The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-20 00:00:00

MORNING EDITION.

REFORM.-THE QUAR-
TERLY REVIEW AND THE UNIVERSITY
OF LONDON.

In an article on .1 Medical Reform," *in the last number
01 the Quarterly Review, are some, misrepresentations
and t respecting. the University of London
Which the author would not have v diitured to make had lo
been at all acquainted with the regulations and progress oi
that institution. In this article the following remark oc
curs:—." We conclude tha't it was the failure of the Me-
tropolitan University which led Mr. Warburton, at th.
Close of the last Session of Parliament, to by on the tablr
tlf the House of Comm ons his Bill for the registration of
Medical practitioness." •
What the failure or success of the Metropolitan Uni.
v!raity had to ri,o with the registration of medical prac-
titioners is not -.Try evident. The failure of that institu-
tion could not have rendered medical reform more, as its
remarkable success has not rendered it less, necessary.
however that may be, the following statement of facts will
that the Metropolitan University, so far from being
It_ failure, has had a degree of success, unexampled, per-
°lll4, in the progrccs of such institutions, and has al-
'Cady exerted a higialy beneficial influence in raising the
`ijandard of general and medical education throughout
La° country. The University of London was established
"I charter in November 1836, and the first matriculation
reamination was held in October 1638. During the period
tween these two dates the members of the liniversits
Rareassiduously engaged in considering and drawing up
.a
,2.rse of education and arranging the subjects of exam!.
Zetton for graduates in literature and science, in law and in
ferdicinc. Committees of these different faculties were
tried, and each Committee was required to draw up and
'which
to td. Senate a report upon the particular subject
.thheich it arabraced. Fully sensible of the importance of
task thus imposed upon them, the Committees endea-
/Mired
- to obtain the fullest information on the present
111-4.11° of education in this and other countries. The Corn-
ini_ttec of the Faculty of Medicine in particular, from the
volved state
1:0t. of the' subject in. this_, country, occupied
ittut." cin the preparation of their Report ; and, in order
might have the assistance of those whom they
infouramht flost likely to afford them useful and practical
lent the Report, when in an advanced state, was
of th the most important medical schools and to many
kingdomeMost distinguished medical men throughout the
" Oroong whom were not a few who had ample
coettxrperiente in hospitals and
schools," as well as inter-
mit iSe with students,") with a request that they would sub-
tteh tthteoira critical examination, and favour the Committee
opinion freely on every point of importance in
shi,P)P.°sed system of medical education. The result of
invitatiun vvas a number of communications sufficient
rleast a good) sized volume, which constitutes not the
stremarkable or valuable part of the printed records of
the University. A similar plan was adopted by the Com-
mittee on arts, although to a less extent. In addition to
•ceurate information on the institutions of this country, the
Zgtuealactiin
iintig,
srespecting the extent of education, the method
and the mode of conducting examinatiorrs in
our h principal States of Europe were obtained trough
I;U' Ambassadors. From these and other sourcesh a
—I" of valuable information was collected, of which the
InLetnbers of the Committees availed themselves to the
"vst of their abilities in drawing up their respective re-
Potts fur the consideration of the Senate. The reports
(,).: Mt Committees, after being presented to the Senate,
"re submitted to a searching examination by a Corn-
Onttee of the whole Senate, and, after being printed and
Corisidered, were finally examined by the Senate, before
they became regulations of the University. Thus much
11! Stated here to show that the members of the Metropo-
Zit University spared no pains to perform the important
es which nad ueen entrusted to them by the Govern-
went.

%Ile regulations of the University were published in
f.l the first matriculation examination was fixed
th "(!toher, 1836.. Twenty•two candidates presented
eerllsdves—a number surely as large as could have been
rn.,-(1;"ablY expected, considering the extent of the ex-
texhibits the
:ICn*6oll,llnd the short period which had elapsed since
Publication of the regulations. The subjoined table
progressive increase of candidates during the
1:71) Years in which the University has been in operation.
I'muEß OP CANDIDATES WHO HAVE PASSED THE SEVERAL

IXAMINATIONS.

Examination for Matriculation 1838
Exatuination fir 1839.
latriculat ion
"• ••• Degree of Bachelor of Arts l7
••• ••• ••• Bachelor of Laws
••• •• ••• Bachelor of Medicine,
Ist Exam. 16 1. 23
2d Exam 9
'•• ••• ••• Doctor of Medicine
1840. EzaMination for Matriculation
••• Degree of Bachelor of Arts 3O
••• "• Mager of Arts
"• ••• Bachelor of Laws
• ••• Bachelor of Medicine,
Ist Exam 38 .1 57
2d Exam... •••19 1
••• ..• ••• • Doctor of Medicine ..

2 77

Itat ulat ion s..
;

1 162

Total ........ .••••• .26

SUMMARY.
163'4.

I 1840
3() 69

Itavhelors of Art.
Masters of Arts
Bachelors of Laws
(Ist Exam. in Iletlieine
1K39 1840
16 38)
liache!ors of Medicine (2cl
examination) ........
lectors of ......

