An address delivered at the opening of the Rock Island Medical School : November 7, 1848 / by M.L. Knapp.

  • Knapp, M. L. (Moses L.), 1799-1879.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address delivered at the opening of the Rock Island Medical School : November 7, 1848 / by M.L. Knapp. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    therefore, to truth, justice, and the public weal that you should not be prejudiced, and only express your opinion after a full, lair and impartial trial of our capabilities. Some of us, it is true, have had experience in teaching Medicine, and would not fear or quake to stand before the united Profession of the world; but there are others of us who are beginners as public teachers, and for these we claim your indulgen e until the hand-work of the stage shall become familiar to them. Some of you may have seen in the Prospectus of the Rock Island Yedical School, which, as Dean of the Faculty, it devolved on me to issue, a brief outline of our organization, and programme of instruction. Not to withhold anything in the outset that can enlighten you as to the general principles that have governed us thus far, and will still guide us in conducting the School, I take leave to bring before you a more elaborate exposition of the foundations on which we stand, and on which we hope to erect a superstructure worthy of the public confi- dence and trust. The enterprise of establishing a Medical School in the upper valley of the Mississippi for the purpose of rendering instruc- tion more convenient to surrounding students, and for the in- terests of the Profession in general, was conceived from a conviction that such an institution was demanded in conse- quence of the rapid settlement and growth of the Northwestern States. To answer these objects, and further, to satisfy the urgent solicitations of pupils who had attended, some two, some three courses of Lectures in neighboring institutions, with the courses of instruction, conduct and policy of which they had become dissatisfied, and had firmly resolved never to receive graduating honors from them—To fulfil these objects, to respond to these demands, the organization of this School has been carried into effect. The Faculty herein associated for the purpose of teaching Medicine, derive their powers, privileges and appointments from the Madison Medical College, an Institution chartered by the sovereign State of Wisconsin, and possessing as full and ample powers for conferring degrees in the Profession of Medicine as any institution in the United States. A power is granted in said charter to create a branch, which power was exercised by the corporators at their meeting for organization,