A REPL1 TO A PAMPHLET BY S. HENRY DICKSON, M. D. % ^ ENTITLED '.I statements, &c, •/ .'-k S ^ s '\ - * CHARLESTON: PRINTED BY A. E. M1LLE11, No. 4, Broad-Street. 1* 1834. f W/2 It £3 REPLY &c. It is with unfeigned regret that we find ourselves compelled to reply to a publication purporting to be " Statements in reply to certain publications from the Medical Society of South-Caro- lina, by S. Henry Dickson, M. D." But we have no alterna- tive, for the gentleman in that pamphlet has broadly asserted, his and his colleagues belief, that the members of the Society were desirous of depriving them of their Chairs, in order that " they might divide the spoils of war." As we have succeeded some of these Professors in the College, it is peculiarly incum- bent on, us not only to prove, that this opinion has no founda- tion in truth, but also to make a full reply to all the " Statements." It has been invariably the case, whenever an individual finds he has committed an error, or his cause is weak, that he endeavours to supply, in sarcastic taunts and angry vitupei ations, his deficiency in argument and common sense; hence we cannot wonder at the sweeping denunciations of Dr. Dickson, against the members of the Medical Society, or be surprised at the at- tack made on the Judiciary,or the petulancy which he has exhibit- ed, or the impossibility of discovering a single legitimate argu- ment in his " Statements." It has been somewhat amusing too, to observe the extreme modesty with which the author alludes to the merits of himself and his colleagues, in contradistinction to those of his and their opponents, as well as the contrast he has endeavoured to insti- tute between those who were members of the Society in 1824, and those who were members in 1833. For the satisfaction of our readers, we will quote the passage, when it will be seen that it is as sophisticated as it is pregnant with vanity. " But the phrase, ' Medical Society' is a vague and abstract term, which we only employed for convenience and in compliance with cus- tom. A Society is a body composed of separate individuals, whom it mav be, and often is, improper to confound together. The same ge- neral title will often include men whose principles and conduct are entirely at variance. Thus in the present instance the Medical Society means at one period, a body of men who built up a Medical School; at another, a body of men who destroyed the same School. In 1824, the Society is said to have collected a Class of 52, when without a local 4 habitation, or apparatus, or museum—in 1833, when Judge O'iXeall had put it in possession of buildings and all other necessary appurte- nances, the same Society could not collect a Class of one-fourth the number. Now toe who were active on the first occasion, feel that we have a right to resent—and we resist resolutely, the endeavour to confound us with those who took the lead on the second; and we desire to draw a strong line of distinction between us, the founders of the College on the one hand, and its prosperous administrators; and those who on the other, are by virtue of legal technicalities, our heirs, and by appoint- ment of the same Society, our unsuccessful successors." It would seem from these remarks, that the author considers himself and his colleagues as constituting the Society, for there was not a single member of the Medical Society, not even Drs. P. G. Prioleau, or Logan, who, he says, were their only friends, who advocated the course which they pursued after the election of Dr. Wagner; indeed, the former gentleman was opposed to the conduct of Dr. Dickson and his colleagues, and the majority of the members of 1824 were members in 1831. The fact is that in 1824, Dr. Dickson and his col- leagues, as we will presently show, found they could not succeed without the aid of the Society, and in 1831, they, having flou- rished under its auspices, wished, not only to resist, but even to overthrow the power by which they were created. In relation to the difference in the number of Students at- tending the respective schools, we can give the gentleman some reasons. 1st. The Medical College of South-Carolina, under the Soci- ety, was not organized until within a few weeks of the session, our Professor of Anatomy did not arrive until a fortnight after the opening of the session, and it was industriously circulated that he would not come at all. 2dly. The organization of the School could not be known until almost every Student had made up his mind. 3dly. Political excitement and Sectional feelings were brought into play, and because several distinguished members of the State Rights' Party were appointed its Trustees, it was said that the new College was the College of the State, and because the College under the Society had some of its Professors who were not natives of Carolina (gentlemen to whom we take plea- sure in paying every tribute of respect, and who proved that the only charge which could be brought against them, was that they were not Carolinians) it was inferred that ours was a "Yankee School!" Although we were identified in every respect with the State, and volunteered our humble services in her cause, we des- pise the idea, that the College with which we are associated, should receive any aid from political prejudices. We would not thus prostitute Science, and would sooner see the College sunk 5 into oblivion than descend to any means of promoting its suc- cess, which, could fo;- a moment, lessen the dignity of our profes- sion. We wiii not flatter any man or set of men, because for a time they may have political power. We feel we have engaged in a holy cause; in defence of the chartered rights of the Medical Society; in defence of the honour of the profession; and, in the discharge of our duties we are prepared to encounter all the abuse and calumny which prejudiced minds may cast upon us. We cling to that best of mottos, "Magna est Veritas el prcvalebit." 