Late controversy in relation to the Medical College of Ohio.

  • Wright, M. B. (Marmaduke Burr), 1803-1879.
Date:
[1850?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Late controversy in relation to the Medical College of Ohio. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    4/12
    jority of the Board of Trustees considered the improvement of the Col- lege, and the disorganization of the Faculty, as one and the same thing. Hence the prostration of the one. and the distraction of the other. By the following communications, you may judge somewhat of the nature of the controversy which has been going on for some weeks, between the Trustees and one of the Faculty. You may say, perhaps, that there is something of personality in some of the reflections. I offer, as my excuse, the provocation which I received, and the indigna- tion which I necessarily felt. Yesterday, the chairs were all vacated, and in part re-filled. This, you will say, is trifling with public confidence, and the best interests of the school. True ; but, you will observe that by this course they could reach my chair, and thus accomplish indirectly what they were afraid to attempt directly. You will ask, what is to be done to place the College above the ma- lign influences which now surround it, and to secure it against change, change ? I refer you to the wisdom of the next legislature for an an- swer to this question. It is not intended that any organization which may be now effected shall be permanent. When the vacation of the chairs was first advocated, it was urged, that any number of competent lecturers could be selected from the national medical convention, who would be exceedingly gratified to receive any appointment which might be given them. But, after this plausible motive had worked the de- sired changes, an uncompromising hostility was expressed against any man who might be brought from any quarter outside of the city. Then came the question, had we not better get Dr. Wright entirely out of our way, by the vacation of the chairs, and then present a show of organization, by making some temporary appointments? But, }-ou will inquire, what is the great aim of the disorganizes? I will answer your question by an illustration : A friend purchased a horse, which had been recommended to him as one of great durability and power. After working him hard all winter, he gave him the privileges of the pasture in the spring and summer. At the close of each working season, he was deprived of his groom, and at a period too, when he had just acquired a knowledge of the habits and necessities of the animal. The horse grew older as time advanced, and of course felt the effect of hard usage. But, his master, not being willing to cast him aside as useless, sent for a cele- brated farrier, and requested him, at any cost, to restore the animal to activity and usefulness. The doctor examined him with great care and gave the following as the result of his deliberations : '• The horse is blind on this side, and sees but little on that. He is wry-necked ring-boned and spavined. He is hip-shot, bow-backed and raw-boned. And, again, his teeth are so much worn, he can be fed upon nothing but gruel. Now, it is my deliberate opinion, that I may work upon this critter just as long as I please, and I can make nothing better out of him than a poney for the boys. This is my opinion in regard to the future condition of the College. It has been Ro/l'd and Riddled so much, that it has but little of the quality of cohesiveness left. And after all the fragments shall have been brought together, and compressed into form, you will say that t is very much like a poney for the boys.