DOUBTS ON MEDICAL SUBJECTS

377 as

heel," the other defect, if the defect was fairly stated, recommended by Mr. Coleman;" than contracted feet in consequence of

thick at the toe

same as

"

at the

as

defend the shoeing. and hoof, scarcely Moreover, we learn that in the dragoon altered its natural’ bearing on’ the ground. regiments, frog-pressure is used to prevent That as to accusing this gentleman of any contracted frogs and heels, and afterwards view to primary frog presszcne, he is too much to expand them. This passage speaks for a man of judgment to practise or believe in itself; if it did, in fact, prevent contraction, in common sense, could it ever be any such obvious folly. Mr. Ganly admits, how, that the com- useful on the same horses as a remedy ! with all our

simply toe or wearing line they

intended

were

to

of the

Correspondents,

shoe is a prison shoe. But Mr. CL.IRIi’S principles are not in any way affected by this question; and let our readers observe, that nothing which has been advanced respecting the straecttcne of the foot or the expansion shoe, has hitherto mon

met with the shadow of

DOUBTS ON MEDICAL SUBJECTS

Doubt the third.—Whether it would not be at the English Universities, the time employed on preliminary education for the medical student, should be diminished, and that on education, strictly profes-

desirable, that,

and

refutation; nothing more valuable discoveries of sional, increased. a

if the Professor’s friends have to

offer

against

the

Mr. dark than these

quibbling objections, To the Editor of THE LANCET. they had better be silent. SIR,—Those who may not relish, without If the Professor sometimes speaks highly able to refute, the arguments here being of Mr. Clark’s talents and professional employed, will perhaps be ready to accuse knowledge, it is 11 upraise political," and the writer of wishing to set limits to knowor to recommend ignorance. In generally tke prelude to some paltry criti- ledge, order to meet this objection in limine, I cism or misrepresentation of his doctrines. think it right to declare my entire concurWhen Mr. Clark first published his dis- rence in the abstract proposition, that there is no species of knowledge which is not it usual for veterinarians ’

coveries,

roundly

to

useful to man.

was

deny the elasticity

of the

foot ;

The nature of the limitations

to individual

learning must therefore decapacity, profession, and other

upon adopt pend circumstances. If there were indeed any this as the safer plan ; for being admitted, small portion of the human race gifted with a for universal knowledge, these common sense points to the necessity of an capacity be educated exclusively for the memight to the elastic action; dical profession, and all the preliminary and eapausima shoe, permit yet the ideas of some are so crude, con- collateral knowledge in the world heaped Time, intellect and purse fused, and inconsistent, that they actually upon their heads. the medical student might be being given, propose to expand the foot with the common taught all the living and dead languages, all shoe by violent pressure on the frog, with the higher sciences, and even the lowest mechanical arts ; as it might be useful to about as much sense as a man would employ him occasionally to be able to make a coat, a wedge formed of cartilage, to cleave a waistcoat, shoes, and stockings, and even to block of wood when confined by a ring ofdress a pancake, so he might be taught shoe-making, knitting, and cookiron. Suppose, for the sake of argument, tailoring, ery, among the items of his previous acwe were to admit what these gentlemen complishments. But, as the time, capacity, of the student are not infinite, and contend for, that the regiments, in general, and purse as the capability of the public to reward are shod on the frog-pressure system. knowledge has also its bounds, I should be What inference would follow? «’hy, that decidedly of opinion, that the preliminary studies of the medical pupil ought not to be the plan is ruinous ; else, why are such allowed to interfere with those which are numbers of fine horses annually cast for no strictly pt’ofessiomd, if the design be to pro-

and there

are some even now

who

378

duce an able physician, rather than an ac- all of them, preliminary education were excomplished scholar. The quantum and kindof cessive, of which the necessary resuit would preliminary studies might, with that view, I be, that medical education would be defiI therefore entirely concur with Dr. am of opinion, be very safely left to the na- cient. tural ambition of the student, and the expe- Duncan, jun., that the Senatus Academirience and discretion of the parent. In regard cus of Edinburgh have done rightin beginto law, no preliminary, nor any compulsory ning the reform, by improving the strictly professional education, nor even any exami- professional education of the graduates," nation. as a test of fitness, are required: yet and that " any addition to the time and ex. lawyers are not deemed to be at all deficient pense of study which might be still made, in professional acquirements, or general ac- would be best occupied, even yet, in pro. complishments. This is a case perfectly in fessional study, because, in every one of its point; even those who most strongly advocate branches, medicine has made, and is makthe importance of previous education to the ing, great steps, which render it more and

