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THE MEDICAL BRANCH OF THE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS.
592
lectures, which tend more and more to become condemonstrations, books bring the student into ’THE MEDICAL BRANCH OF THE OFFICERS acquaintance with a large number of facts all of which he TRAINING CORPS.
formal
versational
cannot have
an opportunity to learn from personal observation but which it is necessary that he should master. But books have their dangers. Over a certain type of mind they
No student
fail to have paid some attention to the of national defences which has taken our reorganisation have such an influence that its possessor will frequent the Mr. tenure of the War Office through Haldane’s i place during library in preference to the ward, and at examination, 1the machinery of his Territorial Army scheme. Those who ] followed its development more closely will be aware when confronted with the task of describing a disease,have I that the scheme has included what the old Volunteer forces will not search his memory for the likeness of a case lacked-the establishment of an efficient medical and sadly which he daily observed at the bedside but will attempt sanitary service for the Territorial Army upon a basis similar to conjure up a picture of a printed page, and to transfer to the Royal Army Medical Corps which serves the expediits contents to paper. In our experience those qualified tionary or "Regular"Forces. This scheme has been men who are now doing brilliant work in ward and due in chief measure to the administrative ability and enthusiastic work of the late Director-General of the omnivorous have been crammers of rarely laboratory other men’s writings. If asked to supply a scheme for the Army Medical Service, Surgeon-General Sir Alfred Keogh, who with his chief staff officers last year made a tour of allotment of the student’s hours when he has entered upon the country, addressing large audiences of medical men in his clinical work we should say, give most to the wards and many important centres, explaining the details of his scheme special departments, give as much to the clinical labora- and inviting them to discuss its details, with the result tories and post-mortem room as to the study of books, and that he secured the sympathetic cooperation of the medical out of the remainder devoted to exercise on playing fields, profession and the enrolment of a large number of its members as active or à-la-suite officers of the Territorial drill-ground, or river, leave something for the cultivation of branch of the Royal Army Medical Corps. It is quite general literature and of the society of people not interested obvious that the upkeep of this most important branch in medical matters and averse from their discussion. of the military service of the country will always depend This is a have an fixed ambition. or ideal, Lastly, very entirely upon the medical profession, and those who are valuable equipment for every student. The ideal of the entering upon their preparation for that calling may well medical student need not be beyond the dreams of fulfilment, consider what steps they can take to prepare themselves to take their part in the national defence. There are a but it had better be beyond likelihood, for it will then number of medical men and who are more certain students last longer and command a deeper devotion. Scientific to side attracted the combatant of the Territorial service, eminence, and even the universal fame of a LISTER or of a perhaps because it affords a complete change from their Iuxr.EY, may be the light which a few will follow ; others, ordinary work, but the scientific services of a man possessed probably the majority, will be content with a humbler of medical knowledge must be, as a rule, of far more humanitarian aim. Though it is now not the mode to vaunt value to the army than could be his combatant the nobility of the profession of medicine, but rather to services. In every recent large campaign the military medical services have had to be augmented by civil allow that it is but a hard-working manner of earning practitioners, and however skilful at their work these a living, yet our calling remains the most humane, often emergency volunteers may have been, it is obvious that they the most unselfish, and perhaps the most interesting of all would have performed it under much easier conditions if mortal activities. It is, moreover, a profession of growing they had undergone a thorough peace training in the consequence in the life of the nation and one to which the practice of military medicine in the field. The ordinary statesman, the general, and the civic authority must look civil surgeon, for instance, is totally ignorant of the of camp sanitation, or of the hygienic control of with increasing respect for counsel and cooperation vital to principles on the march. We need say no more to urge troops the great interests under their keeping. The proper and full students from the outset of their medical studies to advancement of medicine rests with its practitioners, as does begin to master the most useful methods by which the only sound policy for the defeat of unqualified opponents; they can place their expert knowledge at the disposal and splendid as is the scientific heritage of medical men