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THE ARMY MEDICAL SCHOOL AT NETLEY.
581
throughout the country; I am aware, too, that many of those who hold the degree of the London University hold a foremost position in the scientific world, and that others are progressing towards the attainment of that position ; but, beyond stiinulating their energies and testing their capacities, what has the London University done for them ? It manifestly fails in the most valuable duty of a universityviz.,
in
twching.
of the examination to bodies in no way connected with the bodies. It would also be very desirable, and a great boon to the students, to institute a preliminary scientific examination, which would include such subjects as botany, zoology, and chemistry, and thus lighten the already over-crowded curriculum. With the many advantages connected with the one-portal system, however, there is combined also a grave disadvantage ; that is, that the great majority of general practitioners would be quite content to practise on the licence conferred on passing theStaats Examen,’ and would not care to go to the additional expense and labour to obtain a degree from one of the universities or the old corporations. Such a result would naturally react upon these bodies and tend gradually to diminish their popularity and enfeeble their energies.
licensing
The possession of a certain amount of knowlege in a student is not the main desideratum ; it is more important to form his habit of mind and to direct his method of investigation. The student who has attained to his degree after a four years’ ’period of study is, however he may estimate himself, but a child in knowledge, and being but a child, the fashioning of his mind for a progressive life-long studentship, the laying down a sound groundwork for future labours, is vastly more important than to foster precocity, and, in THE ARMY MEDICAL SCHOOL AT NETLEY. many instances, after-idleness, by cramming his brain with numberless facts and a variety of details. We hear far too THE winter session of the Army Medical School was much at the present day of examining boards, and far too at Netley on Monday, the 4th inst. An unusually little of university teaching. In these remarks I do not opened include Scotland and Ireland, for I am well aware that the large number of surgeon-probationers were present-viz., Universities of Edinburgh and Dublin have never neglected sixty-nine for the Army Medical Department, twenty-six the duties they owed to medical education. But in England, for the Indian Service, and five for the Royal Navy, making unfortunately, owing to a variety of causes, .it has been an exact total of one hundred. The introductory discourse different, and it is only lately that, with an energy that was delivered by Professor Longmore, C.B., his subject deserves all praise, the University of Cambridge has determined to revive the teaching of medicine in its walls, and to being principally a discussion of the question of applying roll away the reproach that so long attached to it, of the antiseptic method to the treatment of wounds in military snubbing and neglecting a study that directs to the allevia- practice in the field. In the course of some preliminary tion of human suffering the most universal scientific in- remarks the lecturer adverted to the fact of the Army vestigations. The exertions of the University of Cambridge Medical School having been opened by Lord Herbert at in the south we are soon likely to see emulated in the north. Fort Pitt, Chatham, in October, 1860, so that twenty years The want of a university for the north has at length been had now passed since that event took place; and he menrecognised, and the Victoria University has received its tioned that during these twenty years as many as 1588 surcharter and entered upon its mission-a university in deed geons had passed through the School prior to receiving comas well as in name, with splendid lecture halls, museums, and missions in one or other of the branches of the public laboratories; with a staff of paid professors, and every requisite service. Of this number 804 had entered the Army Medical necessary for the acquisition of new knowledge; with colleges Department, 568 the Indian Medical Service, and 216 that to be affiliated with it in each of the large neighbouring towns, of the Royal Navy. The following statistics regarding the our own included. Untrammelled by an ancient history, or who had joined the Army Medical Service were of surgeons by old associations with pedantry and prejudice, it starts interest :-Out of 804 surgeons there remained at the present buoyant with health and hope, soon, if I mistake not, to time 583 in active employment-thus showing a loss by lead the van, and leave behind in the race older but more casualties of different kinds during the twenty years lagging competitors. to 221, or somethingover 27 per cent. These 221 amounting " We have waited too long in the hope that successive casualties were made up of 115 surgeons lost by death, 76 governments would legislate for us, and put medical educa- who had left the service for various reasons, and 30 retired tion in this country on a better and more uniform footing. on half-pay. A circumstance was alluded to by the lecturer ’The gods help those who help themselves.’ It is time that which it is difficult to believe would have remained un. we set to work and bring about our own reformation. It remedied if the subject had been represented so as to be will be a long time before we have in this country an understood the officials of the War Department under by equivalent to the German ’Staats Examen.’ With the whose direction the establishment exists. It appears that Government imposing implicit confidence in the General there is:only accommodation in the’rooms where the practical Medical Council, and with the well-known proclivities of studies are conducted for thirty-six gentlemen at hygienic in that we will that Council, we may fairly predict not this one and that, in the professors are comtime, generation witness much advance towards such a denoue- pelled to divide the 100consequence into three sections, so probationers ment. Perhaps if we were fortunate enough to be under a that one-third of the instruction can be given to each only system of government that fostered science things might be probationer that was originally intended to be given, or that different ; but unfortunately the sciences and arts in this would be given, during the four months the session lasts, if country alone, of all great nations, are left to struggle as there were sufficient accommodation for the whole number. best they may for existence, and are destined to receive means might be found for putting a stop to such a official snubs much oftener than the assisting hand. I Surely, short-sighted arrangement as this appears to be ! The need not remind you of the army and naval medical services, lecture was attended by the whole of the staff of Netley, as which are, thanks to the persistent efforts of the profession, well as by the probationers, and at the conclusion the officers backed the medical up by ably journals, only just emerging and their friends adjourned to luncheon in the spacious from behind the cloud of disfavour under which official mis- mess-room at the officers’ quarters. management has placed them. Since, then, we may have to wait a long time for the establishment of a one-portal system, it is manifestly our duty to make the best of things as they UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.—The examiners exist. If among all the different corporations that granted for the medical entrance exhibitions have recommended medical and surgical diplomas there existed a healthy Mr. P. J. Edmunds, Mr. J. W. Carr, and Mr. J. H. E. Brock rivalry; and if their aim was in each instance efficient for the exhibitions of £ 100, ;EGO, and ;E40 respectively. and to of make a high standard teaching, acquirements Mr. E. H. Thanes also obtained the number of marks necessary for attaining to their diplomas, rather than merely qualifying for an exhibition. to secure a preponderance in numbers; if, I say, such ST. MARK’S OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, DUBLIN.—At a a state of things could be brought about, and there are not wanting signs of it already, it would be quite recent meeting of the governors it was stated that as the unnecessary to agitate for a one-portal system. There public account of this institution had been largely overdrawn, is no doubt but that, in any case, certain changes would and there being no assets for the necessary expenditure, a have to be made. Among them, I would mention the number of the beds must be closed and admission refused to making of it obligatory on the general practitioner to acquire future applicants, unless immediate help was obtained from a medical as well as a surgical diploma. Again, the estab- the public, so as to enable the hospital authorities to clear off lishment of a uniform standard for the preliminary examina- the present debt, and to carry on the future work of this tion would be most desirable, and the entrusting the conduct charity. "
throughout the country; I am aware, too, that many of those who hold the degree of the London University hold a foremost position in the scientific world, and that others are progressing towards the attainment of that position ; but, beyond stiinulating their energies and testing their capacities, what has the London University done for them ? It manifestly fails in the most valuable duty of a universityviz.,
in
twching.
of the examination to bodies in no way connected with the bodies. It would also be very desirable, and a great boon to the students, to institute a preliminary scientific examination, which would include such subjects as botany, zoology, and chemistry, and thus lighten the already over-crowded curriculum. With the many advantages connected with the one-portal system, however, there is combined also a grave disadvantage ; that is, that the great majority of general practitioners would be quite content to practise on the licence conferred on passing theStaats Examen,’ and would not care to go to the additional expense and labour to obtain a degree from one of the universities or the old corporations. Such a result would naturally react upon these bodies and tend gradually to diminish their popularity and enfeeble their energies.
