The number of students attending the school, since that period, has varied from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and fifty.
Rutger's Medical This institution was created by the former professors of the college of physicians and surgeons, and a commodious and neat edifice erected for the purpose, at an entire cost of upwards of twenty thousand dollars, by the faculty, at their own expense. It is located in Duane street, near the New York hospital. The lecture rooms are three in number, one for che mistry, a large hall for the practice of medicine, obstetrics and materia medica on the second floor; and the surgical and anatomical theatre on the third floor. The saloon of practical anatomy, on the fourth floor, is of superior construction, and con venient in its arrangement. The whole building is provided with gas lights, and warmed by a sin gle fire, burned in the basement, from which heat ed air is conveyed by flues to all parts of the house. This institution was opened for instruc tion in November 1826, and honoured by the at tendance of one hundred and fifty medical hearers. At four successive sessions of the college, the number of its students continued about the same, and the courses of instruction, with the means of illustration afforded by the chemical laboratory, the anatomical museum, and the cabinet of the profess ors, secured to its patrons their entire approbation. In consequence, however, of legislative enactments, the labours of the school are at present suspended.
New York is one of the noblest and most admirable institutions of this city. The ground upon which it stands is bounded in front. by Broadway, in the rear by Church street, An thony Street on the north, and Duane street on the south. The building or buildings occupy an area of about 450 feet in length, and 440 in breadth. Part of this area in front, is at present owned and occupied by individuals, leaving an avenue of about 90 feet, leading from Broadway, which is planted with a double row of lofty trees. The site of the hospital is elevated, and about six hundred yards from the Hudson river. The prin cipal edifice denominated the hospital, is of grey stone. It extends 136 feet in front, 52 feet in height, 50 feet deep in the centre, and 86 feet deep in the wings, which projects on each side. It was originally only two stories high; it is now three above the basement. Its wards accommo date three hundred patients; besides which there are a theatre for surgical operations, and other apartments for the convenience of the superin tendant, apothecary, library, &c.
The charter for this institution was granted by lord Dunmore, then governor of the province, in 1771, at the instance of Peter Middleton, John Jones, and Samuel Bard, three eminent physicians of this city. Dr. Bard, in particular, may be con sidered its projector. In 1775, the hospital was burnt down by accident. In 1791, it was re
opened for the sick and disabled, and afterwards extended to infirm and friendless seamen. The money arising from private subscriptions having proved inadequate, the legislature was induced at various periods to confer grants upon it of the public money. These were increased from time to time, until March 1806, when an act was passed, authorizing 12,500 dollars per annum to be paid to the institution out of the duties on public executions, till the year 1857. The funds of the institution are also augmented by a tax on seamen's wages, and the members the corporation pay on their ad mission forty dollars each.
The government of the hospital Is under a Board, consisting of a president, a vice-presi dent, a treasurer, secretary, and twenty-five other members. The Board appoint a visiting com mittee, and elect the physicians and surgeons annually. Of these there are four physicians and four surgeons. There is also a house physi cian, house surgeon, apothecary, &c. There is a large and excellent medical library connected with this institution, embracing nearly four thou sand volumes on medicine, surgery, and the auxiliary branches of science; besides a well chosen botanical library, purchased by the Board from Dr. Daniel Hosack.
.1sylum for the institution is at Manhattenville, about seven miles from the city; it was built by the government of the New York City Hospital, and is under their immediate care and control. As early as 1808, a building for the accommodation of lunatics was erected on the grounds of the city hospital, capable of accom modating sixty patients. But the inadequacy of this establishment being too clearly evident, the governors of the hospital applied for legislative aid, to enable them to erect the present asylum; and through the instrumentality of the late Thomas Eddy, De Witt. Clinton, and others, the liberal ap propriation of 10,000. dollars per annum for forty four years was made in behalf of this benevolent undertaking. The Bloomingdale Asylum is ad mirably situated, and commands one of the most extensive and interesting views in the United States. The plan of the building is the design of Thomas C. Taylor, Esq. The front view is four hundred and fifteen feet by one hundred and eighty, which includes the wings; the whole is three stories high, exclusive of the basement story, and is intended to contain two hundred and fifty rooms. The central part is two hundred and ele ven feet in front by sixty feet deep; it is built of brown hewn stone of excellent appearance, and of the most durable nature. It is not too much to say that this institution is the first of the kind in the United States, and that New York has worthily displayed her resources in the ample provision she has made for the afflicted inmates of the asylum.