The Daily Cincinnati Republican, And Commercial Register

FOR THE CINCINNATI REPUBLICAN.

Messrs. Editors—Who can walk the streets of Cincinnati, and imagine, were he not assured of the fact, that he was treading a place, which but half a century ago, was nothing but a howling wilderness. The savage wigwams were then the only habitations, and the hunters' cry, or the barbarous chauntings of the war song, the only notes that echoed from the surrounding hills. These, however, have given place to a beautiful city, in which are found spacious edifices, dedicated to the arts and sciences. Last week I visited the Medical College of Ohio. It was founded some ten or fifteen years since by Dr. Drake, and liberally endowed by the legislature. The edifice is well finished, and sufficiently large to contain three spacious lecture rooms, besides rooms for the use of the faculty, library, &c. There is connected with the college an hospital and lunatic asylum; but, unfortunately, owing to some cause, the latter, especially, is poorly managed, and resembles a prison, filled with cells for the confinement of criminals, rather than the cleanly abodes of afflicted humanity.

The present session had just commenced, and the professors were engaged in delivering their respective introductory lectures. Many of them were respectable, and some of them creditable to the institution. The course was opened on Monday, by the Professor of Anatomy, who chose for his subject, a brief history of the branch allotted to him. The selection was good, and many of the expressions were strong and excellent. I was told there were about thirty-five students present, but this was not a fair index of the class, as a large majority of those in attendance do not, it is said, arrive before the second or third week from the commencement. There will probably be from eighty to a hundred students in the institution, during the present session.

On Tuesday the Professor of Chemistry made his debut on the present occasion. His lecture was so much diversified in its character, that I am at a loss where to place it. If I am not mistaken, the subject of Chemistry was not once mentioned. Had I wandered thither without intending to visit a Medical College, to hear an introductory lecture from the Professor of Chemistry, I might have concluded, had it not been for the absence of ladies, that I was in some church, listening to a kind of professional speech, on morals, finance, temperance, or any thing else, except medical science.

Dr. A. G. Smith, lately appointed to fill the chair of Surgery, vacated by the death of the late Dr. Staughton, delivered his first lecture in a Medical Institution on Wednesday. It was unexceptionable in its character, and quite clear and expressive.— The sentiments were marked by a spirit of liberality, creditable to the head and heart of that gentleman. If he pursues the straight forward course he has commenced, without becoming the boisterous partizan, or engaging in the conflicting interests and party strife, which characterize some of his brethren, he will secure the reward due to an independent, honorable mind.

The Professor of Materia Medica delivered his prefatory address on Thursday, but I was deprived of the pleasure of hearing him.

The Professor who lectured on Friday, chose, for his subject, a Eulogy on the late Drs. Staughton and Smith. His lecture, however, was principally devoted to the latter, while the former received only a passing notice. Dr. Smith, was the friend and associate of Professor Moore, from his first connexion with the Medical College, until the removal of the former, by the Board of Trustees. I must here remark, that I was unprepared to see the Professor degrade the station he occupies, as a teacher of youth, by permitting his private animosities and jealousies to operate on his passions, during his public discourse. It certainly does not speak much for the taste of the man who could condescend to drag, from the grave, the bones of a friend, for the purpose of attacking a private individual; or to gratify his private feelings, by disturbing the ashes of a departed associate, in order to excite the feelings and prejudices of his youthful audience. His attack on Dr. Drake, could certainly be viewed in no other light. Indeed I presume when that gentleman reviews his notes, in his cool and reflecting moments, he will find much inconsistent with the character he assumes, and beneath the character of a public teacher. He no doubt felt warmly for his friend, but a public lecturer, of his sense and experience, cannot fail to perceive, on reflection, that the attempt to convey, by implication to his pupils, what one man is, by stating what another was not, is a mode of reasoning at variance with the honor and justice which ever mark the transactions of the high-minded, open, and brave. Besides I am assured that the lecturer must have made many of his statements, either from an impaired memory or hear-say, as some of them were evidently unfounded. With these exceptions, I was pleased with his notice of Dr. Smith. I believe that gentleman was endeared to his friends. as well as a valuable member of society. His death was no doubt a public loss.

The professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine, made his appearance on Saturday. He gave us a learned and eloquent miniature view of Medical Science, from its origin among the Barbarians to the present time. Professor Eberle, is, perhaps, excelled by few Medical eclectics at the present day. I think he may, without detracting from either of the other Professors, be considered the basis of the Faculty. Dr. Smith, as yet, is an untried man. His Introductory promises much, and I hope, nay I feel assured, he will succeed; but the character of Dr. Eberle is established, and it is around him, the aspiring must, for a time at least, rally. I hope the time is not far distant, when the Medical College of Ohio will receive such an impulse, as will place it on a level with any other similar Institution.

A FRIEND OF SCIENCE