty were 
in fact and in honour pledged ; Second, By the direct request 
made by yourselves, that we should resign, and by the seeking 
and the expressed intention of exercising a pretended right to 
remove us if we did not resign ; Third, By. the resort to means 
calculated to assail our good names, and impair our influence 29 
and usefulness as professors, we determined to exercise a right 
clearly possessed by us, of removing from connection with the 
Institution those whose further continuance with it we deemed 
injurious to its welfare, provided they persisted in steps which 
we deemed so unjust, and, in our judgment, wrongful; in which 
event only were these resolutions to be carried into effect. 
This step was taken painfully and reluctantly. It was 
prompted by our self-respect, and by the very instinct of self- 
preservation. It was designed to be acted upon only when 
persistency in a wrong course should render longer delay un- 
just to ourselves and to that Institution whose honour and 
whose welfare we felt to be our peculiar care. 
If the time is about to arrive when action under these reso- 
tions will become a duty, our consciences will be clear of 
offence, for we shall feel that we have not sought controversy, 
and that it arises only and wholly from your action. 
Whether these resolutions shall be carried into effect must 
depend wholly (as it was designed to do) upon your future 
action and position. They were designed for defence, not for 
attack. 
These statements furnish an ■ obvious reply to your remark, 
that our " failure to be present at any of the late stated and 
adjourned meetings of the Faculty, seems to indicate a purpose 
on our part no longer to discharge our duties in the manage- 
ment of the Faculty." Our intercourse in association with 
yourselves, has not of late been such as to invite our frequent 
presence at your meetings, where incidents painful to our 
feelings, and derogatory to our rights and to our self-respect, 
were of such frequent occurrence. We might add that meetings 
so unnecessarily frequent, were too serious a tax upon the time 
due to our professional duties. 
We are respectfully yours 
WM. DARRAGH, M. D., 
JNO. WILTBANK, M. D. 30 
On the 6th of June, 1854, the Trustees of Pennsylvania Col- 
lege at Gettysburg, after listening to an exparte statement of 
Dr. Reese and Dr. Gilbert-"Resolved, That the Board of 
Trustees of Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, hereby vacate 
and declare vacant the Chair of the Theory and Practice of 
Medicine now occupied by Wm. Darrach, M. D.; and the Chair 
of Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and childran, now 
occupied by Jno. Wiltbank, M. D., in the Faculty of the 
Medical Department of Pennsylvania College. And that they 
hereby remove from the said Faculty of the Medical Depart- 
ment the said Wm. Darrach, M. D., and the said Jno. Wilt- 
bank, M. D." 
We do not purpose to continue the narrative through the pain- 
ful litigation which has so far ensued. That litigation is yet 
pending. It has not yet extended beyond a motion for a spe- 
cial injunction, and further steps and new modes of presenting 
the question are yet before us. We will not believe until it 
shall be solemnly pronounced by a court of the last appeal that 
for wrongs like these the justice of Pennsylvania has no redress. 
The Trustees did not view lightly or with indifference, the 
perversion thus practically accomplished, of the building and 
the funds of the institution, from those justly entitled to their 
use. The testimony of these disinterested gentlemen, whose 
names will at once inspire deep respect for, and confidence in 
their statements, so strongly and conclusively sustains our 
statements, that we cannot forbear its insertion, and we have 
accordingly printed it in the Appendix to this pamphlet. 
We are about to close this narrative with an apology for tres- 
passing so long upon the patience of our readers, but we cannot 
do so without an allusion to one other subject which is made 
prominent in the pamphlet, to which this is a reply. We allude 
to the legislation recently invited from the General Assembly 
of the State. The Legislature were asked by a brief but 
expressive enactment to confer the control of this institution 
upon the Trustees of the building in the City of Philadelphia. 
The bill by which this is proposed to be done, is said to be of a 
" fraudulent character," having for its object " spoliation and 31 
wrong-to take away the property of one man and give it to 
another"-to be " contrary to law and in violation of the Consti- 
tution, and subversive of the first principles of justice." Its 
movers are said to have designed " to impose upon the Legis- 
lature, and to procure clandestine and unconstitutional legis- 
lation." 
One might almost suppose in reading this language, so clearly 
and forcibly descriptive of those dishonest acts and tricks by 
which we were despoiled and wronged of our hard earned and 
valued rights, and compelled to stand by, while in violation of 
the first principles of justice our property was taken away and 
given to another-these gentlemen wrote with some clear mirror 
before them constantly reflecting their own conduct before 
their eyes. 
This much abused act, against which is levelled with' so much 
vehemence the bitter denunciation of these gentlemen, simply 
proposed to place the government of the institution in the 
hands of those trustees who had erected the building. And 
where else, permit us to ask, could this power be so properly 
placed? These trustees were gentlemen of intelligence and 
standing. Their competency no one will venture to question. 
They were resident upon the spot, and therefore easily capa- 
ble of knowing the wants of the institution. They had shown 
their love for the college, by self-sacrificing zeal and cheerful 
contributions of their means. For whom can higher claims 
than these be shown ? 
Surely not for the distant trusteeship of another institution, 
which had unlawfully usurped a power, and yet in return could 
confer not one single solitary benefit. They could prescribe no 
course of instruction, they could confer no degree-they could 
erect no building, they were far distant, and could exercise 
no fostering care or watchful supervision over an institution 
planted here. 
If they possessed the power so absurdly claimed, it were 
wise indeed to take it from them, and place it where it ought 
to be; if they do not possess it, and this we think is plain in- 
deed, we cannot admire either the honor or the modesty of a 32 
claim to that which neither does nor should belong to them. 
In either view, we trust these harsh imputations of intended 
spoliation and wrong will be thought to be misapplied, and that 
our request in unison with nearly all the graduates of the in- 
stitution, for the passage of this act, will seem to be not wanting 
either in good sense or in good faith. 
And here for a time at least-grateful for your kind atten- 
tion, we leave this controversy. Though wronged, we are not 
without remedy; though defeated, we are not disheartened. 
Truth will prevail, and justice will not permit wrongs like 
these to be without redress; and so quietly and patiently, yet 
firmly and earnestly, and hopefully, will we strive, not doubt- 
ing that at last truth will, be vindicated, and justice done alike 
to the living, and to the memory of the dead. 
JNO. WILTBANK, M. D., 
WM, DARRAGH. M. D.. APPENDIX, NO. 1. 
CHARTER OF PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF GETTYSBURG. 
Whereas the literary and scientific institution in Gettysburg, 
Adams County, in this Commonwealth, known by the name of Get- 
tysburg Gymnasium, is resorted to by a large number of young men 
from different portions of this state, and elsewhere, and promises to 
exert a salutary influence in advancing the cause of liberal education, 
particularly among the German portion of our fellow-citizens: 
Therefore : 
Sect. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly 
met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the 
Gettysburg Gymnasium be, and hereby is erected into a College, for 
the education of youth in the learned languages, the arts, sciences, 
and useful literature. 
Sect. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. 
That the style and title of said college shall be " Pennsylvania Col- 
lege of Gettysburg," and that it shall be under the management, 
direction, and government of all the subscribers to the funds of said 
institution, by whose private contributions the said funds have been 
raised, and its present edifice purchased, to wit: John B. M'Pher- 
son, Thomas C. Miller, Thomas J. Cooper, Samuel Fahnestock, 
Samuel S. Schmucker, Ernest L. Hazelius, David F. Schaeffer, John 
G. Morris, Benjamin Kurtz, William Heim, Charles P. Krautb, 
Frederick D. Schaeffer, J. George Schmucker, J. F. Heyer, Jacob 
Martin, Abraham Reck, William Ernst, Jacob Mcdtard, Lewis 
Eichelberger, Michael Meyerheffer, Jonathan Ruthrauff, Jacob Crig- 
ler, John F. Macfarlane, Robert Goodloe Harper, John Herbst, and 
their successors, to be elected as hereinafter mentioned. 
Sect. 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That the said subscribers and their successors, to be elected as here- 
inafter mentioned, shall forever hereafter be, and they are hereby 
erected, established, and declared to be one body politic and corpo- 
rate, with perpetual succession in deed and law, to all intents and 
purposes whatsoever, by the name, style, and title of " The Patrons 
of Pennsylvania College in Gettysburg, in the County of Adams." 
Sect. 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 34 
That the aforesaid " Patrons of Pennsylvania College," and their 
successors, shall have power from time to time to elect from their 
own number or elsewhere, a board of trustees, twenty-one in number, 
(Provided always, That at least three-fourths of them be selected 
from among the patrons,) shall determine the time of their continu- 
ance in office, and be in law responsible for all their acts; whenever 
the place of one or more of the aforesaid Patrons becomes vacated 
by death, resignation or otherwise, the remaining Patrons shall, at 
any regular meeting called as hereinafter specified, elect a successor 
or successors; and at elections either for patrons, or trustees, or 
teachers, or other officers, and in the reception of pupils, no person 
shall be rejected on account of his conscientious persuasion in mat- 
ters of religion, provided he shall demean himself in a sober manner, 
and conform to the rules and regulations of the college. 
Sect. 5. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That the stated meeting of the Patrons shall be held annually at 
Gettysburg, at such time as they may appoint; at these meetings, a 
majority of the Patrons shall constitute a quorum, and if a quorum 
be not present at the appointed time, those present may adjourn 
from time to time, until a quorum can be assembled : notice of each 
stated annual meeting shall be given by a person appointed by 
the Patrons, in writing, to be sent by mail or otherwise, to each 
Patron, at least four weeks previously to the time appointed for the 
meeting. 