more

be aware of the netedious’ to master." Seeing, then, limits to its extent, and that life is equally short as in the days of how little the present mode of teaching the Hippocrates, but the art of medicine many necessary sciences, followed in most univer- times as long, is it not surprising that oar sities, is adapted to the wants of the future methodologists should wish to encumber the’ medical practitioner. Indeed it is certain, mind of the medical student with a mass of that all extraneous education, in as far as it preliminary knowledge, which is unessential may interfere with the acquisition of know- to him in a professional view1 Besides the ledge strictly medical, must be positively they talk of logic, rhetoric, mepernicious. In my last letter, with a view taphysics, history, arithmetic, geometry, to this argument, I examined the subject of algebra, geography, astronomy, mechanics, languages. Where, I would again ask, is hydrostatics, &c. It must be unnecessary the line of demarcation to be drawn ? Where to enter upon any course of argument to is it proper that we should be permitted to show the general irrelevancy of these stopIbelieve the advocates of an extended branches to medicine, or the essential manpreliminary discipline, will find it difficult to ner in which they would interfere with the give a satisfactory answer to these questions. progress of the medical student in his proWill they quote the authority of Oxford fessional studies. All this is nearly selfand Cambridge, merely because they sup- evident. *’ Les hautes mathematiques," et les matb6inatiqtiesappose Oxford and Cambridge to afford the says Prunelle, correct standard? And in what manner do pliquees qui tiennent une place si distinthey make this assertion good? Would guee dans les facultes des sciences, sont it not be much more reasonable to pro- tout-a-fait hors de la sphere des etudes me. pose that the preliminary education of dicales." Even in respect to the, art of these Universities, or rather the time em- reasoning accurately, in which medical men ployed in acquiring it, should be dimi- are in general mainly deficient, and in nished, and their strictly medical education which they perhaps, above all others increased to the standard of the Universities to excel, I am of opinion with an eminent of Scotland? In the English Universities, (Dugald Stewart), that ’° the rules we are informed, " there is no provision of a sound logic. are best taught by exarumade for the teaching of medicine or surgery, ples nor any course of medical study required If it be true that the Duke of Alontrose, from candidates of the degree of M. B." the Earl of Lauderdale, and Lord Melville, Surely this is more in need of a remedy than with some clergymen of the church ofScotthe state of preliminary education in the land, are the prominent members of the Scotch Universities. Justice requires that Royal Commission for visiting the Univerin all the Universities of the united king- sities of that country, we ought not to be dom, discipline, both in respect to medical surprised, although we may have cause to and preliminary education, should be strictly regret, that a strong disposition should assimilated. Any advantages which one among them to assimilate the discischool might acquire over another, would therpline of those Universities to that of Oxford depend upon the superior merits of the profes. and Cambridge, and the monastic institu. tions of antiquity, which they have been sors, or teachers, and would be perfectly legi timate. But, if in some, a maximum of botaccustomed to reverence, as comprehending preliminary and strictly medical educatior the collective wisdom of ages. And when be enjoined, whilst, in others, either o further find that the principal object of both sorts of education are discretionary o written by medical authors, and deficient; the Universities are thus place( calculated to hias their minds, is to inculupon an unequal footing, and injustice i;cate similar rmistaken views, we may readone to them, to the student, and to tht expect that, in these respects, their will be strengthened and con. public. This would also be the case, if, ir

medical

cessity

student,

of

must

putting

languages,

"

.

