Page:A History of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania.djvu/66

 ‘De Honoribus qui in omni ævo in veros Medicinæ cultores collati fuerint.’

“2. A dispute, whether the Retina or Tunica Choroides be the immediate seat of vision? The argument for the retina was ingeniously maintained by Mr. Cowell; the opposite side of the question was supported with great acuteness by Mr. Fullerton, who contended that the Retina is incapable of the office ascribed to it, on account of its being easily permeable to the rays of light, and that the choroid coat, by its being opaque, is the proper part for stopping the rays, and receiving the picture of the object.

“3. Questio, num detur Fluidum Nervosum? Mr. Duffield held the affirmative, and Mr. Way the negative, both with great learning.

“4. Mr. Tilton delivered an essay ‘On Respiration,’ and the manner in which it was performed did credit to his abilities.

“5. The Provost then conferred the degree of Bachelor of Medicine on the following gentlemen, viz: Messrs. John Archer, of New Castle County; Benjamin Cowell, of Bucks; Samuel Duffield and Jonathan Potts, of Philadelphia; Jonathan Elmer, of New Jersey; Humphrey Fullerton, of Lancaster County; David Jackson, of Chester County; John Lawrence, of East Jersey; James Tilton, of Kent County, Delaware; and Nicholas Way, of Wilmington.

“6. An elegant valedictory oration was spoken by Mr. Potts, ‘On the Advantages derived in the Study of Physic, from a previous liberal education in the other sciences.’

“The Provost then addressed the Graduates in a brief Account of the present state of the College, and of the quick progress in the various extensive establishments it hath already made. He pointed out the general causes of the advancement as well as decline of literature in different Nations of the World, and observed to the Graduates, that as they were the first who had received medical honors in America, on a regular Collegiate plan, it depended much on them, by their future conduct and eminence, to place such honors in estimation among their countrymen; concluding with an earnest appeal that they would never neglect the