Sect. 6. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That the board of trustees elected by the Patrons as aforesaid, shall, 
as a committee of the Patrons aforesaid, have power to transact all 
business, and be liable to all the responsibilities of bodies politic, 
viz: by the name, style and title of "The Trustees of Pennsylvania 
College, of Gettysburg, in the County of Adams;" they and their 
successors shall be able and capable at law and in equity, to take 
to themselves and their successors, for the use of said College, 
any estate, in any messuages, lands, tenements, hereditaments, 
goods, chattels, moneys, or other effects, by gift, grant, bargain, 
sale, conveyance or assurance, will, devise or bequest of any person 
or persons whatever, provided the same do not exceed in the 
whole the yearly value of six thousand dollars, and the same mes- 
suages, lands, tenements, hereditaments and estates, real and per- 
sonal, to grant, bargain, sell, convey, assure, demise, and to farm, 
let, and place out on interest, or otherwise dispose of or invest for 
the use of the said College, in such manner as to them, or at least 
eleven of them, shall seem most beneficial to the Institution, and to 
receive the rents, issues, profits, income and interest of the same, 
and to apply the same to the proper use of the said College, and by 
the same name to sue, commence, prosecute and defend, implead 
and be impleaded in any courts of law or equity, and in all manner 
of suits and actions whatsoever, and generally by and in the same 
name to do and transact all and every business touching or concern- 35 
ing the premises, or which shall be incidentally necessary thereto, 
as fully and effectually as any natural person or body politic or cor- 
porate have power to manage their own concerns, and to hold, enjoy, 
and exercise all such powers, authorities and jurisdictions, as are 
customary in other Colleges within this Commonwealth. 
Sect. 7. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That the said trustees shall cause to be made for their use, one 
common seal, with such devices and inscriptions thereon as they 
shall think proper, and by and with which all deeds, diplomas, 
certificates and acts of the said trustees, shall pass and be authen- 
ticated. 
Sect. 8. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That there shall be a meeting of the said trustees held at least once 
in every year, at Gettysburg, at such time as the said trustees or a 
quorum of them shall appoint, of which notice shall be given after 
the first meeting in writing, signed by the secretary of the boards 
and sent to the said trustees by mail or otherwise, at least four weeks 
before the time of such intended meeting; and if at such meeting, 
eleven of the said trustees shall not be present, those of them who 
shall be present, shall have power to adjourn to any other time, as 
fully as if all the existing trustees were present; but if eleven or 
more of the said trustees shall meet at the appointed time or at any 
other time of adjournment or extra meeting, then such eleven or 
more of the trustees shall be a quorum or board, and a majority of 
them shall be capable of doing and transacting all the business and 
concerns of said College, not otherwise provided for by this act; and 
particularly of making and enacting ordinances for the government 
and discipline of the said College; of electing the Principal and 
the Professors of said College ; of agreeing with them for their sala- 
ries and stipends, and removing them for incapacity, inattention to 
duty, for breaches of the ordinances of the Institution, or other mis- 
conduct, which shall be deemed sufficient; of appointing committees 
of their own body to carry into execution the resolutions of the 
board; of appointing a president, secretary, and treasurer, and other 
officers, whom they may find necessary in managing the concerns of 
the Corporation ; extra meetings for the transaction of such business 
as may incidently arise and not admit of postponement, shall be 
called by the highest existing officer of the board, when requested 
in writing by six members of the board; and of all such extra meet- 
ings, the same notice shall be given in all respects as in the case of 
regular meetings: Provided, That no ordinance at any time passed 
by the board shall be of force, if it be contrary to the Constitution 
or laws of the United States or of this State. 
Sect. 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That the Principal and Professors of said College, or a majority of 
them, for the time being, shall constitute the faculty, and have 
power to enforce the rules and regulations enacted by the trustees 
for the government and discipline of the students; and, finally 36 
to suspend such of them as, according to the regulations of the 
board, deserve suspension, until the determination of a quorum 
of the trustees can be had ; and to grant and confirm, by the order 
or consent of a quorum of the trustees, such degrees in the liberal 
arts and sciences, or such branches thereof to such students of the 
college or others, whom, by their proficiency in learning or other 
meritorious distinction they shall regard as entitled to them, as have 
usually been granted in other colleges, or which a quorum of the 
said trustees shall think right and proper, and to grant to such gra- 
duates, diplomas or certificates, under their common seal, to authen- 
ticate and perpetuate the memory of such graduation. 
Sect. 10. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That no misnomer of the said corporation shall defeat or annul any 
gift, grant, devise or bequest to or for the said corporation, provided 
the intent of the parties shall sufficiently appear upon the face of the 
gift, grant, will, or other writing, whereby any estate or interest 
was intended to pass to or for the said corporation. 
Sect. 11. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That in addition to the customary professorships in other colleges, 
there shall be in this institution a German Professorship, the incum- 
bent of which shall, in addition to such other duties as may be 
assigned him by the board, instruct such young men as may resort 
to the institution for the purpose of becoming qualified to be teachers 
of those primary schools, in which, according to the act passed last 
session, both German and English are to be taught; and if, at any 
time, said corporation shall misuse or abuse any of the privileges 
hereby granted, the legislature may resume all and singular the 
rights and privileges hereby granted to said corporation. 
John Laporte, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Wm. G. Hawkins, 
Speaker of the Senate. 
Approved-The seventh day of April, A. D., one thousand 
eight hundred and thirty-two. 
Geo. Wolf. 37 
APPENDIX, No. 2. 
DR. ATLEE'S RESIGNATION. 
" To the Faculty oe the Medical Department of Pennsyl- 
vania College, Philadelphia. 
" Gentlemen,- 
Having for some time been convinced of the 
propriety of withdrawing from the Chair of Chemistry, I consider 
the present the most suitable time to offer my resignation. 
" The branch, which I teach, requires more time than I can be- 
stow upon it without seriously encroaching upon my professional 
duties, while the position itself rather impairs than contributes to 
my character, and consequently, my usefulness, as a practitioner, 
particularly of surgery. My whole life and aims being directed into 
paths uncongenial to the teaching of Chemistry, both the school and 
myself are likely to suffer in reputation by this unnatural associa- 
tion-for while a large, and increasing, and valuable experience, 
arising in the practice of my profession, might be profitably applied 
to illustrate the teachings of other branches, it, to the same extent, 
disqualifies me for the satisfactory fulfilment of the duties connected 
with the present Chair. 
" For these reasons, which are paramount, I hereby resign the 
Professorship of Medical Chemistry in the Medical Department of 
Pennsylvania College-the resignation to take effect immediately 
on the termination of the duties of the present session of 1851-52. 
" Hoping that the friendly relations and intercourse, which have 
heretofore existed between us, may continue, and that the College 
may ever maintain its elevated position, and meet with entire suc- 
cess, I remain, truly and sincerely, 
Your friend, 
Washington L. Atlee. 
To Professors Darrach, 
Wiltbank, 
Patterson, 
Grant, 
Gilbert. 
Philadelphia, Dec. 23d, 1851. 38 
Proceedings of the Faculty in reference to the Resignation of Dr. 
Atlee. 
" Penna. College, Med. Dept., April 22d, 1852. 
" To Prof. W. L. Atlee, M. D. 
Dear Sir,- 
The undersigned would respectfully communicate 
the following action of the Faculty, had at a meeting held last even- 
ing in reference to your resignation as Professor of Medical Chemistry. 
Yours, &c., 
D. Gilbert, Registrar. 
W. Darrach, Pres, of Faculty, &c. 
11 After the acceptance of the resignation the Committee presented, 
viz:- 
11 The Committee to whom was referred the letter of Dr. Atlee, 
resigning the Chair of Medical Chemistry in Pennsylvania College, 
report, that having given the subject the deliberation its importance 
demands, they have concluded to submit to the Faculty the follow- 
ing Preamble and Resolutions as an appropriate minute of their 
feelings on the occasion. 
Jno. Wiltbank, 
H. S. Patterson, 
Committee. 
"Whereas, by a letter dated December 23d, 1851, Prof. Washing- 
ton L. Atlee informs the Faculty that a partial diversion from the 
study of Chemistry, to which he has hitherto been devoted, and a 
more exclusive application to another branch of professional enquiry 
and practice (to wit, Operative Surgery,) have rendered a further 
continuance in the Chair of Medical Chemistry incompatible with his 
present views and interests, therefore, 
" Resolved, That while we accede to the correctness of the rea- 
soning by which Dr. Atlee has explained his desire to dissolve his 
connection with us, we sincerely regret that such necessity has oc- 
curred, and regard his change of professional position as a gain to 
the Surgery of Philadelphia, but a loss to Chemistry and to our 
school. 
" Resolved, That in his withdrawal, Dr. Atlee carries with him 
the kindest regards of the Faculty, and their best wishes for his con- 
tinued health, prosperity, and professional advancement. 
" Resolved, That the Faculty sincerely trust that this event, so 
much to be regretted, will produce no interruption of the friendly 
and pleasant relations which have united Dr. Atlee to them since 
the period in which he came to our city at their invitation and ur- 
gent request. 
" The report of the Committee having been read, was accepted, 
and ordered to be recorded upon the minutes, and a copy, signed by 
the officers, to be conveyed to Dr. Atlee by the Committee." 
from the Minutes.] 39 
DR. PATTERSON'S RESIGNATION. 
92 Arch St., Sept. 15th, 1853. 
Dear Doctor :- 
In view of the daily increasing improbability 
of my being able to deliver a complete and satisfactory course of 
lectures during the approaching session, I think it is time our 
Faculty was preparing itself for the emergency of my failure. I am 
therefore ready, if need be, to dissolve my connexion with the insti- 
tution to which I have devoted the best energies of my best years, 
although such separation is to me as the dividing asunder of soul and 
spirit. What is my immediate duty is not entirely clear to me, and 
I ask the affectionate counsel of yourself and the rest of my col- 
leagues under the circumstances. 
That my health is too precarious for such a momentous interest 
to hang upon that slender thread I well know. I desire to provide 
for the interests of the college and am prepared to withdraw from it, 
or to make any other arrangement that may be approved, if you 
think there is a hope that I may yet one day be restored to useful- 
ness and labor. 
The issue of my case shall be as God wills. On that will I believe 
I have learned to wait patiently and, I hope, humbly. But it is 
still our duty to look the facts in the face, and prepare ourselves for 
even the worst contingency. 
Affectionately yours, 
Dr. W. Darrach, Arch St. H. S. PATTERSON. 
92 Arch St., Sept. 20th. 
Gentlemen :-The proposition upon which we agreed last evening 
appearing to be impracticable, you will please allow me to recall it. 
In place thereof, permit me to accept your original proposition of 
a transfer to an Emeritus Professorship, with the conditions there 
specified. 
Trusting that this course will enable the Faculty to arrange this 
business satisfactorily and at once, I remain 
Sincerely yours, 
H. S. PATTERSON. 
Drs. Wiltbank and Reese, Committee. 40 
APPENDIX No. 3. 