in of their country in time of need, but we would call the United Kingdom, the labours of those who have gone their attention to the fact that in the Medical Branch of the Officers Training Corps there exists the ideal means before will avail them nothing unless their results are for such a patriotic self-preparation. The Officers Training regularly added to by patient and continuous work. For Corps was founded last year to give a preliminary military work, we have it on the word of a master of medicine whom training to undergraduates at the various universities and our country has delighted to honour, is the master-word in other students, and thus to prepare for the establishment of an efficient reserve of officers and to supply commissioned medicine. officers for the Territorial Army, thereby fulfilling a national AN ADDITIONAL DIRECT REPRESENTATIVE FOR need which was never adequately met under the old It is now proposed to form in Officers THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL.-The London Gazette of Volunteer system. centres where there are medical schools August 20th announces that the King has approved of the Training Corps such as we have described, and Medical Units Training Privy Council’s recommendation that the registered medical such units have been already established at Oxford, Campractitioners in England and Wales shall have the power of and London, the latter University having returning an additional member to the General Council bridge, Edinburgh, Education last about 230 medical cadets, who Medical and raised since of January Registration, but that the addition in question shall not be made until the next ensuing general are now efficient for their first year. The raising of election of Direct Representatives. similar units in other university centres depends entirely 3
can
593 upon the enthusiasm of their medical students, and even if the hospital cricket and football teams have to suffer in consequence, it is to be hoped that before very long every branch of the Officers Training Corps will have an efficient medical section. We must add that cadets of the Officers Training Corps have no legal liability to service, not having to take the oath of allegiance, but should they intend to join the Special Reserve of Officers, the Territorial Force, or the Royal Army Medical Corps, the possession of certificates "A" and B"" taken in the Officers Training Corps after two years’ efficient service will give them special advantages in the reduction of their probationary periods, the exemption from certain promotion examinations, and the addition of marks to their credit in entrance examinations should they subsequently desire to enter the Royal Army Medical Corps. Further information can be obtained from the officers commanding the medical units of the Officers Training Corps at the centres we have mentioned, but it will be useful to print the following details of the training :The Training Unit which it is decided to form in the Medical Branch of the Officers Training Corps is a section of a field ambulance. Its personnel consists of three medical officers, a quartermaster, and about 80 non-commissioned officers and men. The complete field ambulance has three such sections. The function of the field ambulance is to remove the wounded from the fighting line to the most advanced hospital establishment on the lines of communication, and provide the necessary treatment for them while within their care. The unit is equipped for this purpose with stretchers and ambulance wagons, or pack animals for the conveyance of the wounded, forming the bearer division, and with tents and medical and other stores and cooking apparatus for their temporary housing and treatment-forming the Tent Division. The personnel is similarly divided for work in the field. There is a personnel of non-commissioned officers and men for duty. as drivers and batmen which in the Regular Service is drawn from the Army Service Corps, forming a transport section. The field ambulance forms an integral part of the field army in war, and there are three field ambulances to each infantry division. The field ambulance is under the immediate command of the medical branch, and is an autonomous It offers opportunities of practising and a self-contained unit. The exerall the duties of the medical branch in the field. cises that are practised in camp are-The laying out and pitchBearer ing of the camp. The construction of field kitchens, &c. Division exercise. The rendering of first aid to, the collection and Tent transport of wounded, and the formation of dressing stations, &c. Division exercise-the pitching and equipment of the tents for wounded and interworking with the bearer division. The disposal of refuse in its own camp. The collection and purification of water. Camp conPacking and loading of equipment. servancy, in its own camp. Manoeuvring with troops. Where a transport section is found by the unit riding and driving and horsemastership are practised. In the Senior Division, each cadet will receive from his unit on joining an outfit consisting of a suit of service dress, forage cap, gaiters or puttees, and great-coat, subject to certain rules. The cost of the outfit will, in the case of cadets who obtain, or have already obtained, Certificate "A," be borne by army funds.
