ILLUSTRATIONS. 



45 



Bard, M. D. as dean. Among the professors who were appointed to deliver 

 lectures ou the different branches of medicine, were several gentlemen of ac 

 knowledged talents and great professional merit. The exertions of the trustees 

 Of Columbia College, in their annexing a medical school to that institution, art^ 

 deserving of the highest commendation ; and it cannot be denied that the 

 science of medicine was promoted by its establishment, particularly in this 

 tate. 



By an act passed by the legislature of this state in March 1791, the hon. the 

 regents of the university were authorised to institute a College of Physicians 

 and Surgeons. The power thus vested in them they thought proper to exercise 

 in 1807 j and, accordingly, a charter for the purpose of establishing a College of 

 Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New-YoA was granted, bearing date the 

 12th of March 1 807. The establishment of an institution to be exclusively de- 

 voted to the cultivation and diffusion of medical science under the patronage of 

 the regents of the university, and its sanction by the legislature, were circum- 

 stances viewed with the greatest satisfaction, and afforded just cause of con- 

 gratulation to the friends of science throughout the state. That the high 

 expectations which were entertained of the benefits that would flow to the com- 

 munity from its establishment were well founded, the history of the college 

 during the time it has %een in operation presents the most conclusive evidence. 

 In November, 1807, the business of the medical college commenced, and 

 courses of instruction were delivered on all the branches of medicine. The abil- 

 ity and success with which the teachers filled the important stations assigned 

 them was such, that the legislature, at their next session, made the liberal 

 appropriation of twenty thousand dollars for the benefit of the college. The 

 whole number of students who attended to the institution the first year 

 was fifty-three ; the second year there was seventy-two students ; a greater num- 

 ber than had ever before resorted to a similar institution for medical instruc 

 lion in this city : the tfiird year the college was attended by seventy-three stu 

 dents from New-York, and other states in the union. 



In 1810 the rapid progress of the college in its importance and usefulness re- 

 ceived a temporary check ; and its brilliant prospects were, for a while, over- 

 cast, owing to certain misunderstandings having taken place between Hie then 

 president and professors. The regents of the university, upon receiving authen- 

 tic information of the dissentions which had thus been created, with the same 

 laudable zeal for the promotion of medical science with which they had origin- 

 ally been induced to organize the establishment, immediately adopted measure* 

 for ascertaining the cause of the mischief, and for the removal of every obstacle 

 which might retard its prosperity. This they did at their meeting held at Al- 

 bany on the 1st of April, 181 1. Upon the reorganization of the College of Pin 