W. Darrach's respects to Dr. Wiltbank, with the following 
STATEMENT: 
On the evening of the 23d of January, 1854, whilst at tea, I was 
informed by my servant, that a gentleman was in my office who 
would wait until I had finished my tea. On entering my office, I 
found Dr. Gilbert sitting near the east window. I expressed my 
satisfaction at seeing him. And having no other idea than that his 
visit was one of condolence, I urged him to come up into the parlor, 
that Mrs. D. and the rest of the family would be glad to see him. 
He declined. I then urged him to take off his over-coat and stay 
with me as I had no call out. He then shocked, surprised and dis- 
gusted me so, that my heart palpitated with a sickening indignation, 
by saying that he came upon a very painful business: that he came 
as the representative of five of seven of the Faculty, strongly empha- 
sizing the number five! That it was our intention to have had you 
and Dr. Wiltbank with us; but thought afterwards that it would 
not do. We, he continued, consider the present state of the Col- 
lege, and believe that it is going down : that you are the cause, or 
chiefly, or you and Dr. Wiltbank, (one or other of these expressions 
he made use of.) That our desire and request is, therefore, that 
you resign. We all have the highest respect for you, and consider you 
one of our most eminent physicians, and as having a profound know- 
ledge of your branch ; but your introductory has driven off twenty-five 
students from the school, that the first lectures of your course had 
driven off as many more, or ten more, that a student of Dr. Wilt- 
bank had left him and us, because he did not believe that he could 
learn the theory and practice from Dr. Darrach-that another had 
complained that my clinics were incomprehensible : and that Dr. 
Wiltbank was the chief authority for the above facts. He fur- 
ther stated to me, that it was their wish that I would resign quietly, 
lest any excitement would injure the College, and that they would 
make me an Emeritus Professor as they had Dr. Patterson. 
Such is as faithful a statement of Dr. Gilbert's verbal communica- 
tion and request, on the evening of the 23d of Jan., 1854, as my 
memory can furnish. 
My object in sending you the above is to ask you, how you are 
the chief authority for the above allegations against me. 
Very truly, 
W. Darrach. 
Dr. Darrach, 
Dear Sir :-I have perused your letter of the 24th ult., contain- 
ing a statement of Dr. Gilbert's interview with you on the 23d Jan., 
with surprise and indignation. That Dr. Gilbert, indebted in a 
great measure, as he is, to you, for the position he occupies in the 41 
College and in this city, as well as for your unvaried kindness and 
support ever since his connexion with us, should have had the 
audacity to have spoken thus to you, almost exceeds belief. But to 
have implicated me in the matter, by giving me as the author of his 
unfounded charges was, if possible, still more base. Dr. Gilbert 
well knew of my devoted and unwavering friendship towards you. 
He knew of my high estimate of your learning and talents, and of 
my uniform testimony in your favour as the Christian gentleman, 
the skilful physician, and the successful teacher. He knew that I 
had always regarded you and Dr. Patterson as the most popular and 
the most capable teachers in our institution; and he knew, too, that 
these were my settled convictions, derived from my own observation, 
extending almost to the time of your return from Europe, and freely 
expressed upon all suitable occasions. And further, he was well 
aware that I had freely awarded to you the credit of originating and 
sustaining the noble policy which has been the chief glory of our 
College; and also, as having been, with Dr. Patterson, the most 
zealous and successful in furnishing the means for the erection of 
our beautiful College edifice. Knowing these to be my sentiments, 
often expressed to him in the most emphatic manner, it was with 
utter surprise and disgust that I learned that he had given me as his 
authority for the allegations upon which he based his argument for 
your resignation of your Chair in the College. 
What Dr. Gilbert's motives may have been, it does not become 
me, and I do not care, to inquire. If they were to create discord 
between you and me, and, having separated us, to attack us singly, 
I. am pleased to know that the effort has signally failed. You know 
me too well to believe, for a moment, that I would say or do any- 
thing to your injury; and we both have learned that Dr. Gilbert 
will not hesitate to make an attack when the occasion requires it, and 
to shield himself behind some third person. 
And yet, I must acknowledge that I have been at times impru- 
dent in speech. It is hard to be ever on one's guard, and, taking it 
for granted that I was conversing with a friend whose object was to 
promote the true interests of the College, I have let slip, inadvert- 
ently, remarks that must have been contorted into these accusations. 
It would be remarkable, considering the free and open intercourse 
always encouraged in the Faculty, if similar charges could not be 
made against each one of us. But when the circumstances are taken 
into the account the whole force of the accusation is lost. 
1st, He gave me as his authority for his assertion, that (( twenty- 
five students were driven from the College by your introductory lec- 
ture." Now, that was a stereotyped expression of Dr. Allen's, 
which I have heard from him and from Dr. Gilbert, time after time, 
from early in the session of 1852-3. Upon one single occasion, 
I said to Dr. Gilbert that I had heard it from one of our Alumni- 
but I spoke of it as an idle rumor, without foundation, and as an 
evidence of the thoughtless and rash remarks of young men, whose 42 
minds had been warped or poisoned by prejudice-using it, at the 
same time, as an argument to induce him to call upon you as a 
friend, and tell you of the rumors that were in circulation. 
2d, " That your first lectures had driven off about ten or more," 
I am not responsible for in any shape or manner. I have often 
heard Drs. Allen and Gilbert say that such was the fact, but never, 
on any occasion, have I either asserted, assented to, or endorsed it. 
3d, " That my student had left my office and the College, for 
Jefferson College," is true; but not for the reason that he gave you, 
" because he could not hope to learn the practice of medicine from 
Dr. Darrach." He was attracted to the Jefferson College by the Sur- 
gical Clinic, and I plainly said so to Dr. Reese, in explanation of his 
conduct. 
4th. " That a student had told me, that your clinics were incom- 
prehensible," is false, and grossly so. The truth is this-a student 
of Jefferson College, of high standing and capable of forming a cor- 
rect judgment, was invited by me to attend your clinic and report 
his opinion of it to me. He did so, and gave me-as I was sure he 
would do-a most favourable account of it. Comparing it with the 
medical clinic at Jefferson College, he spoke of yours as decidedly 
more instructive and valuable. He dwelt with great delight upon 
your profound and original views, your style and manner, and 
expressed himself as having learned more from that single lecture 
than from any other he had ever heard. In the course of his highly 
eromplimentary remarks upon that lecture, he said that there was a 
single point stated that he could not fully comprehend, and asked 
me to explain it. As your dispensary was, at that time, the sub- 
ject of animadversion, I related the substance of his remarks to 
Drs. Allen and Gilbert, and I thought I had given them the most 
satisfactory evidence that you were an able and acceptable clinical 
teacher. 
Such are the grounds upon which Dr. Gilbert has made me your 
accuser. Is it possible to conceive of a more glaring perversion and 
misrepresentation? The end to be accomplished was, no doubt, well 
worthy of them; but with this, I have at present no concern, and 
therefore, subscribe myself, 
Your faithful colleague, and sincere friend, 
John Wiltbank. 43 
APPENDIX No. 4. 
Philadelphia, Aug. 10th, 1855. 
Dear Doctor : 
Your note of the 7th inst. has been received. It contains three 
points on which you wish my opinion : 
1. " I have been publicly represented as unpopular and incompe- 
tent as a Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine" 
2. 11 Also as holding only six hundred dollars of the loan." 
3. 11 What agency 1 had in the erection of the building." 
On the first point I may state, that during my connection with 
the Medical Department of Pennsylvania College-a period of eight 
years-I always considered that you were one of the most popular 
members of the Faculty. Your lectures were instructive and satis- 
factory, your devotion to the interests of the College unequalled, 
your attention to the students kind and parental, and your inter- 
course with colleagues and pupils always agreeable and courteous. 
During the above period the school grew in strength, numbers, and 
respectability, and was established, I thought, on a solid and perma- 
nent foundation. 
The Second and Third points may be embraced together. As 
they involve a history of the erection of the new building, I will 
have to answer them more at length. 
At a Faculty meeting, a note, from Mr. Newkirk, Esq., was read 
offering to us the building in Filbert Steeet, above Eleventh, which 
we then occupied, for J 6,000 dollars. If the offer were not accepted 
the keys were to be given up. 
The Faculty, after duly considering the proposition, decided not 
to purchase. The dilemma, however, caused us to think about the 
erection of a suitable building, and a proposition was made by you 
that each member of the Faculty should nominate two personal 
friends to whom he should present the subject, and afterwards to 
request these friends, twelve in number, to meet the Faculty and 
hear a statement from them on the prospects and condition of the 
College. This was accordingly done. You nominated your friends 
Henry Lelar, Esq., and William Dulty, Esq. ; Dr. Wiltbank nomi- 
nated his brother-in-law, Thomas Robins, Esq., and his cousin Am- 
brose W. Thompson, Esq.; Dr. Patterson, his brother Joseph Pat- 
terson, Esq., and his friend, Judge Kelly; Dr. Grant, his father-in- 
law John McAlister, Esq., and his friend, Robert Bald, Esq.; Dr. 
Gilbert, his friends, John Anspach, Esq., and Martin Buehler, Esq.; 
and I nominated my friends, Wm. Longstreth, Esq., and John W. 
Forney, Esq. 
A meeting was subsequently held, and the subject having been 
thoroughly discussed, these gentlemen entertained the project favor- 44 
ably, and decided that the school should go on, and that a building 
should be erected. In order to carry out this object, they decided 
that, with three additional gentlemen, to be nominated by the Faculty, 
they would endeavour to be created by the State, into a Board of 
Trustees. 
These gentlemen were incorporated-a building lot was purchased 
by you, and on your own responsibility, and a plan of the building, 
proposed by Mr. Walters, was decided on. The site and plan met the 
approbation of the Board of Trustees, and Morris Patterson, Esq., Jos. 
