Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-05
4 VIENNA CLINIC.
tBy DR.. F. B. Robinson

celebrated for more than a hundred
years. 1t has attracted students
from all parts of the world. 1t
contains at present 200 medical
students more than any other
school. An estimate can be better
understood by considering all the
people Of Grand Rapids and
Centralia collected on a few acres
of land divided into a number of
bands. The students are divided
into larger and smaller groups
pursuing their studies under the
many dozen different instructors.
It may be remembered that these
clinics are attended by hundreds
of doctors whose ages run up to
65 years. Among the most popu-
lar lecturers is Prof. DIR. Nothnagle
who occupies a chair of internal
medicine. The man who fills one
of those positions is chosen with
regard to one consideration and
that is eminent qualifications as a
skillful instructor. Nothing else
must influence in the selection.
The very nature of such a chair
admits of no personal application
or strife. The selection is carried
on slowly and quietly, for the
important office generally lasts a
life time. A few years ago the
medical faculty of Vienna wished
a man to fill a chair of internal
medicine. They supposed that
DR.. Nothnagle, north German,
then instructing in small German
University, possessed the neces-
sary high requirement to fill a
chair made noted in ages past by
great men. Prof Nothnagle is
some S years of age in the very
prime of physical and mental
vigor. He has a large head, a
short, sandy, full beard and a
keen active eye. He may be
classed among the most skillful
medical instructors of the age.
His powers lie mainly in being
capable Of Analysing things and
relations. Nothing seems too
small for his observation. He
well understands the needs of
students. His popularity in the
idea that is continually asking the
questions that everybody would
like to ask and answering the very
questions that everybody wants
answered. But who are the men
that make up the audience Of the
Clinic? tits composed of between
400 and 500 men Of all nationalities
the largest clinic in Europe. There
stands in the Arena, as invited
guest, a Japanese doctor, the body
physician of the emperor of Japan.
He is a short chubby man with
hair as black as the ace Of spades,
His eyes are almond shape and his
face the color of man with
iaundice. He looks slow and
sleepy but only a detective asleep
for when good point is made in
the lecture the long black eye
lashes raise and sly eyes shrewdly
turn with satisfaction. He speaks
with a jerky, stammer and says 1T
is cold in Vienna" Wonder is a
group of Russians conversing in
their own complicated language.
There Sweedes and Norwegians,
men of fine physique. The
Americans are the most numerous
foreigners, English, Scotch, French
Irish, Australians and from the
islands of the sea make up this
molly Clinic The Turks, Bulgar-
ians and Greeks complete the
quota. The audience gathered
and the Professor having arrived
the patient that is to be demon
strated is rolled into a room on a
bed from the adjoining hospital.
A student is called who examines
the patient under the direction OF
the Professor. The method of ex-
animation consists in first eXclud-
ing every healthy organ. Than to
to find out what is the particular
change in the organ found affect
ed. After about a quarter Of an
hours examination the Prof. dis
misses the student and than gives
the patient thorough systematic
examination himself before the
audience. The Prof. discusses
carefully and slowly every step in
the examination showing how to
avoid errors, mistakes, illusions,
fancieS, rash conclusions and ego
tism especially in what one does
not know. Experience in medi-
cine plays an enormous role. For
more than thirty years this man
has been connected with clinical
work and medical instruction.
Now the value of his experience
lies in the idea that he has been in
a condition to correct his mistakes
all these years. For nearly every
patient who dies in his hospitals
have their bodies examined after
death by special doctors who are
appointed for this work. There
fore every mistake made on pa