Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Chicago Medical Center Reopening [PAGE 5]

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cialized in the study of inorganic chemistry,, biology, physics, English, German or French. Because of the amount of laboratory work necessary to a proper comprehension of medicine of the first two years and also in the clinical years, but to a less degree, and because of the great cost of hospitals for teaching, which in a sense must be used as laboratories, the cost of medical education is higher than that of most any other professional training. In all probability a minimum of four hundred dollars per year in the first two years, and if full time or even half time full paid professors were used throughout, the cost of the clinical years would be about three hundred dollars per year per student. A private institution or a state university cannot charge tuition of this amount, but with *a state as wealthy as Illinois, it can well afford to give the best opportunity for the study of medicine, in reference to buildings, equipment and teachers and at a cost which will permit men and women of moderate means to take the four or five years' course. At the same time, it may charge enough to save the state the over expense of medical education as compared with that of some other technical professions already carried out in the state. I not only believe that the state should teach those of its citizens who desire to study medicine and surgery and teach them as well as may be done in any place in the world, but I 'also believe that the state should conserve the health of its citizens by a properly conducted scientific state health department. This I think should be centered in the University of Illinois. It has at Urbana-Champaign the buildings, the equipment and the men to carry on a proper organization of the necessary health agencies of the state. From the State University as the main educational center should go out to the people all information which can be imparted to a layman, which will enable him to safeguard the lives and health of himself and family as the State now does for the farmer and for the other owners of domestic 'animals of the state. With the University of Illinois as the head of all matters pertaining: to the health of the citizens of the state and with the University of Illinois engaged in teaching men and women technical professions, prosperity will advance even more rapidly than it has, because health preservation will be one of the main incentives of work and health is one of the necessary principles to secure prosperity and happiness. Mr. Chairman: Permit me to congratulate the people of the State of Illinois, the University of Illinois and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago, upon the completion of the union, which it is my hope and I trust the hope of every man and woman who has the health and happiness of the citizens of Illinois at heart, will assume a place and station in the ranks of the progress of medical education which she must perforce occupy. Very respectfully yours, (Signed) FRANK BILLINGS,

Dean of Faculty, Rush Medical College* 4