Patterson, Esq., and John McAlister, Esq., each immediately and 
generously subscribed 1000 dollars. But others present, not being 
disposed to add to these subscriptions, the Board, thereby discouraged, 
passed the subscription paper with only 3000 dollars into your hands, 
to do the best you could with it. You reported the sad result to 
the Faculty and we feared that the enterprize had failed. Early the 
next morning, however, you called upon Henry Lelar, Esq., and in 
his presence, having subscribed 1500 dollars, be, as your friend, in 
consequence, subscribed the same amount. The loan, thus so 
quickly raised by two subscriptions to six thousand dollars, assumed 
a much more hopeful aspect. On the same day you procured a sub- 
scription of one thousand dollars from myself, and five hundred dol- 
lars each from the remaining members of the Faculty. Afterwards 
by your unremitting efforts, other gentlemen were induced to sub- 
scribe to the loan, and in a short time you presented to the Board of 
Trustees the paper, with nineteen thousand dollars subscribed 
thereon. 
On the faith of this, the building committee began the work, and, 
with the additional aid of the two Messrs. Patterson, the building 
was erected, and occupied by the Faculty in the fall of 1849. 
In all this the Faculty acted as an independent coporate body, 
assisted by the Board of Trustees, nominated by themselves for that 
special purpose. They conducted the whole affair without consulta- 
tion and correspondence with the College at Gettysburg, not dream- 
ing that the Faculty were amenable to any power outside their own 
body. 
Very respectfully yours, &c., 
Washington L. Atlee. 
418 Arch Street. 
To Wm. Darrach, M. D. 45 
EXTRACTS OF LETTERS FROM DR. ATLEE. 
I may also mention that before my resignation was accepted by 
the Faculty, the Chair of Anatomy was vacated by the death of our 
much esteemed friend, Professor Grant. Subsequent to this mourn- 
ful event, and previously to any action on my resignation, I stated 
to yon the fact that Dr. Gilbert, in order to induce me to accept a 
Chair in the organization of the Faculty, had made certain propo- 
sitions which could now be carried out. He originally wanted the 
Chair of Anatomy, which Dr. Grant declined giving up. He, how- 
ever, consented to take Surgery, and, in urging me to take Che- 
mistry, stated that Dr. Grant's health was very bad, that he could 
not last over a few years, that in the event of his death he would 
resign his Chair to me, and take that of Anatomy. As this period, 
foreseen by Dr. Gilbert, had arrived, I was ready to enter into his 
proposed arrangement, and communicated the matter to you as Pre- 
sident of the Faculty. You, of course, know the sequel. 
Truly yours, &c., 
Washington L. Atlee, 
To Wm. Darragh, M. D. 418 Arch Street. 
June 20, 1854. 
Previously to giving my first course of Lectures in the College, 
I received from Prof. Patterson a letter, dated Philadelphia, June 
28th, 1844, containing the following extract:- 
" At a meeting of the Faculty, held to-day, before we left 
we came to some conclusions of importance. You know the 
peculiar independent position of our Faculty under its charter. We 
are not amenable to a Board of Trustees or any other authority. 
We, therefore, judged that the old organization was improper. We 
wanted a head. The Dean of a Faculty is the head of a subordinate 
body in a University governed by a Provost or President, and should 
have no place in an independent one. A presidential authority is 
required in the person who confers degrees. We have, therefore, 
resolved to have two officers in our Faculty-a President and Regis- 
trar-which is the organization by the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, in New York. The President presides over the Faculty and 
acts as its representative at the public Commencements. The Re- 
gistrar keeps the books and transacts the business generally. At 
the same meeting Dr. Darrach was chosen President, and myself 
Registrar. We hope that this arrangement will prove entirely satis- 
factory to you and Dr. Gilbert." 
Washington L. Atlee. 
Affirmed and subscribed before me, this 
24th day of July, A. D. 1854. 
Wm. P. Hibbard, Alderman. 46 
APPENDIX No . 5. 
IN RELATION TO THE PAPER, CIRCULATED IN 
THE CLASS. 
Cedar Spring, Oct. 17, 1854. 
Dear friend Dr. Wm. Darrach : 
Sir :-You ask of me that which I would be more willing to 
give than you to ask-what I know of the paper which was circula- 
ted in the class last session as the matter has resulted in a suit at 
law by the Janitor against the new members. I know but little, 
although the paper was handed to me four or five times, either by 
Charles W. Barker, student of Dr. Gilbert, or by Charles H. Hall, 
student of Drs. Smith, Allen and Reese. But after all these refu- 
sals, the paper was brought to my sick room on the day of Dr. Gil- 
bert's visit to me, by C. H. Barker if I mistake not, and my mind 
being confused from previous examinations, and others approaching, 
and at the same time being sick, I agreed to have my name put 
down; at the same time it went against my own will, and after 
reflection I wished I had never seen the man and paper. But the 
deed was done, and many a hard and sad hour it gave me, since I 
often wished I could get my name from the paper. Dr. Gilbert said 
but little to me about the matter, but Dr. Allen talked to me of it 
for a long time, but what the particulars were I am not able to say. 
Please write soon, and if there is anything that I can do for you, I 
will be ready, and will do all that is in my power for you. Could I 
but get my name from that paper, which was unjustly used against 
you. Dear Doctor, I beg your pardon in all that was done against 
you by me, for I am ready to officiate for you in every respect. 
Please write soon and give me the particulars of the matter. 
1 am well, and hope that these lines may find you well. 
I remain yours, 
With high esteem, 
Doctor Wm. Darrach. S. ADAM§. 
Darrach, et al. 
vs. 
Biddle, et al. 
Henry C. Paist, being duly sworn according to law, saith-I am 
by profession a physician, having graduated at Penna. Medical Col- 
lege in March last. 
I was one of the class at that school last winter. During the 
session a paper was circulated through the class asking Drs. Darrach 
and Wiltbank to resign, and urging it upon them as a step promo- 
tive of the good of the school, and adding, that if they did not, the 
students who signed and who were then in the first course of lec- 47 
tures, would not attend a second course. This paper originated from 
and was circulated by the private students of Drs. Allen and Smith. 
Its signature was urged by the statement to the student who was 
asked to sign, that if he did not it was questionable whether be 
would be passed in his examination for a degree-but it was inti- 
mated that if he signed, then he should certainly pass. I declined 
signing, for I felt that the request made in the paper was unjust and 
uncalled for. The same reasons were, I have reason to know, urged 
upon others. 
Affirmed to before me, this twenty-fourth 
day of July, A. D. 1854. 
HENRY C. PAIST. 
Williams Ogle, 
Aiderman. 
Dr. Wiltbank, 
Dear Sir,-Although I declined signing the petition of the stu- 
dents asking you and Dr. Darrach to resign your Chairs, I consider 
it my duty to inform you of the arguments that were used by the 
students, to urge me and others to sign the paper. They were, that 
you both wished it, so that you might be made Emeritus Professors ; 
That unless you resigned, the others would, and the College would 
go to ruin, and that it was the surest way of securing our Diplo- 
mas, &c. 
Yours Truly, 
April 1st, 1854. Thomas D. Hubbard, M. D. 
Friday Morning, March 5th, '54. 
Dear Doctor,-No doubt you are aware of my ungenerous act, 
viz : by signing the paper that was brought before the candidates 
for graduation. However bad and unfeeling it appears, rest assured 
it was contrary to my motives. It was handed to me in time of 
peril by some influential members-saying, as matters are now, 
your success will be uncertain if you don't sign this petition. Con- 
sequently, I regret to say, I allowed my name to be used in an act 
of inhumanity and injustice. My financial affairs I thought, per- 
haps, were not altogether satisfactory. I, therefore, put my name 
to the paper to insure success, as I thought it would do. 
I will call to see you next week some day. 
R. S. Marlin. 
P. S. I should not have signed it, but I was aware that it could 
do but little good for what it was intended, and two-thirds that have 
signed, are under the same impression. 48 
Minersville, Sunday, August. 
Dear Doctor,- 
I received your kind letter last evening, stating the existing diffi- 
culties in the Faculty. I am sorry to hear that the opposing party 
are still urging their aims to remove you from the Faculty. For what 
reasons I know not. It certainly can't be incompetency or unpopu- 
larity, as some of the Professors assert. Very few objections, indeed, 
have I heard mentioned against you, and the objection, and only one 
was, that your lectures were too erudite for the comprehension of your 
pupils. Now to revive some of the facts which have with me fallen 
into neglect, viz.: The manner and reasons that the majority of the 
students had for signing the petition that was so insidiously circulated 
among them ;-it was by means of extortion through fear as it plainly 
shows. The person that handed me the paper said,-sign this, and 
you will have a better show for your sheep-skin. I heard him men- 
tion that to others, and he himself signed it on that account; but 
where he had the authority from for saying it I know not, nor do I 
know where the paper originated; but I do know that some of the 
new Faculty were aware that such a paper was then in circulation 
among us, consequently they would have a right to denounce such 
vile proceedings if they considered it unjust, and unjust we called 
it, with the exception of a few Georgian students. As to objec- 
tions or excuses to have you removed, we have none; how can it be 
otherwise-to injure a man's hard-earned reputation to gratify 
others, is a crime of the darkest dye; although the petition in 
itself shows that we are guilty. But I hope the above cause or 
reason for doing so will excuse us on such an occasion. Any favorable 
allurement is apt to take effect at such a time, especially if one don't 
feel himself competent to appear before the final examination. This 
confession appears to throw discredit on our title of Dr. of M., as 
incompetent to pursue our profession, saying you had not received 
it had you not put your signature to the paper-it shows bad; how- 
ever we nearly all regretted it after the storm was over. 
There were a number of others that had written apologies to hand 
to you, but were disgusted to think that you might judge them unfit 
for their honor. 
I hope you will be successful in your lawsuit; should you fail it 
would grieve me, and hundreds more of your friends ; but you can't 
fail; you are in the right; the opposing party can't bring sufficient 
reasons to have you removed. For your lectures were always 
attended regularly by all carefully taking notes; while on some 
other branches the lectures were not attended regularly by all. This 
then itself ■ shows whether you are liked, or the objections against 
you are false. For all the students I knew, always spoke highly of 
you as a teacher, and the great pains you took to inculcate medical 
knowledge, and for this we love you. 49 
You may expect another letter from me this week. I should 
have answered yours sooner, had I not been out of town. I do not 
reside at Minersville. 
Yours, very truly, 
Reisy S. Marlin. 
[Extract] 
Dr. Wiltbank. July 15th, 1854. 