THE SIXTEENTH INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONBUDAPEST.-The following receptions and fetes have been arranged during the approaching Congress. On August 28th a soiree of welcome will be given at 9 p. m. in the Gallery of Fine Arts. On the next day, at 11 A.M., the official opening of the Congress will take place at the municipal redoubt, and at 3 P.M. the inauguration of the statue of the late Professor Joseph de Fodor in Sandor-ter (Alexander-square). In the evening the President of the Congress will give a soiree in the Park Club in honour of the official delegates. On Monday, August 30th, the municipality of the city of Budapest will give an official reception to the congressists, and the next evening the ladies’ soiree will take place. On Wednesday. Sept. 1st, at a Court evening reception, the Archduke Joseph, representing His Majesty the Emperor-King Francis Joseph, will receive the official delegates of the Governments, the University, and others. On Sept. 2nd the presidents of the 21 sections of the Congress will each give a reception, and on Sept. 3rd Count Albert Apponyi, Royal Hungarian Minister of Religion and Public Instruction, will give a final soiree at the Park Club. Numerous invitations have been given to members of the GRESS AT
Congress to visit Budapest.
scientific and other institutions in and
near
THE IMPERIAL CANCER RESEARCH FUND.—The honorary secretary of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund has received from the Duke of Bedford, vice-president, a further donation of .E1000 towards meeting the overdraft at the bank, thus saving the Fund from drawing on its capital.
THE STUDENT’S GUIDE. SESSION 1909-1910. A PREFATORY STATEMENT.
THE quantity of the subjects which fall necessarily within the scope of our educational number has now become very large, and it may be as well, as on previous occasions, to explain the scheme upon which the following guide to a medical career in this country is constructed. The General Council of Medical Education and Registration, conveniently known as the General Medical Council, is the controlling authority, under the Privy Council, of the medical education of the land. Under the provisions of the Medical Acts various universities and corporations are recognised as being examining bodies whose degrees or diplomas entitle to medical registration, and it is among the duties of the General Medical Council to keep the official register and to ensure by periodical visitations that the tests of the various examining bodies are maintained at a due standard. We begin by describing the powers of the General Medical Council, and go on to give in detail the regulations of the various examining bodies. But the student must be taught as well as examined, and the systems under which he can obtain instruction do not conform to one pattern. The curriculum of the medical student falls into two parts, the preliminary subjects and the professional subjects, and the two cannot be sharply divided. The extent to which they are allowed to overlap under different schemes of education varies a good deal, while the extent to which they ought to overlap is a perennial subject of debate. The important preliminary subjects are chemistry, pharmacology, physics, biology, anatomy, and physiology, and they are taught in the school proper; the professional subjects, medicine, surgery, and obstetric medicine-under which headings all forms of specialism are included-must be learned in the wards of a hospital. All schemes of medical education require a school and a hospital, but there their uniformity ends. The first point on which the medical student has to make up his mind is whether he desires a medical degree which will give him the definite title of Doctor or Bachelor of Medicine (coupled in many cases with that of Bachelor of Surgery), or whether he will be content with a diploma certifying him to be a Member or Licentiate of one or other of the great medical corporations and as such entitled to be registered as a medical practitioner. If he desires a degree he must matriculate at a university and go through the course of studies required by the regulations of its medical faculty, and it is well that he should bear this in mind from the outset, for many diplomates, desiring later to becoming medical graduates, have been debarred from doing so through having neglected to pass a university matriculation examination at a time when they were freshly versed in their preliminary "arts"" and general studies. It is particularly useful to take the London matriculation examination, which is accessible in several prominent centres, as it opens the door to the medical faculty of any British University. Accordingly we print with some detail the regulations for that standard, if much criticised, test of a good all-round secondary education. In the Student’s Guide to medical education, which follows, we have collected together under their respective headings the chief information concerning the facilities for medical study, both "preliminary"and "professional,"and the regulations for examinations at the various teaching centres of the United Kingdom, so, for instance, that a student desiring to pursue his studies and obtain a medical
lectures, which tend more and more to become condemonstrations, books bring the student into ’THE MEDICAL BRANCH OF THE OFFICERS acquaintance with a large number of facts all of which he TRAINING CORPS.