4th. Our competitors had not only, early in the spring, reorga- nized their Coliege, but they had sent circulars throughout the country, and rumor says, that one of the Professors was him- self on a travelling expedition. The feelings, too, of the Students, were excited in their favour, because, from exparte statements, it was believed, that the Medical Society wished to persecute them. These were the concurrent causes, which made our class small. We did not expect to do more this session than merely re(:';:"v-.c We have, however, made such arrangements, as we r»; -»t, will next year give the gentleman less cause of gratn- lation. Having made these preliminary remarks, we will now enter into the merits of the question, of who were the founders of the College, and respond to Dr. Dickson's general observations, referral» our rechus to the Appendix, for the supply of defici- encies which he has carefully omitted in his extracts from the records of the Medical Society. Although the Exposition of the Medical Society has clearly proved that, without the aid of that body, a Medical College would not then have been established, we will be content to take the Statements of Dr. Dickson, and rest the decision of the public upon these alone. " In the meanwhile, and previous to the receipt of the Address of Dr. Cooper, and as early as the summer of 1821, Drs. Frost, Ramsay and Dickson, had formed the determination to erect in the City of Charles- ton, under whatever mode of arrangement they might find most practi- cable, a School of Medicine. The plan proposed by the two first, was by lecturing in the public institutions of the city, to the Students resi- dent here, to collect a class, and obtain by perseving effort, reputation sufficient to enable them to procure a charter from the Legislature. The last named physician maintained that the only hopeful and proper foundation of such an institution, must be built upon a charter previ- ously obtained. Dreading, however, with a foresight for which his present colleagues will give him due credit, any connexion with Medi- cal Trustees, his first effort was to induce the Trustees of the Charles- ton College to receive as a Faculty, under their Charter, Professors or G Lecturers on the different branches of Medical Science, and grant Di- plomas to the Classes as is done in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Lex- ington. " After the failure of the Society's first memorial to the Legislature of the State, and on the 1st of February, 1823, Dr. Dickson offered a resolution to the Medical Society, setting forth, in srong terms, the propriety arid advantage of the immediate establishment of a Medical College in Charleston, and moving the appointment of a Committee to enter forthwith on the necessary arrangements. The first step taken by the Committee, in correspondence with the views of the mover and first named member, was to make application to the Trustees of the Charles- ton College, to the above stated purport. They met with a peremptory refusal. On the 1st of April following they report this repulse—but go on to argue that all obstacles could be got over, if the power to grant Diplomas could from any source be obtained. They, therefore, ur^e the Society to prepare another petition to the Legislnture, asking mere- ly for this power, and leaving out all mention of appropriations of money, the reference to which, as a condition absolutely essential to success, had been the cause of their failure in the first instance." Now what does this prove? Is it not conclusive beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the College was established, through the influence and agency of the Medical Society—the Charter granted to the Medical Society—the College formed—the regu- lations adopted which were to govern the College—the Profes- sors appointed—the degrees conferred upon the Students by the Medical Society, through its President—the names of its Officers being affixed to its Diplomas, and its seal appended thereto? If this does not constitute a foundation, we know not what does. From whom did Dr. Dickson, and his colleagues receive their Professsorships ? Were they self constituted ? It was from the Medical Society, that much abused body ! Yet the gentleman says, "we owe the Society no gratitudeV (rratitude and friendship, where interest is concerned, in our days of refinement, are not much regarded. But it would as- tonish a Lecturer in Europe, or perhaps any where else, to hear an