MADRAS MEDICAL COLLEGE.
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(m) are concerned may well be referred for consideration to the Committee, the
appointment of which I have had the honor to recommend in my letter, No. N-345,
dated 19th August 1881, although primarily the duties of that Committee would be
connected with the scheme of teaching in the. Second Department and with the Junior
Department only.
13 Although it is unusual to discuss important special recommendations in
Annual Administration Reports, yet I would note briefly upon two especially of the
above changes proposed which come under the heads marked (b) and (c) .
(b.) It is here proposed. to omit all courses which are not required for the three
examinations comprising the M.B. and C.M. course in the Madras University, thus
relieving both teachers and students from what, the Principal considers, an unnecessary
amount of work. The throwing of an undue burthen on both students and Professors
is no doubt undesirable, and if it were proved that the subjects prescribed by the
University and. the standard fixed in each demand the knowledge essential for the
degree in Medicine, I would be quite ready to adopt Dr. King's suggestion, but to
my mind before any change can be introduced experts must settle this question. But
generally there can be no doubt that the courses should, as far as practicable, be
assimilated, as in this Presidency, at least, a medical degree does not represent, as in
England, special scientific culture in medicine, as opposed to that imparted in Medical
Schools, and certified by the Royal College of Surgeons, &c.
14. The most important of Dr. King's proposals is that connected with the section
—" Studying for the L.M.S. degree." He remarks that the object of the University
in instituting this degree a few years ago was the supplying of the Presidency with
sufficiently well-qualified practitioners. He considers the concession has been abused
in that the majority of the students after obtaining the necessary certificates from the
College instead of passing the degree in the Madras University proceed to England to
complete their medical education mainly with the view of competing for commissions
in the Army. He objects to this course, because he holds that the Matriculation
Examination does not guarantee that standard of general education and culture, which
" is necessary to Medical Officers if they are to mix on equal terms, socially and
intellectually, with members of other services." He also doubts whether the degree of
general education is " a sufficiently firm or wide foundation for the professional
superstructure " which is now built on it. To remedy what he holds to be an evil, he
suggests that the course be assimilated to the University course and, secondly, that the
College certificates should only be issued to the Registrar of the Madras University.
15. I am prepared to admit that so far, the object—if that object was providing
a large number of men of this standard from the Madras University—with which this
L.M.S. degree was instituted has as yet not been fulfilled, and I am also ready to
question the propriety of accepting a General Education Test (Matriculation) which is
prescribed for the Second Department (or Apothecaries' grade) as a suitable standard
for entrance to a course of study which enables a student to obtain a medical degree
in this country, and after a short stay in Europe the Diploma of a Surgeon. But I do
not at all agree in regarding this exodus of Medical students to Europe as an evil, and
still less in the remedy which it is proposed to adopt to cure the evil.
16. The main point which the State has in view is to secure Medical men duly
qualified, and I think no one will question that a tour of study in the Hospitals of
Great Britain, in addition to the medical education already received here, must be in
itself an immense gain to the country. To endeavour to check this desire on the part
of students to proceed to England seems to me most impolitic and clearly opposed to
the good of the country. Those who have the progress of India at heart desire to
encourage students in Literature, the Fine or Industrial Arts, and in science to
complete their studies in Europe, whilst in medicine alone has such a course of action
become common in consequence of the material advantages which have been ascertained
to accrue from it. It may be true that many men obtain commissions ; but is it an
evil that the people of the country should seek to obtain service under the Government
of the country which has educated them ? Moreover it must not be forgotten that
others do not so obtain service, and if the practice of proceeding to Europe is on the
increase, the number of such must also increase. The vast majority of these men will
return to make a living in the country far better qualified, I cannot but think, to be
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