Dear Sir : 
You asked me to state the reason why the students were induced 
to sign the petition. I think some thought their diploma depended 
upon their signing the paper, knowing that five were against two. 
But I can proudly say I was not one of them-I should have felt 
mean to have signed a petition to turn out men whose names I 
wanted and expected on my diploma 
Yours respectfully, 
George R. Truitt 
[Copy] 190 Queen Street, July 27 th, '54. 
Dr. Wiltbank, 
Dear Sir, 
I feel it to be my duty to make a statement of the motives 
which induced me to place my signature to a petition requesting you 
and Dr. Darrach to resign your Professorships in the Pennsylvania 
Medical College. 
This petition I was induced to sign by the influence of friends 
without reading it carefully, or in any way considering for myself 
what I was doing. 
The institution was represented to us as being in a most deplorable 
condition, fast declining. That its downfall was inevitable under 
existing circumstances. In such a condition, our diploma if granted 
us, would not be valid. 
Such were the circumstances under which I signed the petition, I 
did not sign it as some have supposed, from a want of confidence in 
you and Dr. Darrach, as teachers. 
I do not think that I could have signed the petition had I been 
informed of its true origin. I firmly believe that no student would 
sign it at present. Truly am I sorry for the manner in which I 
have treated you. 
Believe me, truly yours, 
A. Clarke Deakyne. 50 
Alexandria, Oct. 21st, 1854. 
Dr. Wm. Darragh :- 
As to the origin of the petition, with 
whom it originated, I do not know. It was circulated among the 
students sometime before it was presented to me for my signature. 
Two students from the South, the one Mr. Hall, the other's name I 
do not remember-a freshman, however, from Louisiana-presented 
it to me. It set forth that the interest of the College required a 
change in the chairs of Practice and Obstetrics, that the present 
incumbents had become unpopular as lecturers, and, in fine, followed 
as far as I can recollect the line of argument used by Dr. Gilbert to 
you. Although at the time I believed that it had its origin at least 
with the knowledge and consent of some of the members of the 
Faculty, yet I never knew or heard of anything positive to justify 
such belief. My impression sprang from the general circumstances 
and common talk of the time-nothing more. Of course I refused 
to sign the paper. I have the highest respect for you as a professor 
and as a man. Yours, respectfully, 
W. Grafius. 
Philad'a, Sept. 1st, 1854. 
Dear Sir: 
As regards the pall that now overshadows our beloved Alma 
Mater there can be but one opinion. That the conduct of the new 
Faculty (so called) had been anything but proper, there is not the 
least shadow of a doubt. In my opinion the whole affair from 
beginning to end is unprecedented. In reference to the petition that 
was so valiantly circulated, I have very little to say, except that it 
was decidedly the most outrageous transaction in toto I ever heard of. 
This precious document was reported to be an emanation from the 
majority of students-on the contrary truth says 'twas concocted 
and set in motion by Mr. Gaudet, a student of Drs. Smith, Allen 
and Reese. 
Again allow me to reiterate the sentiment hereinbefore men- 
tioned. I look upon the whole matter as transacted by the new 
Faculty as perfectly incompatible with the dignity of manhood, say- 
ing nothing of professors. But more anon, 
Yours, very truly 
Wm. R. Sharp. 
W. H. McFadden, M. D., Philadelphia. 51 
Philadelph.a, March 4th, 1854. 
Prof. Wiltbank- 
Dear Sir;-I signed the paper drawn up by 
some one expressing a desire that you and Prof. Darrach would 
resign your chairs as Professors in the Penna. Medical College. I 
was induced to sign it from the word expressed to me, that you and 
Prof. Darrach intended resigning your chairs as Emeritus Profes- 
sors. I signed it, not because I thought there was any deficiency in 
ability to fill such chairs. I respect each of you for your talents 
and as gentlemen. 
Yours with respect, 
Saml. McDannals. 
[Copy.] Camden, Aug. 7 th, 1854. 
Dear Doctor :- 
Allow me, as an alumnus of Pennsylvania 
Medical College, to embrace the present opportunity of assuring you 
that I have always had an exalted opinion of your abilities and fit- 
ness for the chair you so ably occupied during my attendance upon 
your lectures. And I have always, in common with the rest of the 
class, looked upon you as being devotedly attached to the interests 
of the school, and laboring zealously for the welfare of the class. 
I feel it due you to make this statement, as a number of us, 
through certain representations, were induced to put our names to a 
paper, the signing of which has been a subject of deep regret to 
most of us since. 
You are at liberty to make use of this as you see proper. 
Yours, &c., 
W. G. Thomas. 
Camden, Aug. 8th, 1854. 
About the middle of February, during the excitement about 
changing the Janitor, I was asked by Mr. Knorr, one of the mem- 
bers of the class, whether I was favorable to calling a meeting to 
express the sentiments of the class in regard to the proceedings of 
Prof. Reese towards Mr. Wynkoop. I replied I would have nothing 
to do with it. 
Knorr appeared indignant at the conduct of Dr. Reese. 
A short time afterwards, Knorr asked me whether I would sign a 
paper desiring Drs. Wiltbank and Darrach to resign, stating at the 
same time that he had done so. I replied in the negative, and 
expressed some surprise at his change of conduct. I did not see the 
paper on that day, but a day or two afterwards I was introduced by 
Mr. Barker to Mr. Hall, who, taking me aside, solicited my signa- 
ture to the paper, showing it to me for the first time. It had but a 
few names upon it at that time. He represented that the institution 52 
was going down-that he would not attend another course if those 
men did not resign-that he knew a number of students who were 
driven away from the institution by those men-that if they did not 
resign the rest of the Faculty would-that getting them to resign 
was the only means to prevent the downfall of the institution. 
I refused, yet promised to think over it. He intimated to me, in 
substance, though not in words, that the rest of the Faculty 
approved of the students taking this course. The class seemed in a 
state of agitation. There seemed to be an impression on the mind 
of many that if something were not done quickly, the new members 
of the Faculty would leave the building and establish a new institu- 
tion, to which they would call Drs. Page and Pepper to fill the chairs 
of Practice and Obstetrics. 
A few days after I was again called upon by Hall, using the same 
arguments, professing that the intention was solely to save the insti- 
tution. 
I signed the paper, protesting as I did so that I did it for the pur- 
pose of saving my 11 Alma Mater," and not from any feeling with 
regard to the ability of Drs. Darrach and Wiltbank. As far as I 
could understand, the paper was in circulation from one to two 
weeks. I think that the majority of the signers were from the 
graduating class. I was informed by Mr. Adams and Mr. Wells, of 
the graduating class, that Dr. Gilbert called upon Mr. Adams while 
confined to his room from sickness, and urged him to sign the paper, 
telling him he need not fear being rejected-that he would gradu- 
ate-at the same time assuring him that if those men did not resign 
the rest would. 
My impression is, that the majority of signers felt forced to take 
sides one way or the other. I heard the remark made by E. S. 
Durgin, a student of Dr. Allen, brother of Prof. Allen, that we 
were on the strong side, any how; that the new members would take 
care that Drs. D. and W. should not defeat the graduation of any 
of the signers. Before we departed to our homes, there seemed to 
be a general feeling of regret among the signers; many of them de- 
claring they " were sorry they had done so." 
W. G. Thomas. 
Sworn and subscribed before Mr. John S. 
Bundick, one of the Justices of the 
Peace of Camden county, this the eighth 
day of August, A. D. 1854. 
John S. Bundick, 
Justice of the Peace. 53 
Germantown, July 6th, 1854. 
Dr. Wm. Darragh, 
Dear Sir,- 
" To show to him that Dr. Allen did not enter the Col- 
lege for the purpose of co-operating with the old Faculty, I mentioned a 
circumstance which transpired very early in the first session of Dr. Al- 
len's connection with the Pennsylvania College, which was as follows : 
Before the regular Lectures began, that is, during the time of the 
preliminary lectures, Doctor Allen accosted me, and the conversation 
turned upon Drs. Darrach, Wiltbank and Gilbert. Dr. Allen con- 
trasted Dr. Darrach's dull, dry, theoretic lectures, with Drs. Mitchell 
and Wood, saying the latter opened up their preliminaries by intro- 
ducing the most brilliant subjects, and making their opening lec- 
tures flashy, attractive and such as would secure the attendance of 
students. Dr. Allen also remarked that Dr. Darrach had made a 
fool of him (Dr. A.) once for all, by having him demonstrate before 
the class during Dr. Darrach's hour the Portal Circulation. 
a He also spoke in terms of general condemnation of Drs. Dar- 
rach and Wiltbank, saying of the latter, that his specimens were not 
fit to bring before a class. When I intimated to Dr. Allen that he 
could very readily accommodate Dr. W., he said he ' had offered him 
his own (Dr. A.'s) specimens;' but continuing, 'his manner and his 
style are very poor, the students don't like him; and in an exclama- 
tion, said ' it won't do!' In reply to his remarks on Dr. Darrach, 
I told him the relation I held to Dr. D. as my perceptor, apart from 
the esteem in which I held him, forbade my ever countenancing any 
thing that might be urged against Dr. D. I admitted that every 
man has his peculiarities, but that so far as my judgment went I 
considered Dr. D. a very competent and efficient teacher in his 
branch. Dr. Allen admitted that be was a very competent teacher, 
and an efficient practitioner of Medicine. I conceived Dr. Allen's 
object to be the sounding of my opinion of Dr. Darrach-unfor- 
tunately for him I rather snagged him, and fortunately for me I was 
never troubled after by his undignified pandering to those whom he 
could not other than consider inferiors in a relative point of view. 
For abstractly I believe be considers every or any man his equal. 
In relation to Dr. Gilbert, I asked him how he thought Gilbert 
would get along, he remarked Gilbert was going to make an effort 
to do better. 
Dear Doctor,-Thus much I consider it my duty to communi- 
cate to you, and am ready to be qualified to the essential of what I 
have transmitted, whenever it should be needed by you. The above 
is for your use, wherever and whenever needed. And I am ready 
to be qualified to it. I remain as ever, 
Your pupil and friend, 
Wm. H. McFadden. 54 
Germantown, July 18th, 1854. 
Dear Doctor,- 
Your note informing me of your receipt of my 
communication I received this morning. 