individual, whose object was to elevate himself into reputation and character, through the medium of delivering lectures, say that he owed nothing to a body having the power to confer degrees, when that body had elected him a Professor. What advantage has a Professor over a private Lecturer? It is this. The Lectures of Professors will entitle the person attending them to be a candidate for a Medical Degree. The attend- ance on a private Lecturer will not. Now, was this then no privilege, no advantage? And we will ask him how a College could have been established, without a power residing some where to confer degrees, or if any Students would attend such an institution? But the gentleman, in his extracts from the minutes, shews that he and his colleagues were among the I active agents in the establishment of the College. Had they no motive lor this ? Was it not to subserve their own pur poses ? Was it to benefit the Society or themselves ? After the Charter was obtained, the Medical Society adver- tised in papers, in different portions of the United States, invit- ing candidates to fill the different chairs, shewing that the Col- lege was not established for any particular individual, but for public good. But says Dr. Dickson : " The result of this election was in exact accordance with an ar- rangement entered into among ourselves, before the Society was ever consulted at all upon the matter, or in any way referred to in the effort to get up a Medical College in the City of Charleston, with a single exception, Dr. Moultrie, jun."* If the gentleman had such dread of Medical Trustees, and had made this arrangement, does it not shew conclusively, that without the power and influence of the Medical Society, he could not have been successful ? But we will let Dr. Dickson speak for himself, and the reader will see whether he really had such a dread of Medical Trustees. Our quotations will pretty clearly shew how plastic some mens' opinions are, and how easily they are moulded to suit their own purposes ! The first quotation is from an Address by Dr. Dickson to the Medical Society in 1823, urging the importance of that body establishing a Medical School. " If you agree with me, gentlemen, as to the importance of such an Institution, the advantage of its location here, and of its being com- menced at the present time, you wdl at once feel and perceive the pro- priety and necessity of your acting as a body in its promotion. The Medical Society can alone effect this object, we are abundantly rich to do all that is sufficient, for little will be required; and our funds cannot * In a part of the Appendix, it is denied that there wa3 a strong competition for most of the Chairs We happen to have obtained from our friend, Dr. De La Motta, the original account of the candidates, and the number of votes given to each, which we will present. For Anatomy.—Dr. I. M. Campbell.....................26 votes. Dr.J E.Holbrook,.....................16 " Dr. Anderson,.......................... 1 " For Surgery.—Dr. Waring, of Georgia,................14 " Dr. James Ramsay,....................30 " Dr. Sheffelin, of New-York.............. 2 " For Practice of Medicine.—Dr. t>ickson was elected without opposition, he having received...................32 '' For Materia Medica.—Dr. Frost was elected without opposition he having received...................29 For Obstetrics.—Dr. T. G. Prioleau......................27 ' Dr.J. DeLaMotta,....................18 " Dr. Anthony, of Georgia................ 0 " On Chemistry.—Dt. T. Y. Simons,......................18 " Dr. E. Ravenel,........................25 " Stephen Elliott, Esq. was elected without opposition, to the chair of Natural Hi>. tory and Botany. 8 be deVoted to a belter purpose. The expense of a Lecture room and of adequate apparatus, will be comparatively trilling; and your Pro- fessorships will be occupied by men less anxious for. emolument than reputation, and the number of pupils will soon be large enough to afford both. " The Medical Society alone has the power to unite upon this attempt the efforts of the ichole community. Its sanction carries with it a weight possessed by no aggregate of unconnected individuals, kowevrr infiuen- ential separately. The Legislature of our State would confide to it a- a Board of Trustees of such an institution the right of granting formal Diplomas, far more willingly and cordially than to any knot of person* recently united. Finally, the Medical Society alone has the mean.* of collecting and concentrating the influence and exertions of the profes- sion in behalf of such an establishment—of obviating the ill effects of personal rivalry, and of making the appointment of Professors nib the single eye to the general good, so as to carry the plan into operation, in the manner best calculated to secure its ultimate and permanent success."