NATURAL SCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY. 713 



parting words to a graduating class going out into the world to perform their 

 duties as doctors, even as was the class he now addressed. The speaker reverted 

 to the time when the Kansas City Medical College was started. It had succeed- 

 ed against some opposition and under many difficulties. The good people of 

 Kansas City had always been the friend of every enterprise that claimed Kansas 

 City as its home, and this was the secret of her greatness. 



During the existence of this college it had graduated 124 physicians. They 

 were scattered all over the United States and Territories. The college was proud 

 ■of them, and they had all been an honor to her. The speaker did not think the 

 present class would tarnish this record. 



Turning from this subject, Dr. Lester called the attention of his hearers to 

 the great changes in medicine which were going on. The science of medicine 

 was becoming more accurate every day. These advances all accrued to the in- 

 terest of the people. 



The arrest of experimental research by legal interposition was severely com- 

 mented upon. Man himself killed animals for food and clothing, made slaves of 

 them and slaughtered them for amusement. In England this fanaticism most pre- 

 vailed. It had not yet reached America. No one but a fanatic would cry out in 

 favor of a dog or a cat and oppose scientific vivisection with law, if by the ex- 

 periment something might be learned which would benefit thousands of men and 

 women. 



The speaker urged his class not to fall into the error that they had nothing 

 to do but to absorb the knowledge thus gained in the past. They must go on 

 and enlighten the world themselves. Another error was the thought that there 

 was nothing else to be done. Science may make more advancement in the future 

 than it has in the past. 



Despite the fact that American students of the past, in a new country where 

 colleges were few and books scarce, had struggled under difficulties of every 

 kind, yet the country had produced a race which were giants in medicine. The 

 medical men of the United States were admired all over the world. 



It was not necessary to go abroad to learn thoroughly the science of medi- 

 cine. In the great schools and hospitals of both Europe and America, only that 

 practice could be gained which would make a great surgeon. Europeans had 

 made great concessions to us, and we had always admired their thoroughness and 

 ability in surgery and medicine. 



To the graduating class Dr. Lester, in conclusion, addressed words of good 

 advice and hearty sympathy. He urged them to be true to their profession and 

 themselves, and bade the class, on behalf of the faculty, God speed and good-bye. 



The awarding of prizes was next in order. There are several prizes in the 

 gift of the college. The first of these is the Holden prize of $100, given to the 

 student who passes the best examination. The prize was founded by Howard 

 M. Holden, of this city. Besides this there is the faculty prize of $25, given to 

 the next best student. Dr. Halley, professor of surgery, offered a competitive 



