12
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
32. The Professor of Physiology again urges the need of assistance in teaching
his class, which numbered 63 at the opening of the Winter Session. I have already
recommended the appointment of another Assistant. Professor Brockman says :
—
"I greatly felt the need of a properly-constituted Assistant to whom I can entrust various
matters of importance in connection with such a large class of students. I represented this matter
in my report for the previous Winter Session, and hoped that some arrangement would have been
made to comply with this important requirement. I trust that something will be done in this
respect before the next Winter Session of 1881-82 begins."
33.
The Professor of Midwifery makes a suggestion similar to that of Professor
Cockerill's with regard 'to his courses. He recommends that, instead of a Winter
course of Midwifery and a Summer course of Diseases of Women and Children, there
should be one course, including all three subjects, and running through both Sessions.
I have no doubt that this change is desirable, and it will in no way interfere with the
issue of certificates conformable with University requirements. I quote the follow
ing from Professor Branfoot's letter on the subject :
—
" I find that the University M.B. Examination Degree requires a course of eighty lectures
in Midwifery. The L.M.S. requires only fifty in the same subject. Neither requires any certifi
cates of attendance at a course of lectures on Diseases of Women and Children."
* * * * *
" The number of meetings of the Midwifery class in the Winter session is generally about 90,
or more than required by the University. I believe it is customary at the London University to
group Midwifery and the Diseases of Women and Children as one subject. I do not see why this
should not be done here, provided that at least 80 meetings are held in pure Midwifery, and that
after that the Professor have the power to pass on at once to the other branch of the subject. I
could then deal more satisfactorily with Diseases of Children than I am now able to do."
34.
The Chemistry course consists mainly of instruction in Inorganic Chemistry,
but some part of it is necessarily devoted to Chemical Physics and some to Elemen-
tary Organic Chemistry. These two subjects are of so great importance in the study
of Medicine that I think it desirable that the proportion of lectures devoted to them
should be defined. I recommend, therefore, that at least two-fifths of the lectures
of the Winter Session at the beginning of the coursed should be devoted to Heat,
Light, Electricity, Magnetism and Sound, and at least one-fifth at the end to the
elements of Organic Chemistry.
35.
I bring my long series of recommendations to a close with a valuable
suggestion of Professor Harvey's (Which I cordially approve) with regard to the
teaching of Medical Jurisprudence. At present this is a Summer course, and
candidates for the Hospital Assistant grade attend the same lectures as students of the
higher departments. So different are the intellectual and educational conditions of
the two classes that it is simply impracticable to teach both together without serious
waste of time to teacher and to taught. Mr. Harvey proposes to deliver two distinct
courses of lectures—one in the Winter Session to the Senior and Second Depart-
ments, and another, more elementary, in the Summer Session to the Junior Depart.
went. It will be remembered that a similar change on similar grounds has recently
been made in the Hygiene teaching, and with benefit. I subjoin an extract from
Professor Harvey's report :
—
"In accordance with the Order of Government, No. 41, dated 7th February 1879, the pupils
of the Junior Department in their third collegiate year of study will join the class of Medical
Jurisprudence, and as the pupils of this department cannot be expected to keep pace with those of
the higher departments, I would beg to suggest that I may be permitted to deliver two separate
courses—one to the Senior and Second Departments during the Winter term consisting of three
lectures a week and another to the pupils of the Junior Department of four lectures a week
during the Summer.
"This arrangement will, so far as the Senior and Second Departments are concerned, be
advantageous, inasmuch as it will enable the lecturer to devote more time to the important
subject of Practical Toxicology than has hitherto been practicable, and to give a more extended
course of lectures to those students, the number of whom is yearly increasing, who aspire to the
higher University degrees in conformity with the requirements of the calendar."
36.
I recapitulate the recommendations which it is my duty to make :-
(a) That the College be closed at Easter for the usual Government holidays
only.