* Yes, the Society did so. Its influence and name, first gave the Medical College a reputation; and did Dr. Dickson and his colleagues intend to make use of the Society as a mere means by which they might accomplish their ends, and when they were accomplished, desert that body ? If such was the case, it* was certainly, to use the mildest language, a breach of trust. But, to the second quotation, which is taken from an Address delivered by Dr. Dickson to the Students, in 1825. " The Diploma of any College, must ultimately derive its value too from the personal character of its signers. Their names, however eminent they may be professionally, can add no weight to it, as a passport to public confidence, if they be not men of known and established integrity ; for what other guarantee can there be against the actual sale of these documents, when every motive of interest is engaged to make the extension of them as wide, and the acquisition of them as easy as possible. The responsibility of the officers of such chartered institutions, is indeed serious, and should be kept steadily in view. They must, and should suffer in the eyes of the community, if they are careless of, or indifferent to the consequences of lightly placing in the hands of unprepared and unworthy youth, papers which are generally considered, or purport to be, certificates of ability and desert. Without reference to any particular body, I may declare that our country has had much to complain on this score, and the evil has been perhaps the worst result of the competition between the numerous schools, established within the neighbourhood of each other, all eager to extend iheir connections far and wide, all anxious therefore to in- * It must here be borne in mind that efforts were then making by Dr. Cooper and the Columbia Board, to have a Medical College in Columbia, or partly in Charles- ton and partly in Columbia. s crease the number of their alumni. It may be allowed me to point out what I consider the chief source of this unfortunate want of proper discrimination, and to mention the remedy which has been instituted for it in the School, of which you have become members. The Faculty, consisting of the Professors who fill the various chairs, have been in all other Medical Seminaries, the only court of inquiry into their standing. These are evidently interested men. In a great num- ber, if not a large majority of instances, some one or more of them, may be directly or indirectly connected in some manner with him. Their prepossessions are, therefore, almost invariably in his favour. He is safe from all severe or injurious treatment from them. No ap- peal is required in his behalf. There is no danger of his being refused or rejected, unless on account of some glaring deficiences, or an open and evident unworthiness of Medical rank. But it is not so with the community. They are not secure from the risk of having issued forth among them the fortunate, but empty, or it may be, vicious possessor of wealth and influence, on an equal footing with the meritorious son of talent, industry and moral worth. It is not so with the Profession. They may suffer by the introduction into their body, of impudent pretenders to knowledge, by whose insufficiency and ignorance, the good opinion of the world may be forfeited, and their confidence in the value of our art greatly diminished. They are not secure from the intrusion of intellect scarcely above contempt, nor from the con* taminations of dangerous principles and disgraceful conduct. For them, then, an appeal is unquestionably demanded, and they have a right to require the appointment of an impartial tribunal, to determine questions, in which they have so much at stake. In the school of South-Carolina, we have such a tribunal; there is appointed by the regulations of the Institution an impartial body, which, well prepared to investigate the whole subject, is independent enough to carry into effect the decisions concerning it. Such a body is the Medical Society, under whose auspices this School of Medicine and Surgery, has been chartered and brought into operation. Without their sanction no diploma can be conferred, without their sanction, given deliberately, and in the face of a community, of which they form a highly respected portion, no individual can be added to the Medical family.'* Do not these reasons apply now ? Much has been said about the exertions, and trials, and sacri- fices of the Professors. But there were no sacrifices. The disposition to encourage a Southern Medical College was strong, and to secure encouragement, it was only necessa- ry that it should be undertaken by a body, having the con- fidence of the public. A failure may, by some of the mem- bers, have been anticipated, from the circumstance that all of the Professors were young men without reputation or name; and there is not the least doubt, that the weight and influ- ence of the Medical Society, in the first instance, alone inspir- ed confidence, and produced success. As to pecuniary sacrifice, if i« farcical, as Ave will presently shew : as to the sacrifice of 2 Kw professional reputation they had none, at the time, to lose.