I wish you to distinctly understand that the information which 
you received from me is at your disposal, in whatever way it may 
add to the truth and aid in the detection of error. 
I may add here what Dr. Jas. McFadden told me, viz:-When 
Lyons approached him on the subject of signing the petition, he 
(Lyons) said that Dr. J. McF. had better sign the petition, as he 
(Lyons) had seen Smith and Allen and that it would be better for 
him so to do. 
This may be of use in cross-examining Dr. Jas. McFadden and 
Dr. Lyons, if they should be called upon the witness stand. 
Extract from Letter Ly Dr. William McFadden. 
APPENDIX No. 6. 
AFFIDAVIT OF WM. T. WYNKOOP. 
Darrach, et al, 
vs. 
Biddle, et al. 
Wm. Wynkoop being duly sworn, according to law, saith-I am 
the Janitor of the Medical College, in Ninth near Spruce, and have 
been so for more than ten years. I reside on the College premises, 
and have done so since they were erected. During the last winter 
I more than once heard Dr. Allen say that a change in the Faculty 
was necessary and should take place, and that they would not lec- 
ture another winter with Drs. Darrach and Wiltbank. He said Dr. 
Darrach was behind the age, and that he and Dr. Wiltbank ought to 
be put out of the College. 
On the 18th day of February last, I was sent for to the Registrar's 
room. I went and found Dr. Reese there. He then asked me if 1 
considered the majority of the Faculty as the Faculty? I said I did 
not know. He then read me a paper which he asked me to sign, 
and which said, in substance, that I would deliver the keys and the 
possession of the building up to the majority of the Faculty. I asked 
a copy of the paper, and time to consider. He said, I will give you 
one hour, but declined giving me a copy, and added, if then you de- 
cline to sign you shall lose your situation, and the perquisites which 55 
attend the graduation of the students at the approaching commence- 
ment. I declined to sign as requested, and he then said again, I will 
give you until two o'clock. That same evening I was called into 
the Faculty room, where were present Drs. Biddle, Reese, Allen, 
Gilbert, and Smith. Dr. Reese asked me if I would sign that 
paper? I again declined. He then said to me, you are dis- 
charged from your office of Janitor in this Institution, and Henry 
Nash is appointed in your place. The next day he left a written 
notice to the same effect with me. As I had been directed by the 
Trustees to remain on the premises and see to the safety of the 
buildinjr, I remained, nor did I consider myself as lawfully removed 
from office. There was a balance of salary due me at the time, 
which they repeatedly refused to pay me, unless I would sign the 
paper. The amount was sixty dollars. They made many threats to 
compel me to remove from the premises. They endeavored to frighten 
me to get me out, and named, several times, an hour at which they 
would come with officers to put me out. They then nailed up the 
door which led from my room into the College building, and also the 
door which led from my room into the yard, depriving me of 
access to water, and also to the closet. They also nailed up the 
shutters and excluded light from my apartments. These acts were 
done by men employed by the five professors. In nailing up these 
premises boards were brought there and used, which were purchased 
by Dr. Allen, for I saw the bill. The nailing up was expressly 
ordered, I was informed, by Dr. Reese. Nash, the new Janitor, and 
these professors had a number of barrels, eighteen in all, which were 
for years kept in the cellar as depositories of bodies for dissection, 
and which were extremely offensive, brought up into the yard direct- 
ly under my window and door. These barrels were filled with white 
spirits, in which many bodies had been deposited and remained 
during the summer season for use in dissection in the winter. The 
contents of these barrels they emptied out into the yard, to the infi- 
nite annoyance and disgust, of my family. The object of these 
steps was to drive me off from the premises. 
When requested to sign the paper I sought advice from Jos. Pat- 
terson, Esq., who referred me to Mr. Cuyler, and from him I re- 
ceived the letter, a copy of which is annexed, and which I after- 
wards handed to Dr. Reese on the evening it bears date. 
WM. T. WYNKOOP. 
Sworn and subscribed before me, July 24, 1854. 
Elisha Crowell, 
Aldermnn. 56 
AFFIDAVIT OF MARTHA WYNKOOP. 
Darracji, et al. 
vs. 
Biddle, et al. 
Martha Wynkoop being duly sworn, according to law, saith-I 
am the wife of Wm, Wynkoop, the Janitor of the Medical College 
in Ninth street near Spruce. I reside on the College premises, and 
have done so ever since the building was erected. I have had many 
conversations with Prof. J. M. Allen in relation to the College. He 
was in the habit almost daily of coming into our rooms, and fre- 
quently spent an hour or more in conversation with me, and some- 
times with my husband in my presence. In the summer of 1853, 
he stated to me that Drs. Darrach and Wiltbank must either leave 
the College or they would be turned out. He said the remaining 
members of the Faculty would never lecture another winter with 
those two men. He said either they shall go, or the five remaining 
ones would leave-that they never would lecture another winter with 
those two men. Dr. Allen frequently stated the same thing in sub- 
stance to me after that. In February, Dr. Gilbert also stated to me 
substantially the same as had been stated to me by Dr. Allen. He 
said there must be a change in the Faculty as to those two men. 
After my husband was notified that he was removed, and to leave 
the premises and declined to do so, they nailed up our doors and 
windows. They also brought up a number of barrels containing 
white spirits, in which bodies are preserved during summer for use 
in the dissecting room in winter, and emptied out their contents in 
the yard under the windows. These contents were dreadfully and 
frightfully offensive. I saw and heard Dr. Allen directing the 
emptying cut these barrels. This was done on the same day that 
the windows were nailed up, but earlier in the day. Nash, who was 
engaged in doing it, told me the object was to drive us out of the 
building. 
MARTHA WYNKOOP. 
Sworn and subscribed before me, July 24th, 1854. 
Elisha Crowell, 
Aiderman. 57 
APPENDIX, No. 7. 
ACTION OF THE ALUMNI. 
Jersey Shore, May 22, 1854. 
Prof. Wm. Darragh, Pres, of the Faculty of Penna. Med. 
College. 
Dear Sir,- 
We have heard with deep regret of the difficulty 
existing in the Faculty of our Alma Mater but are, as yet, unac- 
quainted with the particulars thereof. 
Feeling, as we ever must, a great interest in the institution from 
which we hold our diplomas, we are anxious to know what causes 
have led to the present unfortunate state of its affairs, and hope that 
at your earliest leisure you will acquaint us with them. A rumor 
has reached us which we can scarcely credit, that a majority of the 
Faculty have called upon yourself and Prof. Wiltbank to resign- 
and have based their request upon the alleged incompetency of him 
and yourself as lecturers. If such rumor be correct, we would beg 
to remark that among us are students of every class from the time 
that the Faculty was reorganized by Professors Patterson, Grant, 
Wiltbank and yourself, up to that of the session now but just closed, 
and that so far as our means for judging permit us to form an 
opinion, (and we believe our opportunities to have been as good as 
those of any equal number of the different classes,) we deem it but 
right to say that any such allegation would be almost universally re- 
pudiated by the Alumni of the Institution. 
With sentiments of esteem, 
We remain ever yours, 
Wm. T. Babb. 
Joseph McMicken. 
Saml. Gibson. 
A. Davidson. 
John S. Pfouts. 
Harry Knorr. 
II. W. SALLADE. 
Geo. I. Pfouts. 
At a public meeting of the Alumni the following resolutions 
were passed :- 
1st. Resolved, That the Alumni have heard with deep regret the 
unhappy condition of their " Alma Mater." 
2d. Resolved, That we are fully satisfied that this unhappy con- 
dition is owing to the abandonment of the noble policy which had 
ever characterized the Institution and under which it has prospered. 
3d. Resolved, That from information received and from our ex- 
amination of the original documents, it is manifest that the published 58 
minutes in relation to the transfer of Prof. Patterson to the Emeritus 
Professorship, gives an imperfect and erroneous view of that trans- 
action representing him as an applicant fora position of honor which 
is directly contrary to fact. 
4th. Resolved, That language is inadequate to express our con- 
tempt at the absurd charges of incompetency and unpopularity that 
have been made against the Professors of the 11 Theory and Practice 
of Medicine and of Obstetrics." 
5th. Resolved, That we have ever regarded Drs. Darrach and 
Wiltbank as able, faithful and successful teachers, and the attempt 
to remove them from their Chairs receives our unqualified disap- 
probation. ' 
6th. Resolved, That the action of the Board of Trustees of Penn- 
sylvania College at Gettysburg, in undertaking to remove Profs. 
Darrach and Wiltbank from their Chairs, is an assumption of power 
which does not belong to them, and is therefore null and void. 
7th. Resolved, That we approve of the action of the late Prof. 
Patterson, with Drs. Darrach and Wiltbank, in removing from con- 
nection with the Institution those gentlemen who were the agents 
in bringing our 11 Alma Mater" into this unhappy condition. 
8th. Resolved, That we heartily approve of the election of our 
former beloved teacher Dr. Atlee to the Chair of Surgery. 
9th. Resolved, That a memorial be drafted to be signed by the 
Alumni, which memorial shall be presented to the Trustees, asking 
them to place the College building in the hands of Drs. Darrach and 
Wiltbank, and their colleagues, whom they will appoint as the 
Medical Faculty of Pennsylvania College. 
10th. Resolved, That the President be requested to place in the 
hands of the Committee any letters from Alumni in his possession 
bearing upon this subject, and that said letters be presented to the 
Trustees in connection with the memorial and resolutions. 
Thos. Bond, M. D., Secretary. 
To the Trustees of Pennsylvania Medical College. 
Gentlemen :-The undersigned, Alumni of the Pennsylvania 
Medical College, beg leave to represent that, 
Whereas we have learned with deep regret that discord and dis- 
sension have found their way into the bosom of our Alma Mater; 
and feeling as we do a sincere and abiding interest in her welfare 
and prosperity, we have endeavoured to inform ourselves of the facts 
having a bearing on the subject, and from them we have arrived at 
the following conclusions, viz : 
First. That there has been a foul and unfounded charge of 
incompetency and unpopularity made against Professors Darrach and 
Wiltbank, with a view of having them removed from the Chairs 
now in their occupancy. 59 
Secondly. That we look upon this attempt to oust these gentle- 
men, who have sacrificed their time, labor, talents and money in 
establishing the College in its present position, as one deserving our 
hearty condemnation and disapproval. 
