Page 9 - Howard University Medical Department A Historical Biographical

Vlll MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

The book is a re*cord of the information, obtained from many sources, written
and printed, including correspondence. In spite of the greatest care, some errors
and omissions have occurred, most of which were due to unavoidable haste in proof­
reading, and fortunately are unimportant; a list of these so far as noticed is printed
on page iv, together with a few brief additions.
The book is a souvenir volume for those who have been in some way connected
with the Medical Department. It is intended also for those who, though not so con­
nected, are friendly thereto, and who may derive from the book definite information
with which to correct many erroneous prevalent opinions. The institution, unfor­
tunately, has its enemies, but it is hoped that these will find in its history much to
commend and but little to condemn.
The Medical Department has made the same kind of mistakes as made by
all educational institutions ; but, profiting by its experience, by friendly advice and
unfriendly criticism, it is seeking to avoid such mistakes for the future.
Correspondence with the graduates shows a reasonable percentage of success on
their part, both professional and financial. Many are engaged in hospital work and
some have helped to establish hospitals. Some have done or are doing medical work
in the Army and Marine Hospital Service. Many are attending physicians or
surgeons to charitable institutions not hospitals, or are examiners for life insurance.
The testimony seems to show that where a graduate has possessed the qualities which
usually ensure success he has succeeded.
The lamented Dr. Patton, for many years President of the University, wrote a
history of it, which was printed in 1896 at the Industrial Department of the Univer­
sity, a pamphlet of forty-eight pages. It shows, as does also the following history,
that the founders of the University contemplated at first no more than a theological
school for colored men ; but the discussion of the subject gradually broadened their
vision. The charter as granted made no limitation in regard to sex or race ; the
doors were open to all who should be otherwise qualified to enter, recognizing that
God “ hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the
earth” (Acts xvii, 26); and in the same spirit as was the gift of Ezra Cornell to the
great university which bears his name, any one might come and study anything he
wished, provided the institution should be able to furnish the necessary facilities.
Students have come from the three Americas, and Europe, Asia and Africa.
The Medical Department has been compelled to do its work in the face of
a strong and widespread local prejudice. The white graduates of Howard have
often been refused admission to the Medical Association and Society of the District
of Columbia by reason of the negative vote of a sufficiently large minority ; at
other times also white graduates have narrowly escaped rejection for the same
reason. One effect of this antagonism has been to gradually reduce the proportion
of white students— from 53 per cent, in 1885-6, and 60 per cent. in 1887-8, to 17