*— But grant that they had to encounter some sacrifices. What young man of ambition, who has to establish a reputation, would not submit to trials and sacrifices to obtain his end, and be thank- ful too, for a fair opportunity? Who has ever yet arrived at eminence in any profession, who has not had to contend with innumerable difficulties, and submit to many sacrifices; and how many are there, to use the beautiful allegory of Gray, who have " Been born to blush unseen, And waste their sweetness on the desert air," for want of opportunity to display their intellectual attain- ments. Surely, Dr. Dickson, will not deny, that he and hi* colleagues had no reputation, when they commenced their ca- reer as lecturers, and that the very circumstance of their being appointed Professors, and of the College being superintended by a body composed of medical gentlemen, gave them a reputation. No one lias denied that they were active in promoting the welfare of the College, or discharging their duties to the best of their abili- ties, and we would not detract from them whatever reputation they may have earned. But it was their duty to make all the exer- tion, as they received all the honour and profit, and while they were to receive fees for their services, to which they cer- tainly were entitled, and permitted to tax the Students, by matriculation and graduation fees, for the disbursement of inci- dental expenses, it was very properly resisted that they could claim public benefactions as their own. The money by which the buildings were erected, came from the general funds of the City and State, for which we are all taxed, and was intend- ed for public and not for individual benefit. Will Dr. Dick- son tell us of any College, where a Faculty were not the active agents, or has it ever, before the present instance, been main- * The following is taken from an Addressdelivered by Dr. Dickson before the Medi- cal Society, shewing the advantHge of establishing a Medical School in Charleston ;md the prospect of success : " I have in my possession a list of tlte Medical Students of this city, which I be- lieve to be accurate; rather under, perhaps, than above the real number. This hst contains the names of twenty-one, who are at present in Charleston, besides six who have gone to the Northern Schools, for the completion of their professional education. I have not been able to ascertain the number throughout the State; it cannot, how- ever, b« less than thirty more. Here, then, we have a beginning, with a class, at leae time, and retain the opinion still, that those insults were studiously contriv- J4 ed to induce a general resignation of our chairs, when they would have been seized on and divided as spoils of war." Such a gross and unwarrantable libel upon a Society composed of men of liberal education and elevated feelings, requires only to be mentioned to be duly estimated. " But we determined, if possible, to disappoint our enemies, We drew up and and presented to the Society a paper, protesting formally, against the establishment of such a precedent as was set by the proceed- ings described above, declaring our belief, that it was our right to be advised with in reference to the appointment of future colleagues, and maintaining that the best interests of the College, demanded such a consultation. We took care, however, to express our dissent to the principles which governed the Society in the management of the elec- tion, without impugning the validity of the result, in which we made known our reluctant acquiesence. Our paper was laid on the table, and a resolution was passed, ou motion of Dr. T. Y. Simotis, denying our right to offer our protest." The name of Dr. T. Y. Simons is here placed in italics, with the intention, apparently, as he was the successor of Dr. Dick- son, of indirectly throwing odium on him, and in the Appendix Dr. Dickson has quoted from the minutes, omitting every other individual's name but that of Dr. Simons. According to the minutes of September 5th, it appears that " Dr. Ravenel offered a protest against the principles which re- gulated the late election of Professor of Surgery, and after some discussion, on motion of Dr. Waring, it was Resolved, that in order to allow sufficient time for deliberation on so important a topic, the further consideration of the protest be postponed to next stated meeting, which was agreed to." October 1st—Dr. Hunt proposed that the consideration of the protest of the Medical Faculty, be indefinitely postponed. Dr. T. Y. Simons, then offered the following: " Resolved, that the Medical Faculty be informed, that their protest was indefi- nitely postponed, because the Society deny the right of that body to enter a protest on the Journals." Now Dr. Simons did so. He believed conscientiously, (and he was sustained by the opinion of medical gentlemen,) that the Faculty, as a Faculty, had no right to enter their protest on the Journal of the Society, although he admitted their right as mem- bers. Besides, he thought it absurd, that objections should be made to a form of election, in accordance with the Constitution of the Society, by which form, the Faculty, themselves had been elected, and in doing this, neither he, nor any member of the Society, had the remotest idea that any member of the Faculty would resign. 