formal
versational
cannot have
an opportunity to learn from personal observation but which it is necessary that he should master. But books have their dangers. Over a certain type of mind they
No student
fail to have paid some attention to the of national defences which has taken our reorganisation have such an influence that its possessor will frequent the Mr. tenure of the War Office through Haldane’s i place during library in preference to the ward, and at examination, 1the machinery of his Territorial Army scheme. Those who ] followed its development more closely will be aware when confronted with the task of describing a disease,have I that the scheme has included what the old Volunteer forces will not search his memory for the likeness of a case lacked-the establishment of an efficient medical and sadly which he daily observed at the bedside but will attempt sanitary service for the Territorial Army upon a basis similar to conjure up a picture of a printed page, and to transfer to the Royal Army Medical Corps which serves the expediits contents to paper. In our experience those qualified tionary or "Regular"Forces. This scheme has been men who are now doing brilliant work in ward and due in chief measure to the administrative ability and enthusiastic work of the late Director-General of the omnivorous have been crammers of rarely laboratory other men’s writings. If asked to supply a scheme for the Army Medical Service, Surgeon-General Sir Alfred Keogh, who with his chief staff officers last year made a tour of allotment of the student’s hours when he has entered upon the country, addressing large audiences of medical men in his clinical work we should say, give most to the wards and many important centres, explaining the details of his scheme special departments, give as much to the clinical labora- and inviting them to discuss its details, with the result tories and post-mortem room as to the study of books, and that he secured the sympathetic cooperation of the medical out of the remainder devoted to exercise on playing fields, profession and the enrolment of a large number of its members as active or à-la-suite officers of the Territorial drill-ground, or river, leave something for the cultivation of branch of the Royal Army Medical Corps. It is quite general literature and of the society of people not interested obvious that the upkeep of this most important branch in medical matters and averse from their discussion. of the military service of the country will always depend This is a have an fixed ambition. or ideal, Lastly, very entirely upon the medical profession, and those who are valuable equipment for every student. The ideal of the entering upon their preparation for that calling may well medical student need not be beyond the dreams of fulfilment, consider what steps they can take to prepare themselves to take their part in the national defence. There are a but it had better be beyond likelihood, for it will then number of medical men and who are more certain students last longer and command a deeper devotion. Scientific to side attracted the combatant of the Territorial service, eminence, and even the universal fame of a LISTER or of a perhaps because it affords a complete change from their Iuxr.EY, may be the light which a few will follow ; others, ordinary work, but the scientific services of a man possessed probably the majority, will be content with a humbler of medical knowledge must be, as a rule, of far more humanitarian aim. Though it is now not the mode to vaunt value to the army than could be his combatant the nobility of the profession of medicine, but rather to services. In every recent large campaign the military medical services have had to be augmented by civil allow that it is but a hard-working manner of earning practitioners, and however skilful at their work these a living, yet our calling remains the most humane, often emergency volunteers may have been, it is obvious that they the most unselfish, and perhaps the most interesting of all would have performed it under much easier conditions if mortal activities. It is, moreover, a profession of growing they had undergone a thorough peace training in the consequence in the life of the nation and one to which the practice of military medicine in the field. The ordinary statesman, the general, and the civic authority must look civil surgeon, for instance, is totally ignorant of the of camp sanitation, or of the hygienic control of with increasing respect for counsel and cooperation vital to principles on the march. We need say no more to urge troops the great interests under their keeping. The proper and full students from the outset of their medical studies to advancement of medicine rests with its practitioners, as does begin to master the most useful methods by which the only sound policy for the defeat of unqualified opponents; they can place their expert knowledge at the disposal and splendid as is the scientific heritage of medical men in of their country in time of need, but we would call the United Kingdom, the labours of those who have gone their attention to the fact that in the Medical Branch of