Until the last decade, medical education seemed to have no attraction for the philanthropists. On the contrary, medical schools were considered not only as self-supporting but also as money-making institutions. It is noteworthy, however, that, as the colleges have changed in character during the rapid improvement in medical education in recent years, their financial needs have been met. Especially with the tremendous development of medical education during the past ten or twelve years, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of gifts for endowments, new buildings and support.
These gifts have been so generous for some institutions as to make them equal if not superior in resources to the leading medical schools abroad. Since, in 1906, Harvard Medical School secured its beautiful new buildings, the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, the Huntington Cancer Hospital, the State Psychopathic and other hospitals have been built in the immediate vicinity and brought