Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-06-20

Mr.. Edissr-In reading yoar paper. 1 wa. pleased to
see the claim. Of The RiehnOnd Medical COLLEGE upon the
Medical students Of the South 80 forcibly presented for their
consideration. This Institution has certainly strong claims
upon every student in Virginia; and there can be no valid
reason for going North, when. in The metropolis Of our own
State. they have every facility afforded them for the prose-
cuton Of their professional studies that they can obtain else.
where. independent Of every consideration Of State pride.
A uniform and n higher standard Of medical a~uainments. as
a test Of the qualifications OF candidates for a degree in me-
dicine, Is now becoming n question Of very general inter.
est among the profession. Clinical Lectures and Practice
are having their due weight with the faculty, they "being
well aware that what is merely told Is soon eiaeed from the
memory; whilst an impression, received through tho sight
is comparatively indelhble." And here the Richmond Me.
deal College have duly considered the advantages to tho
student in an increased number Of Clinical Lectures, and nm
attendance at the Hospital and lnimary. But to bring
about an improvement in the Medical profession, and to at
tain to a higher standard Of medical education. there must
be required n longer time OF study. In the United States
we nc, upon the "go-ahesd" principle in every stage ofedu-
cation; whether at school OF college, whether in the physi.
clans office. or in attendance on lectures or hospital clinic,
there Is excessive haste and intense esgerness to advance,
without regard TO the road travelled, or To the ability Of the
traveller. This is TO the rejecting mind moro strange now
than nj any former period; as at present. the branches are
more numerous, the facts multiplied, and clinic extended,
SO that the most vigorous mind cannot possibly grasp the
sequence and connexion OF the various subjects OF study
and observation in medicine in the short period now allotted
for the purpose. IL is a lamennblc fact (but not the less
uucl that doctors" are now manufactured with as much
rapidly as n "paient scubbing brush" in Yankee land;
and these sapient gentlemen, armed with the Mateia Me.
diea, and the Lancet, literally exemphfy in their practice,
that "a little learning is a dangerous tang" ut least in
medicine. Look ut the host of Doctors annually created.
and we are led to think that, like the Irishman in the story,
they wish TO have an apple pie made all of quinces"-"or
they are trying to place the whole profession upon n level,
or 10 place every body Mt the top" The Richmsnd Medi.
cal College exhibited last winter a smaller number of rra.
duaiesfor the Class in attendance than any College in the
OHioIh which to all must be conclusive proof that a higher
nntur m nffaanNnanH - nus..l ~ a. IL
where cSo. But there is a defect here which calls for re.
formation, and which they can easily reform If they attempt
It The time occupied ina course of lectures is too limited
q Is the case IN nearly every Medical College in the United
States. The present mode OF COMPRISING into n limited
course OF lecmres-for example (the Theory and Practice
OF Mediciney observations on all diseases, is n useless ut.
tempt, impracucable in its nature, and having an injurious
effect upon medicine. This mode Of teaching generates
bad habits, on the part OF the teacher and the pupil, il
makes the one satisfied with imparing, and Me other
sanshed with receiving, imperfect and limited Information
L know that every attempt At reformation by an extension
OF the time, has hitherto been met with the cry of "Euto.
pian,' but II such extension TO use the language of the
Editor OF the select Medical Library, who is himself n lee.
turer, be plainly required Us il is in the opinion of nineteen.
twenteths of well informed and impartial observers, ought
o brewery school at once To set about, in place OF setting il.
sen against this reform. No Teacher of the Practice of
Medicine or of the Institutes Of Medicine. nor of ,heoreti.
cal and Practical Surgery, nor OF "a Anatomy special aud ge.
nerai, nor OF Chemistry general and Medical, can do him.
sell or the subject or his Auditor, Justice in a course of lee.
lures OF four months only" The University of Pennsvl.
yania 10 meet this defect, have Summer Sessions. but Stu. |
dents, especially those from the Country, prefer spending
the summer months IN the Country, and this is to some ex.
tent failure. But II seems To me ii the time tor the course
OF lectures was extended TO six months, commencing in DC. |
,ober and expiring in April, all these objections would then
be met, the STUDENT having more time to digest the lectures.
more ume 10 devote TO Anatomical studies, and his adyan. !
tages would be greatly increased. None would object 10
trivial increase of fees in view of these adyuntspes.-
The Professors would then be enabled to do themselves
and their subjects justice, building up for the Institution of
own unaided founding n name as undying as the his.
oy OF te "od Dominion" When the Richmond Me.
deal College was first chartered, the course of lectures EN-.
breeed hye months, and the Profession looked forward ton
IN the organization of Medical Colleges. Why
relapsed into the four months system none know. do
not expect by any thing that l may write to alter their deter.
but | wish to call the attention of Medical Stu.
lens and those having charge Of Them to this subject that
hey may enter the list against the system pursued now
the Editor call the attention Of the Faculty to this sub.
eet as tbs one OF importance to every Medical Student.
specially those who expect to attend lectures there.
AMHERST June 10, 1913. A