15 We will not presume to imitate Dr. Dickson, in attempting to decide upon the intricacies of the Law. We do, indeed, rest upon the Law, for we respect it and the opinions of our Judges. What motive could the Judges have to be biassed one side more than the other? The question was fairly discussed and elaborately argued by distinguished lawyers on both sides, and the decision deliberately given; but it would be presumptuous in us to dis- cuss a subject which our studies do not enable us to decide and which requires the ablest jurists to explain. Nor do we pre- tend to be the defenders of such distinguished men as Judges O'Neall, Harper, and Johnson. This much, we will, however, say, that if the Professors had consented to remain under the auspices of the Society, the Building, Apparatus, &c. would still have been appropriated to their use. They thought proper, how- ver, to place themselves under other Trustees, and therefore, have no persons but themselves to blame. Dr. Dickson has said " we may mistake, and if Judge O'Neall is right, have mistaken the law of the land, but we cannot be wrong in the opinion, that no such right could be maintained by the law of honour or moral equity." Now we reply, that if we could be made to be- lieve for an instant that Dr.Dickson and his colleagues had either "by the law of honour or moral equity," aright to claim the Build- ings, &c. as their own, we would be the last persons to co-operate in depriving them of it. But to put this matter at rest, we will shew from the Exposition, which has been carefully omitted in the Statements, that the Building, Apparatus, >>and dollars,' yet the first year they had fifty Students, whose Tickets, Matriculation and Graduation Fees, came up to that amount. Afterwards, fifteen thousand dollars were granted by the City, seventeen thousand by the State, and upwards of sixteen thousand for Matricula- tion and Gratuation Fees, charged upon the Students, which the Me- dical Society allowed the Professors to take, for the express purpose of defraying incidental expenses. The aggregate of this, is forty-eight thousand dollars, which they have received to erect a Building, procure a Chemical Apparatus, obtam Anatomical Preparations, and for inei- " This is an error, the Building could not have cost mora than $1800. 16 dental expenses. The Building has been left in very bad repair. The Chemical Apparatas in an indifferent and deranged state, and very im- perfect, and but a small Anatomical Museum. The building and all the apparatus, it is presumed, would not bring twenty thousand dollars; so far from the Professors spending their own money, they were lavish in the expenditure of the public money. Let us see how much they gained and divided among themselves, for their Lectures, for much has been said about their pecuniary sacrifices. From 1824 to 1832, there had been upwards of nine hundred and fifty Students who have attend- ed the College, each of whom paid for the Tickets of the Lecturers, one hundred and five dollars. Multiply nine hundred and fiftv by one hundred and five, and you will have ninety-nine thon^w/id seven hundred and fifty dollars;; deduct nine thousand seven hundred mid fifty dollars for bad debts, and you will have ninety thousand dollars, which has been a clear profit divided among them since the rsrahhsh- mentof the College. And if it had not been for the Medical Society, the Parent of the Medical College, whose President alone h-.ts the power of conferring Degrees, they could not bave shared this pnrfit. Thus, then, the Society gave them the opportunity of obtaining honour and pecuniary reward, for services which they volunteered and were anxious to perform, and it has received in return the abuse and contumely of those whom it patronized." We maintain, then, 1st, That the College owed its existence to the Medical Society, and that the Professors received all their power and authority from that body.* 2d. That the Society took away no right from the Professors, but that the Professors on the contrary, wished to deprive that body, which created them, of all power, and concentrate it in themselves. Having made these general remarks, we will refer the reader to extracts from the Journals of the Society, in the Appendix, With comments on them, and supply some omissions in Dr. Dickson's partial Statements, that the public may see who were the actors in this controversy, and whether all these actors could have entered into a conspiracy, to deprive Dr. Dickson and his colleagues of their honours ! In conclusion, we feel we have the " mens conscia recti ;" we would scorn to descend to any means unworthy the character of gentlemen; and whether our College siicceed or not, we will do no act which would, in the slightest degree, lessen the ele- vated character of the Medical Profession. We join most cheer- fully in the motto of Dr. Dickson—upalmam qui meruit ferat" —it is a good one—may it always be kept steadily in view. 9 * " This, then, is the present condition of the Medical College of Sonth-Carolina, which ii is desirable, that all connected with it should understand. It derives its powers as a College entirely and absolutely from the Medical Society of South-Carolina, the signatures of whose President and Vice-President arc necessary to give authority to Diplomas.