ought,

judge

"

exist

we -j

pamphlets,

sonably

L prejudices

379

firmed; and that, unless countervailing an- rendered less imperfect, there would not tidotes be seasonably applied, the report of be upon earth a rank sufficiently exalted to that commission, in 1828, will contain some reward the merits of their medical giaduates. admirable illustrations of the art of advan- Such a phenomenon cannot fail to be recingbackwards! It does not, indeed, fol- garded as still more wonderful, (for truly low, that their report, whether good or bad, the age of miracles cannot be said to be will be necessarily acted upon. But it is yet passed,) when we consider that, whilst obvious that the discussion of the subject is from Oxford and Cambridge united there likely to be more useful and efficient before, do not issue, at an average, six medical than after the preparation of that report. graduates in the year, and that from a to a hundred and twenty are annuBy this course, the Commiasioners themselves may be prevented from being misled ally sent forth by Edinburgh alone, every one the six southern should so far surpass in by erroneous impressions, and the danger averted of their attempting, under delusion.Imerit My one of the hur2dred and twenty to mislead parliament, and the public ; and northern graduates, that the former come if, after the solemn warnings that are tlms forth ready made masters, in the shape of seasonably given to them, they should re- fellows, and the latter ready made slaves, commend the adoption of regulations, which, in the shape of licentiates. Such miracles, it has been shown, must prove mischievous, I apprehend, are unknown in any other they will incur a double share of responsi- profession than medicine, and in any other bility. In this I am strictly following the country than England. But the spell is medical maxim, that " to prevent is easier already broken. Let the medical than to cure." The sum of knowledge ac- of the north henceforward rally under the quired during a course of preliminary edu- legitimate standard of the independent phycation at the English Universities,is by sicians, associated in the metropolis, under no means in the ratio of the time. occupied the designation of " The Faculty of Phyin acquiring it. To obtain the degree of and they will be protected in their B. A. in Cambridge, we are informed by an rights and privileges against all the maanonymous writer, that the questionist or chinations of the magi of the College of candidate is expected to take in to the Charles 11., who are utterly powerless, as Senate House—the vulgar rules of arithme- will shortly be experimentally proved, extic, four books of Euclid, and the first part cepting in the exercise of undue authority of algebra, as that science is divided in over those who are their blind or willingWood’s Elements. Dr. Monk, late tutor slaves. The power of the independent is quoted for asserting, physicians, when united, is, on the conTrinity Cellege, " except in very few cases, the whole may trary, for all good purposes, irresistible. be acquired in less than a year ; thus leavI am. Sir, Your obedient servant, ing two years and a half to be employed in AN ANTI-MONOPOLIST. C. a way of which the University exacts no account." Now I should be glad to hear it London, May31, 1827.

hundred I of

graduates

I sic,"

I of

explained, beingmuch too obtuse to discern it myself, in what manner, and to what degree, the quantity and kind of preliminary knowledge mentioned, acquired in the

DESIGNS OF

THE "

FACULTY

OF

PHYSIC."

space of three years, can benefit the medical To the Editor of THE LANCET. student in the future exercise of his profession ; and for what most requisite reasons SIR,—Lord justly said, " cant the Universities of the north should, in this is the crying sin of this double-dealing and respect, be assimilated in discipline to those false-spe:l1.ing time of selfish spoilers-cant of the south. On the other har.d, I can political, cant religious," and he might have readily discern, without any extraneous aid, added, cant philauthoonical ; thus all the late why, in respect to discipline strictly medr- joint-stock companies held forth in their cal, the Universities of the south, in which prospectuses, that their plans were for the " there is no provision made for the teach- public good. But I wish to coniine myobing of medicine or surgery, nor any course servations to the liteiary operations of an of medical study required the degree of anonymous society of physicians, styling M. B," should be assimilated to those themselves the " Faculty of Physic." As north. To this thereappears to be only one: these gentlemen, by their proposed innoobjection of which 1 am aware, viz. that, . vations, purpose to aflect, in a considerable as under the very imperfect discipline at degree, the interests of the general prùctipresent pursued, the English Universities, tioner, and havethrust their opinions on have the miraculous faculty of sending the public in a variety or forms, I, as a physicians of a superior rank to any that are general practitioner, feel that supineness elsewhere to be found, it is to be appre- would be a neglect of dut’.’, for it is impehended, that if their medical education were Tative in every man to uphold the reshecta-

Byron has

for

of the

i

forth