The Homoeopathic Medical School and the Allopathic School are to be merged, as the result of action taken by the Regents on December 9. The resolution follows.
"It is the sentiment of the Board of Regents that the two medical schools be consolidated and that the committee heretofore appointed be directed to make a report in detail at the next meeting of the Board."
This resolution is the latest event in a story that runs back as far as 1867 and is one long controversy. In 1867 the Legislature offered the University an income of about $16,000.00 provided that a Professor of Homoeopathy be appointed in the Medical School. This precipitated a struggle that nearly disrupted the Medical School; and it was two years before the Regents got the money without appointing the professor.
In 1875, after a period of comparative quiet, the question again came uppermost among University matters, and the Legislature authorized the establishment of a Homoeopathic Medical College, appropriating $6,000.00 for its support. The Regents gave in, and organized the College, "to the grave concern of the members of the regular medical faculty, many of whom were threatened with professional ostracism, since they were expected to give several preliminary courses to students in the new college."
In 1892 there were 79 students enrolled in the College, its record enrolment. In1900 the present Homoeopathic Hospital was erected. But before this, in 1893, the Legislature had passed a law directing that the School be removed to Detroit. By this time the Regents had exchanged sides with the Legislature, and they successfully resisted the law. There was also in 1893, an effort to amalgamate the two schools. It ended in the resignation of the homoeopathic faculty and a complete reorganization of the School. In 1895 Dean Wilbert B. Hinsdale became head of the College, and since that date it has been less a matter of controversy until the recent development.
The meeting of the ninth was marked by heated discussion. More than 300 persons attended, and President Burton presided. Dr. Ames C. Wood, of Cleveland, and Dr. Royal S. Copeland, Health Commissioner of New York City, represented the homoeopathic physicians. Both these men are graduates of the school, and former members of the Faculty. They insisted that abolition would be far better than amalgamation with the other School.
There was considerable sharp debate and keen questioning over the attempt to discover the origin of the present movement which began with a resolution of the Legislature requesting the Regents to effect the consolidation. When the Regents finally went into secret session they had heard both sides of the question fully discussed, and were in a position to act for the best interests of the State and the University.
After the meeting of the Board Dean Hugh Cabot said: "I believe the action of the Regents to have been entirely wise. It is alleged that homoeopathic medicine will not be fairly taught under the merger. This is gratuitous, since it will be taught by men trained in their own school of medicine, who will be given every legitimate opportunity to expound the truth. If their truth cannot exist in the same atmosphere with other scientific truth, then we may properly doubt its soundness."
The Michigan Alumnus
Dec 15, 1921, page 306