Thirdly. That we hereby approve and endorse the actions of Drs. 
Darrach and Wiltbank, and bear cheerful testimony to their compe- 
tent knowledge, ability to teach, and high and unimpeachable moral 
character. 
Fourthly. That in view of all the facts that have come to our 
knowledge, we consider that we are not transgressing our duty to 
ourselves, to our Alma Mater, and to Drs Darrach and Wiltbank, 
when we request that you will deliver to them, as the Faculty of 
Pennsylvania Medical College, at the proper time, full possession of 
the College Building. 
Fifthly. That in the event of Pennsylvania Medical College 
passing into the hands of those with whom we have no feelings of 
sympathy, we feel that we must in justice to ourselves withdraw our 
support and influence from the institution. 
Hoping that this memorial will be regarded in the same frank and 
honest light in which it has been conceived, we beg leave to sub- 
scribe ourselves, 
Very respectfully yours. 
A. Reeves Jackson, 
Thomas Bond, 
William R. Bonsall, 
Jas. Darrach, 
W. H. Gominger, 
Thos. J. Turner, 
Sami. H. Porter, 
J. B. Sudler, 
David Myerle, 
John S. Pfouts, 
H. C. Paist, 
Thos. Ingram, 
George Murray, 
Michael Z. Zenderling, 
B. H. Porter, 
John E. Whiteside, 
II. K. Nutze, 
Richard Walton, 
T. M. Drysdale, 
John D. Johnson, 
John Murray, 
G. J. Chamberlain, 
J. R. Layton, 
T. M. Layton, 
D. Fisher, 
J. H. Fisher, 
E. Boylston Jackson, 
Jos. W. Rowe, 
T. D. Hubbard, 
Thos. S. Hollinshead, M.D. 
D. B. Whipple, M.D. 
D. Hershey, M.D. 
Francis M. J. Surault, M.D. 
Wm. H. McFadden, M.D. 60 
APPENDIX, No. 8. 
LETTERS FROM THE ALUMNI. 
Willow Grove, 6th month, llth, 1854. 
Most Esteemed Friends, 
Profs. Darrach and Wiltbank : 
Within the past six or seven days, I have been informed, by way 
of a friend, and also an old class-mate, of some serious difficulties 
that have taken place in the Pennsylvania Medical College. 
That the new Professors have openly demanded the resignation of 
thee and Dr. Wiltbank, which change, I am confident, wonld for 
ever seriously injure the high reputation of the College, that has 
been made, through the hard and laborious exertions that you have 
made in the faithful discharge of the duties you have performed, as 
eloquent teachers of the Chairs you have heretofore held in the 
Pennsylvania Medical College. 
The high reputation that the Pennsylvania Medical College has 
throughout our State, has been made by you and the former Pro- 
fessors who have left us by death and resignation, and now the rejec- 
tion of you by the new Professors would, I am confident, be the 
downfall of the College, which would for ever be painful to myself 
and the majority of the Alumni. As teachers, you have ever faith- 
fully discharged your duties to your pupils, and your superiors, we 
are confident, are not to be found at least in the United States. It 
is ever my desire, and also of Drs. J. H. and D. G. Fisher, for I 
have heard from them to-day, that for the prosperity of the College, 
and the high honour we have for you, that you should not resign. 
Yours, ever truly, &c., 
V. Emerson. 
To Professors Darrach and Wiltbank. 
Barton's Creek. 
My Dear Doctor : 
You cannot easily judge of my astonishment, when I saw the 
advertisement of the Pennsylvania Medical College appear in the 
July number of the Medical Journal, with its long list of new names, 
and none but one with whom I used to be so familiarly acquainted. 
I had heard that Dr. Patterson, on account of his health, had 
resigned his Chair, and that Dr. Grant was no more; but could not 
tell why my long respected Preceptors, Drs. Darrach and Wiltbank's 
names did not appear on that list. Nor do I yet know; but can 61 
readily understand, that by some chicanery or other, you and Dr. 
Wiltbank have been robbed of your Chairs. 
As ever, your sincere friend, 
E. W. Cunningham. 
Montoursville, Oct. 29 th, 1854. 
My Dear Friend : 
I was informed of the difficulty existing in our College, by our 
friend, Dr. Babb, and gave my consent to use my name in connec- 
tion with those of my fellow graduates. Now, my dear friend, I 
am willing to use my time, talents or funds, if required, to have you 
and my friend Wiltbank re-established in your different Chairs in 
that institution. And I am sorry from the bottom of my heart, that 
any such trouble ever took place. 
Respectfully yours, 
George J. Peouts. 
Stoutsburg, Nov. 1st, 1854. 
My Dear Doctor,- 
I have always respected and loved you, and 
will do so as long as I live. Never have I heard better lectures 
than you delivered. Our former Alumni were also always satisfied 
with you, and I long to see you both restored to your former 
Chairs. 
I must now come to a close, but earnestly hope that you and Dr. 
Wiltbank will be restored to your former Chairs, and there remain 
till the Lord thinks fit to remove you. 
I remain, your obedient servant 
and former student, 
James A. Fisher. 
Petersburg, Oct. 23, 1854. 
Dear Doctor,- 
Dr. Darrach I always considered as the corner-stone of Pennsyl- 
vania Medical College. He being the oldest member of the Faculty, 
and one of the few remaining who had at first organized the same, 
there was every reason for thinking so. 
As to his capability I never heard it questioned. Judging from 
the attention which certain of the other students from other Colleges 
paid to some of his lectures during my attendance, it struck me they 
must think highly of them. 
Yours, obd'ly, 
Isaac Walborn. 62 
Summit Hill, Carbon Co., Pa. ' 
May 25, 1854. 
Dr. Wm. Darracii, 
Respected Sir,- 
I was informed during my late visit to your 
city, that attempts were being made by your colleagues in Pennsyl- 
vania College to have you and Dr. Wiltbank removed from, or to 
compel you to resign your Chairs in that Institution on the grounds 
of incompetency and unpopularity. I was much astonished and 
pained at such intelligence. Surely must Pennsylvania College 
have fallen on a lucky age when she obtained men to fill her Pro- 
fessorships so capable, so erudite, so popular, that compared with 
them Drs. Darrach and Wiltbank can be charged with incompetency 
and unpopularity. 
I always considered yourself as the most popular man in the late 
Faculty-your lectures so replete with instruction, so interesting, so 
pleasing, they combined every quality to render them not only popu- 
lar but useful-the students all respected and esteemed you as their 
friend and benefactor, and considered you peculiarly qualified for 
your post. I could say much more, but to praise a man to his face 
is always to me an unpleasant task, not only to give, but to receive, 
when the recipient, I always suspect some sinister motive. But on 
learning the charges brought against you, my esteem for you as my 
preceptor, and my feelings of indignation at the outrage attempted 
against your professional character forbid me to be silent, but induce 
me to speak my mind candidly. 
In regard to Dr. Wiltbank, the students all, as far as my experi- 
ence extends, spoke well of him; all praise him as a plain and inter- 
esting lecturer, and as a high-minded and honorable gentleman and 
competent Obstetrican; for'my part, I have listened to Professors 
of Obstetrics in other Philadelphia Colleges, but have gone back to 
our own Professor and listened to him with far more satisfaction and 
profit than to any of them. 
In conclusion I would say, if the Alumni of the College were 
acquainted with the circumstances, there would be but few who 
would not join in a protest against the removal of yourself and Dr. 
Wiltbank from Pennsylvania Halls. 
With great respect, 
I remain yours, truly, 
Thos. A. Patterson, M. D. 
To Dr. Wm. Darracii, 
268 Arch Street, Phila. 63 
Waverly, Oct. 21st, 1854. 
My dear Friend,- 
I was much pained to learn that you and 
Dr. Wiltbank were no longer to lecture in the Pennsylvania Col- 
lege. In fact that intelligence caused me to lose much of the inter- 
est I had always before felt in that Institution, and now, if anything 
can be effected by me towards recovering those Chairs, I will most 
gladly join my fellow Alumni in that object. 
Very truly your friend, 
J. C. Miles. 
Barren Hill, March 13th, 1854. 
To Prof. Wm. Darrach:- 
Dear Sir,- 
As you have kindly furnished me with a little vaccine matter on 
several previous occasions, permit me to ask a similar favor again. 
If you have enough to spare to vaccinate one or two, I would be 
very thankful to you if you would remit it by letter. 
I was so much shocked, astounded and mortified with what you 
told me, that I have not as yet recovered. I cannot realize it. It 
still appears to me more like a foolish dream than a solemn reality; 
that a number of Professors could be guilty of such ingratitude and 
slander. For the imputation (if I understood you aright) of incom- 
petency as a teacher of Medicine, I regard as a libel of the basest 
character, having its origin in selfishness or cupidity, and not in vir- 
tuous and pure motives. Further, I cannot recognize and cherish as 
my Alma Mater that College from which you are divorced in any 
other manner than by death or voluntary resignation. If we have 
the privilege to feel indignant on any occasion, I think we must 
have it now. 
Yours, truly, 
Jno. G. Stetler. 
Shamokin, Dec. 4th, 1854. 
My Dear Doctor,- 
Dr. Darrach as a teacher, I don't hesitate to 
say, has no superior in Philadelphia; as a man, be is strictly reli- 
gious; it always impressed me with confidence to see the good old 
countenance. It seems to me impossible that any man should ques- 
tion his competency-who ever heard of incompetency as a teacher 
being applied to Dr. Darrach before ? 
As for Dr. Wiltbank, he don't stand up before you and tell anec- 
dotes. His lectures were filled with most valuable information; 
better than bis were not audible 'in Philadelphia. He was intended 
to lecture to the attentive student. He has no anecdotes to remem- 
ber, the novelty of which is of no value, but the facts are there; 64 
then will he do honor to himself as a physician and past student; 
such will characterize the efforts of Prof. Wiltbank. In a word, no 
man would say more in a few words than Prof. Wiltbank. 
The graduates of Pennsylvania College speak of Dr. Darrach as 
those of the University speak of Physick and Chapman. 
Your most obedient servant, 
G. S. Bobins. 
Letter written to Dr. Chamberlain. 
Painesville, Monmouth Co., N. J. 