— Dr. Dickson's Introductory, p. 82. n We have thus replied to the " Statements," and have avoid- ed, as far as circumstances would admit, personalities. We en- tered upon this duty with regret; but as members of the Medi- cal Society, and Professors of the College under its patronage, the motives which were said to influence the Medical Society, would, as a matter of course, implicate us more than other members. Having now performed our duty, we will leave the decision of who is right or wrong, to an impartial public. THOMAS Y. SIMONS, M. D. Professor of Theory and Practice of Physic. ANDREW HASELL, M. D. Professor of Materia Medica. HENRY ALEXANDER, M. D. '■ Professor of Institutes of Medicine. WILLIAM HUME, M. D. Professor of Surgery, 3 APPENDIX, HISTORY OF OCCURRENCES Relative to the Medieal College. Extracted from the Minute Book of the Medical Society, in chronolo* gical order, in which Dr. Dickson's omissions are supplied. March 1st, 1822.—A communication was received from the Examin- ing Board at Columbia, enclosing Dr. Cooper's Address, suggesting the establishment of a Medical School in the State ; referred to a commit- tee of three, Drs. Joseph Johnson, Manning and M. Holbrook. April 1st.—A letter from Dr. Cooper, on the same subject. May 1st.—The committee report favorably, &c. July 1st.—A second letter from Dr. Cooper. Nov. 22d.—A committee of five appointed to prepare a memorial for the Legislature upon the incorporation and establishment of a Medi- cal College. [N. B. As Dr. Dickson has chosen to assert, that " not a single name of all those who took an active part in the proceedings which resulted in the foundation and success of the Medical College, is to be found in the long list of its present Professors and Trustees," it becomes neces- sary to detail the names of the members, who were present when t-.e various propositions, in relation to the Medical College, were discussed. It would be invidious to mention who are the friends, and who the enemies of the Medical Society ; because we conceive that no man of delicate sensibility or refined feelings, would continue a member of a society to which he was personally hostile : and we would not, therefore, wound any individual, by attributing to him improperly, perhaps, the foul stigmaof en- deavoring to destroy, by his parasitic embrace, an institution that he was bound, in honor and honesty, to protect and cherish.] At this meeting of the Society, the following members were present. Dr. J. Moultrie, Jun. President,. Drs. Moultrie, Wilson, Manning, I. M. Wilson, Michel, Grimke, North, Waring, Fronte, Frost, T. G. Prioleau, T. Y. Simons, M. Holbrook, and Campbell. The Committee consisted of Drs. Moultrie, S. Wilson, Sen. Grimke, Waring and T. G. Prioleau. Nov. 25th.— Memorial reported and adopted, &c. Present, Drs. Moultrie, Jun. S. Wilson, Sen. Manning, Joseph Johnson, I. M. Wilson, Michel T. Y. Simons, Dickson, Ramsay, Greenland, Waring, T. G. Prioleau, Frost, Ravenel, Aikin, Grimke, James Glover and Camp- Feb. 1st, 1823.—Address made to the Society, on the establishment of a Medical School, by Dr. Dickson, and recommending a committee 20 for the purpose of preparing a report on the .subject.* Present, Drs. Moultrie, Jun. Dickson, Holbrook, Bailey, Ravenel, Joseph Johnson, T. G. Prioleau, Joseph Glover, Frost and Campbell. Committee, Drs. Dickson, Ramsay, T. G. Prioleau, Joseph Johnson, J. Moultrie, Jun. and Manning, The committoe offered the following Resolutions. 1st. That it is for the general good, and of advatage to the promotion of Medical science, that a School of Medicine and Surgery be estab- lished in this city. 2nd. That such an institution would be best established under the auspices of the Medical Society, by and with the aid and consent of the Legislature, 3rd. That the necessary steps towards the commencement of such a School, should be taken with as much expedition as is consistent with security and stability. April 1st.—Committeet report, that they had applied, unsuccessfully, to the Charleston College, for the use of its charter to confer Medical * Extract from Dr. Dickson's Address, 1st February, 1823. "If, then, we are satisfied, as we profess to be, of the importance of the establish- ment of a Medical School in this State; if we are convinced, as we must be, of the advantage, nay. I would say, the necessity of its location in the city, the only spot capable of affording opporlunity for nourishment and growth, let us at once take the matter into our own hands; let us depend for success upon our own energy and efforts. Wk cannot »aii., and success, however partial, will give us a right to aid from the com- munity in general, and more particularly from the legislature ; or, if complete, will remove entirely the need of assistance. * * * ".Should our Institution acquire any degree of reputation, as indeed it must and trill, provided the affairs is governed by the Medical Society, and obtains the unanimous support and united effort of the profession in Charleston, and in the State generally, it will collect pupils from all the neighbouring country in numbers proportioned to the standing it shall acquire. * * # * «' If you agree with me, gentlemen, as to the importance of such Institution, the ad- vantage of its location here, and of its being commenced at the present time, you will at once feel and perceive the propriety and the necessity of your acting as a body in its promotion. "The