Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Synapsis Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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SYNAPSIS, 1937 DEPARTMENT OF BACTERIOLOGY FROM the very beginning, the Osteopathic School of Therapy has main ' tained that germs exert, only secondarily, a positive influence in the develop- ment of disease processes; but, that certain primary and predisponent agen- cies interfere with the normal blood and nerve supply to the affected area, thus re- ducing its vitality or resistance and making it susceptible to germ invasion. There must be some failure of the blood. Nature ' s reliable germicide, to reach and repair and hold healthy possession of the part of the body in which the germ has been found. This department provides, during the second year, instruction in general and clinical bacteriology. It discusses adequately the problems of immunity and gives authoritative information on the osteopathic viewpoint concerning selected biological products from the field of serums, vaccines, antitoxins, protein sensitization and the like. For those students properly qualified, opportunity for research in bacteriological and immunologic problems is provided under supervision of the members of the staff. Twenty-one

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SYNAPSIS, 1937 DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY PATHOLOGY is the study of disease-processes, ever changing in manifesta- tions and presenting such tissue alterations, gross and microscopic, determin- able and undeterminable, which are the result of the conflict between noxious influences and a hum.an energy-machine. The pathologist sees in a bit of dead tissue, altered by the elfects of fixatives and stains, the general outlines of a living patient progressing along the path from health to death. Pathology is the substructure of diagnosis, and as Hamman points out, diag- nosis is concerned with a structural change, then with a functional disturbance. Boyd remarks that While pathologic anatomy is concerned with changes in structure, and clinical medicine with disturbance of function as m.anifested by the symptoms of the patient — it is essential that the two go hand in hand, for both present only one side of the picture. Twinty

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SYNAPSIS, 1937 DEPARTMENT OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS B Y REASON of its peculiar and distinctive methods, the osteopathic school of therapy may well boast that it has changed the complexion of many of the problems arising in either of these pursuits. During the third year, instruction in gynecology and obstetrics is confined for the major part to lectures on the common lesions in preparation for the practical work of the fourth year, and which didactic work is supplemented by clinical demon- strations. Clinical work, ward rounds and operative clinics in gynecologic cases feature the fourth year. Likewise, in obstetrics, the work is largely clinical, embracing section instruction, out-patient deliveries, bedside training, conferences and laboratory studies. Each student attends a specified number of cases in confinement and cares for cases in homes under supervision, and where such cases need be institutionalized, the same student follows the case through. Twenty ' two