{{rh|104|O. Larsell
on foot to enlarge the medical faculty. He was appointed to correspond with Dr. Lyman Spalding, whom he had nominated for the professorship of anatomy. In a letter[1] dated at Fairfield, October 2, 1810, he invited Spalding to come and look over the "Literary Institution," in which the "number of students beside medical students is generally from 90 to 115." He adds that there are: "Three buildings, one of stone, called the Laboratory, containing 14 elegant rooms. Two lecture rooms, one for Anatomy and the other for lectures on Chemistry. These two rooms perhaps are better than any others built for the same purpose in the United States except Philadelphia. Our chemical apparatus is more complete than any in the City of New York, and the Anatomical Museum is equal to Dr. Smith's at Dartmouth." He adds that the number of students in anatomy and chemistry "this year will not be far from fifty, which will be more than they will probably have at both colleges in the City of New York." These were, of course, the enthusiastic words of a young man entering upon a promising constructive program. They must, however, have had some foundation.
Courses in anatomy, chemistry, physiology and surgery were taught. The reputation of the school rapidly increased and students came in such numbers that it was necessary to build a dormitory in 1811. A stone building of three stories, containing 24 rooms, was erected. This was "Old North Building." In 1827 another three story dormitory building was erected and was called "The South Building." It also housed medical students.
In 1812 a charter was issued incorporating the Fairfield school as "The College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District of New York." It continued to be known generally as the Fairfield Medical School. A subsidy of $5000 from the state had been granted in 1809, apparently as a lottery right. This was doubled in 1812, but it is not clear that the school benefited accordingly. There were periods of considerable financial difficulty.
The original faculty of the medical school, after it was definitely established, consisted of four able men, all born in
- ↑ J. A. Spalding, already cited.
