University of Pennsylvania. 185 



have, at various times, particularly since the year 1792, 

 been presented to the Trustees and Medical Professors 

 of the University of Pennsylvania. These dissertations 

 have not only procured reputation to their authors, but 

 have even served to raise the reputation of the school 

 which gave them birth. 



But it is well known that many of the inaugural dis- 

 sertations of this and other Universities are, at best, 

 but mere transcripts, and even imperfect transcripts, of 

 the opinions or doctrines of the professors. Others are 

 crude and unfinished performances, such as only serve 

 to diminish the reputation of the school; and such, in- 

 deed, as their authors, at the expiration of a year or two, 

 are ashamed to see, or acknowledge. Surely, it is ad- 

 visable that such essays should not be permitted to be 

 published; or, at least, it is proper that the authors 

 should not be constrained to publish them. 



It may be said, however, as it often has been said, 

 that the new regulation of the Trustees (a regulation 

 introduced at the request of the Medical Professors) 

 serves to deprive the public of some important disserta- 

 tions. Whatever foundation there may be for this sus- 

 picion, it is certain, that the new rule does not necessa- 

 rily lead to this evil. On the contrary, it is even pro- 

 bable, that the dissertations which are really worthy of 

 publication will, sooner or later, be printed and pub- 

 lished in a more finished form than that in which they 

 were originally presented to the professors. In regard 

 to several of the dissertations of the present year, it is 



vol. in. part i. 2 A 



