Medical School as described in an 1826 guidebook to Washington
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THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE COLUMBIAN COLLEGE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. – The Columbian College in the District of Columbia, was instituted by an act of the Congress of the Unites States, in the winter of 1821. Soon after that period the classical department was brought into operation, and a course of instruction commenced. In the summer of 1824, the medical department was organized, and professors appointed; and in March, 1825, a course of lectures commenced on the different branches of medicine. The success which attended the commencement of the school, has demonstrated the peculiar advantages of its location, and inspired its friends with the fullest confidence in its utility and success. In order to embrace all the benefits of a winter school, the lectures will annually commence on the first Monday in November, and continue to the last of February. During this period, lectures will be delivered daily, and full courses be given on the various branches of medicine.
The Medical Professors are:
Thomas Sewall, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and Physiology.
James M. Staughton, M. D., Professor of Surgery.
Thomas Henderson, M. D., Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine.
N. W. Worthington, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica.
Edward Cutbush, M. D., Professor of Chemistry.
Frederick May, M. D., Professor of Obstetrics.
Such arrangements have been made as will furnish the Professor of Anatomy with materials for demonstration, and the class with ample opportunity for the cultivation of practical anatomy.
Provision has also been made for exhibiting to the class the clinical practice and operative surgery, in the Infirmary of the Washington Asylum, free of expense.
The extensive and complete apparatus of the professor of chemistry, will afford every facility for displaying the experimental parts of that science.
The Medical College, situated in a central part of the city, about equal-distant from the Capitol and President’s House, is a commodious building; and well fitted up with apartments suited to the purposes of the school.
The following extracts are from the laws adopted by the board of trustees for the government of the medical department:
Each student before he can receive the ticket of any professor, shall pay five dollars to the treasurer of the college, shall have his name enrolled on the college books, and receive a ticket of matriculation, as evidence that he has placed himself under the government of the trustees and medical professors.
The fees for attendance on the lectures shall be fifteen dollars to each professor, for the course.
All students who shall have attended two full courses in this school, shall be entitled to attend succeeding courses free of expense.
All students who may wish it, shall have the privilege of attending, gratuitously, the lectures in the classical department of the college, on natural philosophy, astronomy, botany, natural history, &c by presenting a recommendation from the medical professors to the president of the college.
No student shall be admitted to examination for a medical degree, till-
1st, He shall have attended each professor during two full courses, or one full course in this college, and one in some other respectable medical institution.
2d, He shall have studied three years under the direction of some regular physician
3d, He shall have satisfied the medical professors of his classical attainments, if he be not a graduate in the arts.
4th, He shall have entered his name with the Dean of the Medical Department, as a candidate of graduation, and delivered to him an inaugural dissertation on some medical subject, thirty days, at least, before the close of the course.
There shall be an annual commencement for conferring medical degrees, the time of which shall be as early after the close of the lectures as the examination of the candidates will admit.
Before a candidate can receive the degree of Doctor of Medicine, he must pay thirty dollars for examination, and five dollars for his diploma.
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Author or Source: The Washington Guide, 1826
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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