8
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
5.
In 1879 the Acting Surgeon-General, moved with compassion for the over-
lectured students, recommended to Government, with the concurrence of the Prin-
cipal, that either a fortnight should intervene between the Winter and Summer
Sessions, or that the Easter holidays should be extended to 14 days. The latter
alternative was accepted in G.O., No. 342, dated 8th September 1879. The Summer
Session (which generally includes the Easter holidays), normally short, is thus
still further shortened, and is insufficient for the work allotted to it. I recommend
that in future years the College be closed at Easter only during the ordinary
Government holidays.
6.
The Senior Department, theoretically consisting of candidates for the Medi-
cal Degrees of the University of Madras, is consequently divided into two sections
studying respectively for the M.B. and C.M. and for the L.M.S. Degrees.
7.
The senior section included 16 students-7 in the first, 5 in the second, 2
in the third, and 2 in the fifth years of professional study. The last two present
themselves next month at the Degree Examination. Five passed the Preliminary
Scientific Examination of the University last July, and 9 are about to go up for it.
Two others will go up for the First M.B. and C.M.
8.
The junior section included 46 students when the year began-14 in the
first, 9 in the second, 20 in the third, and 3 in the fourth year of professional study.
One student resigned on account of ill-health, 1 died from the result of a lament-
able accident, and 5 students sailed for Europe to complete there their medical
education. Two appear at the coming University Second Examination for the
License in Medicine and Surgery and 6 for the First Examination. Six candi-
dates who went up for the License last year were successful, and of 3 who
presented themselves for the First Examination 2 passed.
9.
The following table, giving the average percentage of marks obtained by the
classes of the Senior Department at the College Class Examinations held at the
close of each Session, shows that the progress of the students was satisfactory:—
Materia Medica
48
Physiology
53
Chemistry
70
Surgery
54
Medicine
59
Practical Chemistry
76
Anatomy
79
Do. Pharmacy
64
Botany
69
Minor Surgery
68
10.
The principle that the teaching of our Senior Department should be primarily
and mainly adapted to the requirements of the local University will scarcely be
disputed, nor do I anticipate any objection to the first recommendation, founded
upon it, which I am about to make. In qualifying our students to enter for Medical
Degrees in the University of Madras we are, of course, bound to provide all the
courses of lectures which the University demands, but I can see no reason for
providing any more. I propose to remove from the compulsory curricula of the
Senior Department all courses not required by the University, thus relieving teachers
in some degree from the pressure of over-crowded classes and pupils from super-
fluous attendance in the lecture-rooms. Thus the curriculum for the senior section
requires two courses of Practical Pharmacy, the University demands but one—surely
sufficient for men who are being trained, not to compound, but to practise. Again
our curriculum requires four courses of dissections: the University demands
certificates of having dissected the whole human body for the First M.B. and C.M.
Examination, and two additional courses of dissections for the Second Examination.
I propose to excise from our senior section curriculum the superfluous courses.
11.
In the junior or L.M.S. section our curriculum requires two courses of
Physiology and two of Practical Pharmacy, while the University demands but one
course of each. I recommend the omission of the courses which are unnecessary for
the University degree.
12. I may add that, in ordinary circumstances, there would be no obstacle to
students attending extra courses without fee, or obtaining certificates of attendance
on payment of the regulated fees.
13.
I come now to a more debatable subject, and one on which I do not expect
to find unanimity of opinion, viz., to what I shall plainly call the abuse of the