May 12 th, 1854. 
Dear Doctor,- 
It is with feelings of deep regret that I have 
seen, during the past session, a paper circulating in the class 
through the medium of some of its members, whose purpose is to 
request your resignation. I had indeed thought the day far distant 
in which such an insult should be offered to one of the most honored 
teachers of my Alma Mater. One to whom Pennsylvania Medical 
College owes so large a portion of her prosperity as well as her high 
standing in the confidence of the Medical community. One whose 
highest ambition has been to advance her pupils in knowledge, to 
stimulate and encourage them to renewed researches for medical 
truth-one whose manner has ever been kind, urbane and courteous 
to each and every member of the class-one whose capabilities have 
never been doubted or questioned for a single moment (unless by 
signers of the before mentioned sheet) throughout a number of years 
during which he has filled the Chair of Lecturer in the Penn- 
sylvania College. 
But it is by those who have sat under your own immediate instruc- 
tion as office pupils that you are best appreciated, by those who had 
the best advantage of receiving " line upon line and precept upon 
precept" in the science which you teach. None perhaps of that 
privileged number have enjoyed within the past three years more of 
your society than myself who, as your senior student, assisted in the 
Dispensary of the College, where I have seen carried into practice, with 
mraked success, the great principles which had been before promul- 
gated. In the lecture-room I, as well as many others, have admired 
the originality and great practicability of your course. I can sin- 
cerely affirm that from no member of the Faculty have I derived 
more valuable instruction than from yourself. From none as much 
original information, knowledge which could not be obtained else- 
where. I can also say that no member of the Faculty has shown the 
same amount of anxiety to maintain the standing and true dignity 
of the Medical profession, the same'desire to close its portals against 
the entrance of unworthy candidates for its honors. This is verified 
by the marked respect which has ever been shown yourself by the 65 
members of the class, even by the signers of the extraordinary paper 
presented to the Faculty. Two of the signers, on the night of the 
last Faculty "party," stated to me their regret at having affixed 
their names to the document, expressing their sorrow at the pain it 
must have caused one who held so large a share of their regard; also 
the precipitency which they used, and not taking the. matter into due 
consideration. What must be satisfactory to you, and is a source 
of gratificaton to your friends, is the fact that the list of signers, 
with but few exceptions, was not composed of the prominent or intelli- 
gent portion of the class, and that the more influential members were 
opposed to the'measure. Those who were opposed had no opportu- 
nity to manifest their displeasure at the movement, as the paper 
appears to have been in the hands of a few men who by various 
means obtained signatures. To me there is a mystery in the origin 
of the paper which time only can reveal. That your " Introductory" 
could have been exceptionable to the College seems impossible, since 
I have heard several of the students, during the past session, express 
their regret that the Lecture remained unpublished, as it prevented 
them from perusing at leisure such important information in practice. 
Students leaving the College, or prevented by it from connecting 
themselves with the Institution (which I think extremely doubtful,) 
must have been (in my opinion) endowed with but little discernment 
to appreciate valuable hints to every practitioner. The subject 
treated upon by one of such extensive experience as yourself, should 
not be uninteresting to a Medical class-neither was it, as many can 
testify. 
Let me conclude this hastily written letter, my much esteemed 
preceptor and friend, by requesting you not to suffer yourself to be 
moved by this ill-advised measure, of which I doubt not the author's 
have already felt ashamed. 
Your friends will regard it but as the back-ground of your pic- 
ture on which they love to gaze. With the assurances of my 
warmest sympathy and regard, permit me to subscribe myself 
Your sincere friend and pupil, 
T. J. Thomason. 
Highland Grove, Jones Co., Iowa. 
Nov. 25th, 1884. 
My dear Bond: 
I certainly did not suppose it possible that one effort would ever 
be made to deprive Dr. Darrach of his chair, in the college, and 
was slow to believe it when I heard it had been done. 
I believe that as a teacher of anything pertaining to medicine, 
Dr. Darrach had no superior in Philadelphia, when I was there; 
while as a lecturer on theory and practice of medicine, he had no 
equal, I always supposed that this was the opinion of the mass of 66 
those who attended his lectures, and who had any opportunity to 
compare his manner of teaching with that of the other lecturers 
in the city. 
During the fall of 1846 and the summer and fall of '47 : I gen- 
erally attended the clinicsand preliminary lectures as the University 
and Jefferson college, as well as all the clinics at the Pennsylvania 
Hospital and from my observations on these occasionsoarrived at the 
above conclusion. 
Yours most truly, 
IKA. BATES 
Dr. T. Bond. 
Highland Grove, Jones Co., Iowa, Nov. 25th, 1854. 
My Very Dear Sir: 
I am very much grieved to hear of the unhappy condition of the 
College, which cannot fail to affect seriously the future prospects of the 
institution, let the present difficulty terminate as it may. I have 
heard nothing of the causes leading to the rupture, and know nothing 
about it, except what is contained in a pamphlet which I received 
last spring, (commencing " Charter of Pennsylvania College of Get- 
tysburg,") but I have little doubt that the principal cause has been 
an undue anxiety on the part of Dr. Gilbert and others, to resort to 
the fashionable humbugging manoeuvres to increase the number of 
pupils. I should like to say a word or two on this subject but for- 
bear, as the difficulty may possibly have arisen from some other 
source. 
I hope, I trust that you will have little difficulty in restoring a 
better condition of things, and feel most anxious to aid you more 
than it is my lot to do. I should much like to be with you, but this 
is impossible. 
I am glad to hear of the proposed return of Dr. Atlee to the Col- 
lege, as it has ever since my connection with the College, been my 
wish to have him occupy the Chair of Surgery. He will be much 
more efficient as a teacher of Surgery than Dr. Gilbert. 
I should be most happy to hear from you whenever you may have 
leisure to write. Again, I wish you all the success in the present, 
and all other occasions that you may desire. 
Believe me ever yours, 
Isa. Bates. 
Dr. Wm. Darrach. 
C. Bridge, 12 May, 1854. 
My Dear and Excellent Friend : 
I have to-day learned with pain and indignation, that some pre- 
sumptuous intruders upon the Faculty of the Medical Department of 
Pennsylvania College, are making efforts to eject you and our good 
friend, Dr. Darrach, from the Chairs you respectively occupy in the 
institution. My dear friend, I sincerely sympathize with you in 
this unjust persecution, and I feel that they, who thus maliciously 67 
attempt to injure you, are also calumniating and insulting the 
Alumni of the Institution their usurpation has profaned. I was'a 
member of the classes of 1844-5 and 6, and I know it to be the 
fact that, every member of those classes regarded you and your col- 
league every whit as competent as all; nay, more so than many of 
those, who occupy similar Chairs in the sister institutions of Phila- 
delphia. 
Don't be discouraged, neither let persecution crush or depress you 
Right will triumph. You need no better foils to ward off the 
attacks of these miscreants than to know that they, in order to 
accomplish their object, resort to the contemptible measures of 
calumny and wrong. 
God bless you; I hope to hear of your complete vindication and 
triumph. 
Affectionately and truly yours, &c. 
B. F. Chatham. 
J. Wiltbank, M. D., Prof. Obst. 
Med. Dep. Penn. College. 
Bordentown, N. J., June 9th, 1854. 
My Dear Doctor : 
As far as I can learn, Dr. Darrach and Dr. Wiltbank have been 
treated most shamefully, and I feel glad that the Alumni take so 
much interest in standing by their faithful teachers. Both these 
gentlemen were held in the highest estimation in the classes to 
which I belonged, and I doubt much, if there be more zealous and 
self-sacrificing Professors in the city. 
To Dr. Darrach, in a great degree, is owing the success of Penn- 
sylvania Medical College ; and had it not been for his personal 
labors and his persevering determination to overcome all obstacles, 
the handsome halls in Ninth Street would not, and perhaps, could 
never have been, erected. 
His body, his mind, his heart, have been given to the accomplish- 
ment of his darling school, and now, at the establishment of its repu- 
tation, he, the keystone of the whole, structure, cannot be permitted 
quietly and contumeliously to be knocked away. 
Yours, truly. 
I. D. Young. 
Terra Haute, Nov. 4, 1854. 
Dear Sir :-I was very much surprised at the course Dr. Gil- 
bert has taken in his opposition to Dr. Darrach and yourself, as I 
suppose he ought to be the last man to injure either of you; as I 
presume he is indebted to Pennsylvania College for all that he is 
above a common country practitioner, and I have always considered 
yourself and Dr. Darrach as the fathers of the school. I do sin- 
cerely hope that he and his fellow usurpers may be taught a lesson 
that they will long remember. 
From your affectionate student, 
G. W. Patrick. 68 
ACTION OF TRUSTEES. 
Dear Sir : 
The following preamble and resolutions were adopted by the 
Trustees of the Medical Department of the Pennsylvania College, on 
the afternoon of the 17th. 
Very truly yours, 
Dr. Wm. Darragh. Wm. D. Kelly. 
Whereas, the lot of ground at the corner of Ninth Street and 
Shield's Alley, with the college building thereon erected, were paid 
for by money furnished by Professors Darrach, Wiltbank, Patterson, 
Grant, Atlee and Gilbert, and their friends; and the said building 
was designed for the use of, and intended by this Board to be 
enjoyed by the said named Professors, and as the removal by death, 
of two of the members, leaves Professors Darrach, Wiltbank, Atlee 
and Gilbert, as the only survivors of those for whom said building 
was erected, and knowing no other obligation as to the use of said 
building to others than to the parties named: 
Resolved, That the Board unless legally directed to do otherwise, 
will let the use of said College Building to Professors Darrach, Wilt- 
bank, Atlee and Gilbert, and their associates, designated as such by a 
majority in number of said Professors named herein, on their assur- 
ing to fulfil the obligations assumed by them to this Board, as to the 
judgment of rent and purchase of the loan. 
Note.-The letters printed in this Appendix are selected from more than 
one hundred now in our possession ; and it is with unspeakable gratitude 
that we acknowledge the kindness of the Alumni, who have almost unani- 
mously comforted us with their sympathy, and sustained us by their appro- 
val. From nearly every living graduate, who yet continues in the medical 
profession, we have received the assurances of their approval of our course, 
and the offer of earnest co-operation for the vindication of our rights.