A short account of the occurrences which led to the removal of Dr. John Redman Coxe from the chair of materia medica and pharmacy, in the University of Pennsylvania / presented with Dr. Coxe's respects.

  • John Redman Coxe
Date:
[1835]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A short account of the occurrences which led to the removal of Dr. John Redman Coxe from the chair of materia medica and pharmacy, in the University of Pennsylvania / presented with Dr. Coxe's respects. 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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    Itoom, with the view of disturbing the Professor, and deterring the pupils from attending his Lectures. These were commenced the d after the meeting held for passing resolutions against him, and j vered in until last Thursday, when the Professor was compelled io dis- continue his Lectures. The authorities who permitted these disturban- ces to occur daily at Dr. Coxe's Lecture, were assuredly much more to biame than the young gentlemen who were engaged in them. Had the other Professors only come forward, and with kindj tons t rated v. ith the pupils on the impropriety of their conduct, we know enough of the generous feelings of students, to feel persuaded that nothing more would have been required to induce them to d nd harmony and good order might thus have been restored to the University. Hut they did not do so, and the painful duly is imposed on us to relate the particulars of the closing act of this most remarkable history* A meeting ofthe Trustees having been held on Cih Januarys and its liavingbeen expected that the Professor would most certainly have beeti tlisinissed from office,on that occasion, by the Governors of the Insti- tution, such being the determination of the pupils. When the stu- dents, on the following morning, weie informed that the Board CO (ltd not act on their Memorial without a violation ofthe regulations of til Diversity, except at a meeting specially summoned for the occasion, —which meeting had been summoned for the following Tue-day, the Memorialists lost all patience, a meeting was instantly got up, and it was determined that the students should themselves, the following morn- ing, compel the Professor to discontinue his Lecturi We have received from several eye-witnesses, on whom we have per- fect confidence, an account of this closing scene: and, had we not don >, we would not have given credit to its detail* They are of such a character, and so subversive of every thing like academical discipline Dd propriety, that, for the honour of our City and country, we {eel al- imed to give currency to them. The /Vrw is, however, not dy the Palladium of the liberties of a People, but of the rights of dual: and, when these have been so scandalously violated, have been on this occasion, it is but just that they should be called on to exercise her chastening influence. For the first half hour of the Lecture delivered on the occasion re- Professor waa permitted to proceed with com] vely The paasagea, it is true, were blo< up: and, I the students who were de-irons to be benefited by Dr. ( I, the bootinga and hisses with which they were i, in I measure drowned the voice of the Teach Still, h ith calmness and dignity, he proceeded with the performance of his itiesrand one gentleman who was present, (an int< 11 [an ) ■s assured us, that.a clearer and more scientific BCCOUl nicies the Materia M dica, which the Doctor disc I,could not have been given. The gentlemen who were creating the distui finding that e which they could make without, could have the effi ct of in- ruptmg the Pro! , and putting a stop to his Lecture, determined t proceed to extremities. A band of about twenty rush.-d into ti ; atre, and with clubs and other instruments, began to heat on \ benches in such a manner, as to compel the Lecturer to be silent So soon, however as comparative quiet was restored, Df Coxe with neat wWnesa addr them nearly in the following «§£ tlemen-I had hoped, that, as your 'Memorial* in ref , , me is now before the Trusteee, and, as Us consideration canno w h^ut violating the Rules winch govern them, be diacua«5 SXexTlW da}, that you would have had the politeness to allow me un* It heir den^on was known, to have continued to perform the ZSTotml Chair without molestation. If the Trustees remove me I |n h^w