the Officers Training Corps there exists the ideal means before will avail them nothing unless their results are for such a patriotic self-preparation. The Officers Training regularly added to by patient and continuous work. For Corps was founded last year to give a preliminary military work, we have it on the word of a master of medicine whom training to undergraduates at the various universities and our country has delighted to honour, is the master-word in other students, and thus to prepare for the establishment of an efficient reserve of officers and to supply commissioned medicine. officers for the Territorial Army, thereby fulfilling a national AN ADDITIONAL DIRECT REPRESENTATIVE FOR need which was never adequately met under the old It is now proposed to form in Officers THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL.-The London Gazette of Volunteer system. centres where there are medical schools August 20th announces that the King has approved of the Training Corps such as we have described, and Medical Units Training Privy Council’s recommendation that the registered medical such units have been already established at Oxford, Campractitioners in England and Wales shall have the power of and London, the latter University having returning an additional member to the General Council bridge, Edinburgh, Education last about 230 medical cadets, who Medical and raised since of January Registration, but that the addition in question shall not be made until the next ensuing general are now efficient for their first year. The raising of election of Direct Representatives. similar units in other university centres depends entirely 3
can
593 upon the enthusiasm of their medical students, and even if the hospital cricket and football teams have to suffer in consequence, it is to be hoped that before very long every branch of the Officers Training Corps will have an efficient medical section. We must add that cadets of the Officers Training Corps have no legal liability to service, not having to take the oath of allegiance, but should they intend to join the Special Reserve of Officers, the Territorial Force, or the Royal Army Medical Corps, the possession of certificates "A" and B"" taken in the Officers Training Corps after two years’ efficient service will give them special advantages in the reduction of their probationary periods, the exemption from certain promotion examinations, and the addition of marks to their credit in entrance examinations should they subsequently desire to enter the Royal Army Medical Corps. Further information can be obtained from the officers commanding the medical units of the Officers Training Corps at the centres we have mentioned, but it will be useful to print the following details of the training :The Training Unit which it is decided to form in the Medical Branch of the Officers Training Corps is a section of a field ambulance. Its personnel consists of three medical officers, a quartermaster, and about 80 non-commissioned officers and men. The complete field ambulance has three such sections. The function of the field ambulance is to remove the wounded from the fighting line to the most advanced hospital establishment on the lines of communication, and provide the necessary treatment for them while within their care. The unit is equipped for this purpose with stretchers and ambulance wagons, or pack animals for the conveyance of the wounded, forming the bearer division, and with tents and medical and other stores and cooking apparatus for their temporary housing and treatment-forming the Tent Division. The personnel is similarly divided for work in the field. There is a personnel of non-commissioned officers and men for duty. as drivers and batmen which in the Regular Service is drawn from the Army Service Corps, forming a transport section. The field ambulance forms an integral part of the field army in war, and there are three field ambulances to each infantry division. The field ambulance is under the immediate command of the medical branch, and is an autonomous It offers opportunities of practising and a self-contained unit. The exerall the duties of the medical branch in the field. cises that are practised in camp are-The laying out and pitchBearer ing of the camp. The construction of field kitchens, &c. Division exercise. The rendering of first aid to, the collection and Tent transport of wounded, and the formation of dressing stations, &c. Division exercise-the pitching and equipment of the tents for wounded and interworking with the bearer division. The disposal of refuse in its own camp. The collection and purification of water. Camp conPacking and loading of equipment. servancy, in its own camp. Manoeuvring with troops. Where a transport section is found by the unit riding and driving and horsemastership are practised. In the Senior Division, each cadet will receive from his unit on joining an outfit consisting of a suit of service dress, forage cap, gaiters or puttees, and great-coat, subject to certain rules. The cost of the outfit will, in the case of cadets who obtain, or have already obtained, Certificate "A," be borne by army funds.