17 30
... 3

9 19
2 1

:31 :-,.5
th Ti-
., 'Pe facts afford the best refutation of the assumption
• -"he Mistropolitan University is a failure. So far from
tict Prnying a failure, its success is, perhays,tuneqaulatlhloeudgititi
4 ei_ history of similar institutions, and this, o
"44 to contend with difficulties of no ordinja,ry kind at
almost everystep of its progress. In the department of
reed • -,_ •
lcinc the success of the .
; ""et, more especially when it is coTidered that the
candiriate is rc uired to give proof of a liberal
.preliminartyt
itelluea.i°e, and that the examinations in medicine are upon
mt" a extended scale, and, we believe, much more
Searchingin .
tr than those of any other institution tnecoua
1, and that the degree grants no license to practise.
\Vc ,hall now examine the force of the strictures of the
it
1 veerviewer on the course of instruction required by the Uni-
t, EtY• After pointing out SOKle of the faults of the
Wl,edical corporations, the writer, referring to the Uoiver-
i IntY of London, observes :
i ," In this new institution (the Metropolitan University),
i She faults of its predecessors seem to have been rather ex.
i I.iggerated than otherwise. As far es we can perceive, it
eresponsible only to itself; and it will be remarkable if,
_entually, it does not look to its own interests more than
to those of the community. The degree of Bachelor of
Medicine is said to be intendedy' for the class of general
Practitioners. Those who wish to obtain this distinction
are
f Re allowed to matriculate and begin their profession while
i they are yet boys, at the age of sixteen years, and to pre-
sent themselves for their last examination, so as to be es-
eee _a
!To practitioners, as soon as they have passed their
twnty-first birthday, Fourteen different kinds of lectures
areincluded in the curriculum, being five more thau those
which are required by the College of Surgeons and So-
ciety of Apothecaries; while the attendance on hose. dal
Practices which we believe to be of more importsne,, than
411 the lectures put together, is actually less. Toe whole
'rent , as it appears to us, is unnecessarily complicated.
r'et We must acknowledge that it affords e'odence. of good
intentions on the part of those who form'A it. l'hey seem
ri have been really anxious to plae,e the medical profes.
,',°ll on as high ground as possible, ; but they have not had
that °n
in hospitals a'al schools, nor that inter-
:ll!'se with students, which. they should have had, to
• "sole them to understani the trite principles of medical
education."
tulpe Reviewer's fears lest the University should even.
,„ ' Y look to its own interests more than those of the
vottimr. •
I ,i. .elty are very natural, with the example of the rue-
sma' .
p 112 ,c',_ rPerrstiras before his eves ; but fortunately it hap-
-0 hsaut—trat (Ire University of London has no interests
f With
'S of the community.
0 Should . respect to the minimum age at which candidates
ii RU'
bj be allowed to commence their medical studies, the
In, 'ket was carefully considered and discussed by the
full ffi 4wuers of the University ; and it was believed that
i
11:1°
me Occupid in acquiring a good preliminary and
rewerdleitcarl education would regulate the matter of age.
The •
0 kntolown in the Quarterly Review, moreover, must
ca
Nutt!. well, that the practical part of the medical edi•-
young
gree or diploma •
men, is chiefly acquired after the dti..
t
coals, dis .is obtained, by an attendance on bos-
s cotters pensartes, or as assistants to medical practi-
-0 tree,tmonta.oldf that few indeed arc entrusted with the
beyond disease until they have reached an age far
I . that which a University could require.
I
d onTihe 'regulations of the University respecting attendance
r Ctures,e as a means of instruction, are more in ac-
cordance with the critic's views than he imagines. Sir
etioyntrhses of lectures only are required, not fourteen, as stated
oviewer. The members of the University, after
'mature Re
consideration, thought it better to leave the mode
,I(
Of acquiring
the instruction as much as possible to the pupils
to themselves. They distinctly pointed out the whole of the
0 subjects on which the candidates for medical degrees would
be examine.:
0 , but left them to acquire the information as
t$ trfound übest, with the exception of requiring proofs of
i having attended a recognised school each year of
i their studies.
w; But while, in such branches of knowledge as might be
'?
Required either from books or lectures, the pupils arc left
thehoose for themselves, the University requires proof of
cali!candidate having been actually engaged in the practi-
'
departments of his profession. With respect to hos-
pital attendance which, we agree with the Reviewer, is
5( the moat . '
important part of medical education, the period
$1 to of the bachelor of medicine is two years and a
Pi halt The doctor of medicine, in addition to the shove
t
ioe
e
Period, is required to attend two years, I. e. to have four
.), yars and a half's attendance on hospital practice. Let us
el Row see whether this amount of hospital attendance be
les, as is asserted by the Reviewer, than that required by
I•! th.e other institutions :
Tee APOTHECARIRS' COMPANY require . . 1
0, The COLLEGE of SURGEONS (since 1340 1 years.
) • 3 years.
l' The COLLEGE of PHYSICIANS,
10 For Licentiates, or those who practise in London,
o or within seven miles of it . 3
years.
to
. . . rer Extra-Licentiates, or those who practise be-
'
ti 1 yond the circle of seven miles around London, 1 year.
Peer The UNIVERSITY of LONDON,
11
Bachelors of Medicine .
years. • ' 'er Doctors of Medicine . . . . 41 years.
ii' So much for the attention which the Reviewer has be.
t' stowed on the course of instruction promulgated by the
University which he has so unscrupulously condemned
/t
0 But the system is said to be unnecessarily complicated. It
/ ~ 1112 Y appear so to one who, like our critic, has not taken
me trouble to examine it ; but it has not occurred that
•",t .919 of the numerous candidates who have presented thern-
.)'