licensing
The possession of a certain amount of knowlege in a student is not the main desideratum ; it is more important to form his habit of mind and to direct his method of investigation. The student who has attained to his degree after a four years’ ’period of study is, however he may estimate himself, but a child in knowledge, and being but a child, the fashioning of his mind for a progressive life-long studentship, the laying down a sound groundwork for future labours, is vastly more important than to foster precocity, and, in THE ARMY MEDICAL SCHOOL AT NETLEY. many instances, after-idleness, by cramming his brain with numberless facts and a variety of details. We hear far too THE winter session of the Army Medical School was much at the present day of examining boards, and far too at Netley on Monday, the 4th inst. An unusually little of university teaching. In these remarks I do not opened include Scotland and Ireland, for I am well aware that the large number of surgeon-probationers were present-viz., Universities of Edinburgh and Dublin have never neglected sixty-nine for the Army Medical Department, twenty-six the duties they owed to medical education. But in England, for the Indian Service, and five for the Royal Navy, making unfortunately, owing to a variety of causes, .it has been an exact total of one hundred. The introductory discourse different, and it is only lately that, with an energy that was delivered by Professor Longmore, C.B., his subject deserves all praise, the University of Cambridge has determined to revive the teaching of medicine in its walls, and to being principally a discussion of the question of applying roll away the reproach that so long attached to it, of the antiseptic method to the treatment of wounds in military snubbing and neglecting a study that directs to the allevia- practice in the field. In the course of some preliminary tion of human suffering the most universal scientific in- remarks the lecturer adverted to the fact of the Army vestigations. The exertions of the University of Cambridge Medical School having been opened by Lord Herbert at in the south we are soon likely to see emulated in the north. Fort Pitt, Chatham, in October, 1860, so that twenty years The want of a university for the north has at length been had now passed since that event took place; and he menrecognised, and the Victoria University has received its tioned that during these twenty years as many as 1588 surcharter and entered upon its mission-a university in deed geons had passed through the School prior to receiving comas well as in name, with splendid lecture halls, museums, and missions in one or other of the branches of the public laboratories; with a staff of paid professors, and every requisite service. Of this number 804 had entered the Army Medical necessary for the acquisition of new knowledge; with colleges Department, 568 the Indian Medical Service, and 216 that to be affiliated with it in each of the large neighbouring towns, of the Royal Navy. The following statistics regarding the our own included. Untrammelled by an ancient history, or who had joined the Army Medical Service were of surgeons by old associations with pedantry and prejudice, it starts interest :-Out of 804 surgeons there remained at the present buoyant with health and hope, soon, if I mistake not, to time 583 in active employment-thus showing a loss by lead the van, and leave behind in the race older but more casualties of different kinds during the twenty years lagging competitors. to 221, or somethingover 27 per cent. These 221 amounting " We have waited too long in the hope that successive casualties were made up of 115 surgeons lost by death, 76 governments would legislate for us, and put medical educa- who had left the service for various reasons, and 30 retired tion in this country on a better and more uniform footing. on half-pay. A circumstance was alluded to by the lecturer ’The gods help those who help themselves.’ It is time that which it is difficult to believe would have remained un. we set to work and bring about our own reformation. It remedied if the subject had been represented so as to be will be a long time before we have in this country an understood the officials of the War Department under by equivalent to the German ’Staats Examen.’ With the whose direction the establishment exists. It appears that Government imposing implicit confidence in the General there is:only accommodation in the’rooms where the practical Medical Council, and with the well-known proclivities of studies are conducted for thirty-six gentlemen at hygienic in that we will that Council, we may fairly predict not this one and that, in the professors are comtime, generation witness much advance towards such a denoue- pelled to divide the 100consequence into three sections, so probationers ment. Perhaps if we were fortunate enough to be under a that one-third of the instruction can be given to each only system of government that fostered science things might be probationer that was originally intended to be given, or that different ; but unfortunately the sciences and arts in this would be given, during the four months the session lasts, if country alone, of all great nations, are left to struggle as there were sufficient accommodation for the whole number. best they may for existence, and are destined to receive means might be found for putting a stop to such a official snubs much oftener than the assisting hand. I Surely, short-sighted arrangement as this appears to be ! The need not remind you of the army and naval medical services, lecture was attended by the whole of the staff of Netley, as which are, thanks to the persistent efforts of the profession, well as by the probationers, and at the conclusion the officers backed the medical up by ably journals, only just emerging and their friends adjourned to luncheon in the spacious from behind the cloud of disfavour under which official mis- mess-room at the officers’ quarters. management has placed them. Since, then, we may have to wait a long time for the establishment of a one-portal system, it is manifestly our duty to make the best of things as they UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.—The examiners exist. If among all the different corporations that granted for the medical entrance exhibitions have recommended medical and surgical diplomas there existed a healthy Mr. P. J. Edmunds, Mr. J. W. Carr, and Mr. J. H. E. Brock rivalry; and if their aim was in each instance efficient for the exhibitions of £ 100, ;EGO, and ;E40 respectively. and to of make a high standard teaching, acquirements Mr. E. H. Thanes also obtained the number of marks necessary for attaining to their diplomas, rather than merely qualifying for an exhibition. to secure a preponderance in numbers; if, I say, such ST. MARK’S OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, DUBLIN.—At a a state of things could be brought about, and there are not wanting signs of it already, it would be quite recent meeting of the governors it was stated that as the unnecessary to agitate for a one-portal system. There public account of this institution had been largely overdrawn, is no doubt but that, in any case, certain changes would and there being no assets for the necessary expenditure, a have to be made. Among them, I would mention the number of the beds must be closed and admission refused to making of it obligatory on the general practitioner to acquire future applicants, unless immediate help was obtained from a medical as well as a surgical diploma. Again, the estab- the public, so as to enable the hospital authorities to clear off lishment of a uniform standard for the preliminary examina- the present debt, and to carry on the future work of this tion would be most desirable, and the entrusting the conduct charity. "