MADRAS MEDICAL COLLEGE.
19
The academical year 1884-85 closed on the 10th ultimo, and it is noteworthy
that on that day the institution completed the first half century of its existence.
2. Changes in Staff.—These were numerous, the chief of them being the
retirement of Professor Cockerill after an honorable connection with the college
of sixteen years; the appointment of Surgeon-Major Ratton as Professor of
Surgery, of Surgeon Dymott as Professor of Pathology, of Dr. Allison as
Professor of Hygiene, and of Mrs. Scharlieb as Lecturer on Midwifery to the
Female class. The year also saw the return of Surgeons-Major Branfoot and
Drake-Brockman from furlough and the appointment of Mr. Hollingsworth as
Assistant to the Professor of Materia Medica.
3.
Strength of the Institution.— It is very gratifying to note that the year
under review opened with a further increase in numbers. In the previous year
the number was 182 including 10 female students; this year began with 215,
12 of whom were Female students. It is worth noting that one of the Female
students was in the Chemist and Druggist class. The different sections of the
community were represented as follows:—
Previous year.
Europeans and Eurasians
82
79
Native Christians
40
26
Muhammadans
8
3
Brahmans
33
2 5
Sudras
49
47
Parsees
3
2
Total
215
182
which shows an advance in each class. Of the total number of students, 3
unfortunately died, 6 resigned, while 4 proceeded to Europe to continue their
studies. The year closed with 202, or an advance of 20.
4.
First or Senior Department. —This department contained 120 male and 4
female students; and, judging from the Professors' reports, they on the whole
made fair progress.
5.
University Examinations. —At the University examinations of July 1884, 15
failed out of 59 who appeared, 52 having been given in the report as the number
about to appear. The result, 74·57 per cent., is creditable. Messrs. N. Jesudasen,
M.B., M.A., and D. Thummonsing obtained the degree of M. D. of the Madras
University, the former by election and the latter by examination. That about 96
students are to appear for the University examinations of 1885 in place of the 59
of the previous year is a very decided indication of progress. It is gratifying that
a large number of Civil . Hospital Apprentices have come forward to seek a higher
Medical distinction. The fact that 3 students of the college succeeded in passing
the Master of Arts Degree examination-2 in Biology and 1 in Physical Science—
is a further proof, if proof were needed, of the soundness of the instruction imparted
in this institution.
6.
Second Department or Apothecary Class. —This department consisted of
76 male and 7 female students, or 83 in all, showing little or no change as regards
the figure of the previous year. Five were Colonial students and one was a Mysore
Hospital Assistant. The Director learns with regret that 2 students, owing to
continued ill-health, had to be granted leave; that 1 Hospital Apprentice died;
and that a very promising Colonial student was drowned. 33 Apprentices and 3
Female candidates appeared for the First or Primary examination conducted by an
Examining Board unconnected with the college, and it is satisfactory to find that
all obtained more than half marks, though 3 failed to obtain the required one-third
in one subject. The net result was thus only three failures, and as they did
remarkably well in all other subjects, the action of the College Council, in permit
ting them to enter on their third year's course with the proviso that they be
required to attend a course on the subject in which they respectively failed and
u n d e r g o a n e x a m i n a t i o n i n i t . i s e n d o r s e d . T h e r e s u l t o f t h e F i n a l . e x a m i n a t i o n o f
6
6