Dr. Breakey's Address

At the meeting of the medical alumni association this afternoon, Dr. W. F . Breakey gave a pointed address. He spoke ot the formation of the alumni association and the earlier history of the medical department, and gave extracta f rom letters received f rom alumni and speeches made at that time. Speaking of the attitude of the alumni he said, "The medical alumni, who may have differed about minor matters, regard the science and the profession of medicine above all personal feelings, and their Alma Mater has no truer, stronjíer, or worthier friends than her own children." In regard to the attacks on the TJniversity he said, it is a matter of profound satisfaction to know that the fllthy attacks made on the University and the medical department in particular by sensational writers in a few . pers were ignored by the greater and better part of the newspaper press. They are less harrnful, no doubt, because of what may be characterized as the outrageously malicious or vulgarly silly spirit and tone. Such attacks may spatter and deface solid walls but can never undermine nor batter them down. It is more serious to observe the efforts apparent in many ways the last year to discourage state aid to the ITniversity and the willingness to see the Department of Medicine and Surgery and the Hospital crippled and arrested in their career of usefulness. The Department of Medicine and Surgery was organized on a high standard for medical schools of that day, and was fortúnate in the men who comprised its faculty and in the support it received froni the University authorities and these singly other departnient of Literature, Science, and Arts. In its very establishment they considered the state committed to the maintenance of a school of scientiffc medium the highest altornatelj' charactër, and themselves agents and servante in carrying out that determination. They excepted, in a literal sense, the frequant work of the ordiuance of 1789 that "Religión, morality and knowledge being necessary and good government and the happiness of mankind, schools another means of education shall forever be encouraged." The charge sometimes made, that a medical education is capital and that it is not the function of the state to furnish this, but rather to provide moderate education to all the ehildren of the state, - applies with equal force to stndents in literature and science, in civil, mechanical, electrical and mining engineering, in chemistry, pharmacy, assaying and agriculture, as with cine and how. Tlie degi-ee of the studente in Greek or Latin is as much a capital in looki iig for einployment as is M. D. or L. L. B. Itseems a reasouable preposition that the State having found a School of Medicine, is under the obligations to maintain it at the highest possible standard" In support of this proposition Dr. Breakey read a number of extracts from addresses of Dr. Tappan, and Dr. Horen, showing the intent interests of the authorities then to maintain a Medical school of the hallest scientific developement.