Medical Society alone can effect the object. We are abundantly rich to do all that is sufficient, lor little will be required; and our funds cannot be devoted to a bet- ter purpose. The expense of a lecture room, and of adequate apparatus, will be com- paratively trifling; and your Professorships will he occupied by men less anxious for emolument than reputation: in fact, it is to be confidently hoped, that the number of pupils will soon be large enough to afford both. "The Medical Society alone has the power to unite for this attempt, the efforts of the whole community. Irs sanction carries with it a weight not possessed by no aggie- gate of unconnected individuals, however influential, separately. The Legislature of our State would confide to it, as a Board of Trustees of such an Institution, the right of granting formal Diplomas, far more willingly and cordially, than to any knot of persons recently united "Finally, the Medical Society alone has the means of collecting and concentratin" the influence and exertions of the profession in behalf of such an establishment—of obviating the ill effects of personal rivalry—of extinguishing petty jealousies—and of making the appointments to Professorships, with a single rye to the general good, so as to carry the plan into operation in the manner best calculated to secure its ultimate aBd permanent success/' t "The following is a part or the report of a committeo of five, appointed by the Society, on the subject of establishing a Medical School in this city. This committee consisted of Drs. S. H Dickson. Ramsay, Prioleau. Joseph Johnson, and James Moul- trie, Jun. The report was made on the 1st April, 1823. << It was distinctly stated in the last report as absolutely essential to the success of our tnterprizc, thpt we should in some way or other obtain at the very outset, the power of 21 degrees. The committee were then directed by the Society to apply to the Legislature for such an amendment of the charter of the Medical Society, as would constitute that Society a Medical School, with the power of conferring Medical degrees. Present, Drs. Moultrie, Sen. Holbrook, I. A. Johnson, Michel, Waring, Bailey, De La Motta, Por- cher, T. G. Prioleau, Ravenel, S. Wilson, Sen. J. Moultrie, Jun. I. M. Wilson, Ramsay, Dickson, Frost and Campbell. Nov. 1st.—Members present. Dr. Manning, President; Drs. Moul- trie, Sen. S. Wilson, Glover, Moultrie, Jun. Waring, Holbrook, Michel, Bailey, Dickson, Prioleau, Philips, and Campbell. The Committee, on the establishment of a Medical School, report and recommend that the Society petition the Legislature so to amend their Charter as to con- stitute them a Medical College with the power of conferring degrees ; and that one or more of the Charleston Delegation be engaged to attend to the interests of the Society at Columbia. Committee consisted of Drs. J. Manning, T. G. Prioleau, and J. Moultrie, Jun. Report adopt- ed, and the Officers of the Society appointed a Committee to wait on as many of the delegation as they think proper ; furnishing them with a copy of the following resolutions; and request them to give their friendly services to the interests of the Society during the coming session of the Legislature, Jan. 1st, 1824.*—The appointment of a committee to organize thp contemplated College,consisting of Drs. Dickson, T. G. Prioleau, Frost, Ravenel and J. Moultrie, Jun. Present, Drs. Manning, T. G. Prioleau, J. De La Motta, S. Wilson, Sen. Dickson, Campbell, Waring J. B. Irving, T. Y. Simons, Righton, Ravenel, Holbrook, Frost, S. Wilson, and Bailey. Feb. 2nd A—Report of the committee offered. Present, Drs. Man- ning, T. G. Prioleau, J. Ramsay, D • La Motta, Moultrie, Sen. T. Y. Simons, Hall, I. M. Wilson, Dupont, Michel, Dickson Kirkland, Boyls- ton, Akin, Porcher, Ravenel, Holbrook, Campbell, Moultrie, JunT Bailey, Waring, Joseph Johnson, I. A. Johnson, P. G. Prioleau, AVilson, Sen. J. B. Irving, Frost and North. Feb. 3rof.|—Report of the committee continued and adopted. [Dr. Dickson is mistaken in his assertion, that the report was adopted at the previous meeting.] Present, Drs. Manning, T. G. Prioleau, Ramsay, De La Motta, Campbell, Frost, Waring, Michel, Moultrie, Sen. Moultrie, Jun. Joseph Johnson, I. A.Johnson, T. Y. Simons, Boylston, Dickson, I. M. AVilson, Logan, and Porcher. April 12th, 1824.—Obligation of Professors, offered by Dr. Joseph Johnson, and adopted by the Society, at the regular meeting, March, 1st, 1824. * " On the 1st January, 1^24, Dr. Samuel Henry Dickson proposed the following Resolutions, which were affirmatively carried. Resolved, That it is expedient to establish a School of Medicine and Surgery in (hie city, under the control and direction of the Medical Society, and that the necessary steps be taken without delay. Resolved, That a committee of five shall be appointed by the President, whose duty it shall be to lay before the Society at its next meeting, such plan for the forma- tion of a Medical School, as they may deem worthy the consideration of the Society. Their report to embrace the most minute and particular arrangement in order to have the whole subject in all its details, before the Society. t Dr. Dickson, Chairman of the Committee on