Almshouse, are connected with the school, to which the students are admitted for clinical instruction. Such has been the commencement and progress of the first medical school founded in America; an institution which has proved an honour and a blessing to the country, and a rival of the best schools in Europe.

The second medical school instituted in America, is that of the City of New-York, first established under the charter of King's College, in 1767, three years only after that of Philadelphia. The following year the school was opened for medical instruction, with six professorships, and united the talents and learning of Drs. Clossey, Jones, Middleton, Smith, Tennent, and the late Dr. Samuel Bard, who were appointed to fill the chairs.

The founders of this school were, no doubt, excited to the laudable enterprise, by the important example which had been set them in Philadelphia, and the success which had attended the establishment of a school in that city; as well as from a desire to enlarge the sphere of instruction, and extend the benefits of medical education through the country. But their prospects were soon destroyed. The medical school of New-York, thus organized, and provided with six eminent professors, was in operation but a few years, before its labours, in common with those of most other literary and scientific institutions of our country, were interrupted by the Revo

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lutionary war; and it was not till the year 1792 that they were recommenced. At this time the school was reorganized by the Trustees of Columbia College, which had been known by the style of King's College, before the Revolution, and a faculty consisting of six professors appointed to fill the different chairs.

After the renovation of the school, it continued to rise in its character, and increase in the number of its students, till the year 1806, at which time the Legislature of the State was prevailed upon to grant a charter to a new College of Physicians. As soon as the new College was established, and its professors appointed, there commenced a spirit of rivalry and competition between the two schools, which led to the most disastrous and unhappy consequences. After a long and bitter contest between the different parties, the friends of medical science interfered, and arrested the progress of the difficulties which had nearly proved fatal to both institutions. At length the Regents of the University, under the authority of the Legislature, abolished the new school which had been created, and established the old school upon its present foundation, with the style of the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Had the wisdom of the Legislature protected the medical school first instituted, from the effects of competition, it must, from the peculiar advantages of its

location, as well as from the distinguished talents of its professors, have arrived much earlier to the elevated rank it at present sustains, if not have proved a powerful rival of the school at Philadelphia.

The school of New-York has six professorships, all of which are filled. The medical students who attended the last course of lectures, amounted to one hundred and ninety. The school has connected with it an extensive and well arranged Hospital, which is opened for the benefit of the students.

The medical school of Harvard College is the next in succession, and was established at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1782; nearly a century and a half after the classical department of the institution had been in successful operation. This school probably owes its origin, in some degree, to the Revolutionary war; an event which, though it suspended for a time the progress of the two schools already existing, seems to have contributed more to the advancement of medical science, and its general diffusion through the country, than almost any other that has occurred in our history.

The formation of an army collected together the physicians from every part of the country, promoted social intercourse, and opened a new field for medical investigation. Military hospitals were established for the reception of the sick and wounded; new forms of disease were developed; many important

operations in surgery were performed; and frequent opportunities presented for the cultivation of practical anatomy, to those who had never before witnessed a dissection. At the close of the war the physicians and surgeons returned home, carrying with them the spirit they had imbibed for medical investigation, together with the results of an extensive experience and thus was disseminated through the country, a fund of practical knowledge, and a taste for medical inquiry, which was never before known, and which no other circumstances could have produced.

It was soon after the army was encamped at Cambridge, and a military hospital opened in that town, that the medical school of Harvard was first organized, and the plan laid for a course of public lectures. This event seems also to have been hastened by the anatomical lectures of Dr. Warren, which had been delivered in Boston the two preceding years, and which the students of the University had liberty to attend. In the commencement of this school three professorships were established, and the late Dr. Warren, Dr. Waterhouse, and Dr. Dexter, appointed to fill the chairs. Under this organization a course of lectures of about six weeks' continuance was given, annually, for twenty-eight

years.

Although the school was liberally endowed,* and possessed some of the first medical talents in the country, its success was extremely limited, and its influence confined to a narrow sphere, until it was removed to Boston, in 1810. Since that period it has been rapidly improving, and at this time is one of the most flourishing institutions of the country. Its professors have been increased to five; and in 1824 it had one hundred and thirty students. The Massachusetts General Hospital, an extensive and well arranged establishment, has been recently erected, is opened to the students of the school, and is one of the best clinical institutions in the United States.

The fourth medical school instituted in the United States, is that of Dartmouth College, at Hanover, New-Hampshire; established in 1797.

This school was founded by the enterprise of Dr. Nathan Smith, who at that time had just returned from the University of Edinburgh, where he had spent some time for the completion of his studies. In 1798 he was appointed sole professor of the school, and for twelve years gave lectures on the different branches of medicine, excepting two courses, in which he was assisted in the department of chemistry.

The school has at this time three professorships; and in 1824 the medical class amounted to eighty.

See Note E.