Page:An Examination of Certain Charges - Alfred Stillé.djvu/10

 adjacent, and received the report of their committee. They had waited on the Dean of the Faculty, and requested the use of the Anatomical room. It was positively refused them. The class then adjourned to meet at $4 1⁄2$ o'clock P. M. when the above room would be at their disposal, without the necessity of demanding it, at which time the distinguished Professor of Obstetrics, having terminated his labours, the meeting of the class was organized. For a time, no plan seemed to be matured; but at length a verbal resolution was proposed, that the class absent themselves from the lectures of Materia Medica, for a limited period. The mover of this resolution had scarcely taken his seat, when another gentleman, entirely uninfluenced by any motives but those originating with himself, and unaware that the former had contemplated addressing the meeting, arose, and read the following resolutions, offering them as an amendment to that already proposed.

"Resolved, 1st. "That it is our deliberate opinion, that the lectures from the chair of Materia Medica in this University, are eminently deficient in practical information, and are unsuited to the present advanced state of medical science; and

2nd. "That for the foregoing reasons the present incumbent is unfitted for the station which he occupies.

3rd. "That in order to express to the said Professor our unfeigned sentiments, and also to induce the proper authorities to take some efficient measures for our own good, and the welfare of this Institution, we will absent ourselves from the lectures of the present incumbent, until some plan be adopted for the proper instruction of the students of this University, in Materia Medica and Pharmacy."

In the discussion which followed, the grounds on which the resolutions were founded, none attempted to deny; a few only differed, as to the mode by which their object was to be attained. They inclined to milder measures, tending (as they believed) ultimately to the same end, and were anxious that the sentiments of the class should be respectfully communicated to the Professor, and thus opportunity be granted him of making the requisite alterations in his course, if he thought proper to do so. The large majority of the class, however, read in the events of 1831–32, a lesson upon this subject. They knew that a petition had gone before the Board of Trustees at that time, from the class, and that it had been unsuccessful; they believed, that the Professor had at the same time been personally appealed to, but with similar success; and it was to them, clear as demonstration, that if they would not waste time in fruitless trials, a course more decided and vigorous must be pursued. Such views, it is believed procured the adoption of the preceding resolutions, with apparent unanimity, in a viva voce vote. We have again and again examined these resolutions with attention and care; we have viewed them in every light in which they could be placed, but have been unable to perceive the refined course of reasoning by which 'a Physician' has drawn the conclusion that they are intended to express "the determination of the pupils that he (the Professor of Materia Medica) should be expelled from his chair." The most careless glance at the document in question will prove, that the class, although expressing their sentiments in strong language, did not so far