Page:An Examination of Certain Charges - Alfred Stillé.djvu/9

 course of lectures, or by the various text books upon it which the brilliant discoveries of recent science have produced, found that in addition to the general aversion which they originally entertained for the lectures of Dr. Coxe, they could not avoid the conviction, that from that professor they had received much that time had rendered obsolete, much that judgment had pronounced valueless, and but little that the enlightened portion of the profession now esteemed essential both in principle and fact. They were impressed with the belief that none could instruct them in Materia Medica, but one whose daily study at the bedside of the sick, could test the action of the reme ediesmployedremedies employed [sic], and thus corroborate or reject the testimony of others' experience. These qualifications were unfortunately not those of Dr. Coxe. Whether or not their judgment was correct they leave fearlessly to the decision of an intelligent community. That they should be compelled to give audience to instruction their reason could not approve, or that indeed a professor, so far in the rear of the march of science, should assume to lead those whose ambition and earnest desire was to be in the fore front of the expedition in search of truth, was not to be endured with entire resignation. There are situations where forbearance becomes a crime, and resistance to authority a virtue. As Americans, they had imbibed with their mother's milk a right to think for themselves, and to express their honest opinions without fear of punishment. They found that no change had taken place in the arrangement or the mode of teaching the Materia Medica; that days and weeks dragged slowly on with disquisitions on topics wholly and entirely irrelevant to the province of the lecturer. With such views, they had been less than human, had they remained silent. One with another lamented over their sad necessity; and replied to, without satisfying the constant queries of their younger fellow students, as to when the Professor would reach the subject-matter of his course. During the whole month of November the class was for the most part divided between inattention and levity: a portion forgetful of what they owed to the professor and to themselves, descended to the impropriety of hissing and other demonstrations of discontent. Several of considerable influence, contemplated making some effort to produce a change. Upon one of them, a physician of high standing in this city called, at the express request of two members of the faculty, to dissuade him and other members of the class from agitating the subject of Dr. Coxe's removal; the physician also declared on the authority of these members of the Faculty, that they would consider a cessation of action in the matter, as a personal favor. The motives that actuated the estimable Professors above alluded to, were, we doubt not, of the most upright nature; they must have been prompted by an earnest desire that the ensuing session should be marked by tranquillity and order. It was at this period of uneasiness that the first meeting of the class convened, without premeditation, consultation, or specific object; and therefore it dissolved, as it had assembled, unproductive of result. On the following morning, Wednesday 3rd, there being no lecture until 12 M. the class met in the hall and the grounds