THE SIXTEENTH INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONBUDAPEST.-The following receptions and fetes have been arranged during the approaching Congress. On August 28th a soiree of welcome will be given at 9 p. m. in the Gallery of Fine Arts. On the next day, at 11 A.M., the official opening of the Congress will take place at the municipal redoubt, and at 3 P.M. the inauguration of the statue of the late Professor Joseph de Fodor in Sandor-ter (Alexander-square). In the evening the President of the Congress will give a soiree in the Park Club in honour of the official delegates. On Monday, August 30th, the municipality of the city of Budapest will give an official reception to the congressists, and the next evening the ladies’ soiree will take place. On Wednesday. Sept. 1st, at a Court evening reception, the Archduke Joseph, representing His Majesty the Emperor-King Francis Joseph, will receive the official delegates of the Governments, the University, and others. On Sept. 2nd the presidents of the 21 sections of the Congress will each give a reception, and on Sept. 3rd Count Albert Apponyi, Royal Hungarian Minister of Religion and Public Instruction, will give a final soiree at the Park Club. Numerous invitations have been given to members of the GRESS AT
Congress to visit Budapest.
scientific and other institutions in and
near
THE IMPERIAL CANCER RESEARCH FUND.—The honorary secretary of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund has received from the Duke of Bedford, vice-president, a further donation of .E1000 towards meeting the overdraft at the bank, thus saving the Fund from drawing on its capital.
THE STUDENT’S GUIDE. SESSION 1909-1910. A PREFATORY STATEMENT.
THE quantity of the subjects which fall necessarily within the scope of our educational number has now become very large, and it may be as well, as on previous occasions, to explain the scheme upon which the following guide to a medical career in this country is constructed. The General Council of Medical Education and Registration, conveniently known as the General Medical Council, is the controlling authority, under the Privy Council, of the medical education of the land. Under the provisions of the Medical Acts various universities and corporations are recognised as being examining bodies whose degrees or diplomas entitle to medical registration, and it is among the duties of the General Medical Council to keep the official register and to ensure by periodical visitations that the tests of the various examining bodies are maintained at a due standard. We begin by describing the powers of the General Medical Council, and go on to give in detail the regulations of the various examining bodies. But the student must be taught as well as examined, and the systems under which he can obtain instruction do not conform to one pattern. The curriculum of the medical student falls into two parts, the preliminary subjects and the professional subjects, and the two cannot be sharply divided. The extent to which they are allowed to overlap under different schemes of education varies a good deal, while the extent to which they ought to overlap is a perennial subject of debate. The important preliminary subjects are chemistry, pharmacology, physics, biology, anatomy, and physiology, and they are taught in the school proper; the professional subjects, medicine, surgery, and obstetric medicine-under which headings all forms of specialism are included-must be learned in the wards of a hospital. All schemes of medical education require a school and a hospital, but there their uniformity ends. The first point on which the medical student has to make up his mind is whether he desires a medical degree which will give him the definite title of Doctor or Bachelor of Medicine (coupled in many cases with that of Bachelor of Surgery), or whether he will be content with a diploma certifying him to be a Member or Licentiate of one or other of the great medical corporations and as such entitled to be registered as a medical practitioner. If he desires a degree he must matriculate at a university and go through the course of studies required by the regulations of its medical faculty, and it is well that he should bear this in mind from the outset, for many diplomates, desiring later to becoming medical graduates, have been debarred from doing so through having neglected to pass a university matriculation examination at a time when they were freshly versed in their preliminary "arts"" and general studies. It is particularly useful to take the London matriculation examination, which is accessible in several prominent centres, as it opens the door to the medical faculty of any British University. Accordingly we print with some detail the regulations for that standard, if much criticised, test of a good all-round secondary education. In the Student’s Guide to medical education, which follows, we have collected together under their respective headings the chief information concerning the facilities for medical study, both "preliminary"and "professional,"and the regulations for examinations at the various teaching centres of the United Kingdom, so, for instance, that a student desiring to pursue his studies and obtain a medical