Rush Medical College - Pulse Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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presentation of each subject by the professor in charge. Formerly the teaching of medicine consisted almost entirely of didactic lectures, these now divide the Field with recitations and laboratory work. Didactic lectures have their own peculiar place in the teaching of medicine which they will always retain. Their object is to place before the student a systematic review of a subject, to explain intricate and emphasize important points, to give the student an idea of what he must know, so that he can more intelligently do his recita- tion and laboratory work. The second year completes the study of Anatomy, Physiology. Chemistry and Materia Medica, and takes up also the study of Pathology and Bacteriology- The first two years are devoted exclusively to the study of the sciences upon whichmedicine is founded. These sciences teach the structure of the human body, its functions and its chemistry. They teach the gross and microscopical appearance of diseased tissues. They teach the source and chemistry and preparation of the materials used in medicine. . The third and fourth years of a medical course are devoted to the study of the practical branches-Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics, and the special branches which have grown out of these, as Gynxcology, Eye and Ear, Diseases of the Skin, Nose and Throat, etc. These subjects are studied by lectures and recitations, the practical work being in the form of clinics and the manual training school courses, in bandaging, in the use of the ophthalmoscope and stethoscope and laryngoscope, course in operative surgery on the cadaver, and obstetrical courses on the phantom. In his college course a student reviews the sciences upon which medicine is based. He reviews the practical branches of medicine. His hand and eye and ear take their first lessons in the art of medicine. Still with all this knowledge and training his own, he must recognize that he has but commenced the study of medicine. POST-GRADUATE XVOR K. After graduation the aim of the medical student should be to obtain a hospital appointment. A year or two in a hospital underagood stahf, with the opportunity of putting to practical use the knowledge which he has acquired, the opportunities of working under good men, seeing their successes and mis- takes, is worth many times the same amount of time spent in private practice. To obtain such a position is worth almost any sacrifice. The young medical man should regard his entering into practice as the beginning of post-graduate work. In it he must acquire greater facility in the means of diagnosis. He must acquire greater dexterity in the use of instru- ments. He must acquire from results confidence in himself and the methods he employs. He must keep up with the knowledge of his day by following the medical literatureg by bringing himself in contact with the leaders in medicine, and familiarizing himself with their work. He should be ambitious to master the modern languages and gain access to their literature. He should be ambitious to see the work done in other countries, which will give him confi- dence in that done in his own. He must be ever guided by the sense that it is 215

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If they had they would have seen that these pioneers in medical teaching were accomplishing their work in the only way that it could be accomplished, and that they were deserving of all praise, they would have recognized the necessary steps in the evolution that would place American schools on a parity with their own. There is still much to be accomplished, much to be desired. In the future development of medicine America must be an important factor. THE EQUIPMENT UF A MEDICAL COLLEGE. A medical college should be in a large centre of population from which it can draw clinical material. It should have closely associated with it a large hospital and dispensary. It must have access to a large supply of pathological material. It must have fully equipped college and laboratory facilities. It must have sufhcient revenue and endowment to enable it to command the best talent for its teaching force. The future American medical school will form a part of a large and well endowed university. THE EQUIPMENT UI THE STUDENT. It is desirable that men who begin the study of medicine should have a technical preparatory education. Such education should include a limited amount of Latin and Greek, and a thorough course in the natural sciences and modern languages. Such a technical education is of great value to a medical student. However, it is a fact that many of the men who have made great names for themselves have lacked this early training. UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL XVORK. The function of a medical school is limited to the training of men in those subjects and in such a way that they may become practicing physicians and surgeons. A medical school cannot make experts of its students in the sciences which are studied. To be an expert chemist or an expert pathologist means a life's work. These sciences are to be studied with the idea that the student must obtain from them those facts which will be of service to him in his practi- cal work. The medical course should cover four years. The first year is devoted to Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry and Materia Medica. These subjects are to be taught by lectures, recitations and practical laboratory and dissecting-room work. The introduction of compulsory recita- tion work is to be regarded as a great improvement. In Germany a medical student has very little compulsory work, he takes out the required number of courses and is expected at the end of his time to have passed the required examination. This system produces, as one of Germany's great pathological teachers has said, two classes of students, very good and very poor students. The ambitious men take advantage of all opportunities offered, the lazy men do little or no work. Compulsory work does not affect the high grade men in a class, but it does produce a better general average. The practical work consists of dissections in Anatomy, microscopical work in Histology, laboratory work in Physiology, in Chemistry and in Materia Medica, and lastly we must mention the lectures, which are a systematic 214

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his duty to give to his patients the benefit of the best knowledge and the best skill that his generation affords. No man whose ambition is to make money should choose a medical career. What is he to look forward to? If he is successful he will earn a living, he may amass a competency. If he acquires a love for scientific work, he will End that his work is a constant source of interest and pleasure, His professional career gives him a wide horizon. It brings him in contact with every phase of life: his is the opportunity of doing much good. In front of him are great undiscovered truths of science. It may be his to give some great boon to humanity and leave, like Jenner and Lister, Morton and Simpson, an indelible impress on the history of the world. In the human tragedy the physician plays an important part. In Greece, more than two thousand years ago, a young man began his medical studies under a great physician and repeated after his preceptor this oath: I swear by Apollo, the physician, and Aisculapius and Health and Allheal, and all the gods and goddesses that, according to my ability and judg- ment, I will keep this oath and stipulation-to reckon him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if requiredg to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation, and that by precept, lecture and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, and to those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others. I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischiev- ous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsels and in like manner I will not give to a woman the means to produce abortion. Wfith purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my art. I will not cut persons laboring under stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not, I see or hear in the life of men which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. VVhileI continue to keep this oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men in all times! But should I trespass and violate this oath may the reverse be my lot. To- night, like that young Greek, you begin your medical studies under the guidance of your Alma Mater. It is her wish that ere you cross the threshold of her door you pause and read, Medicine is for him and for him only who masters its science and its art and employs them for the good of mankind. 'Fai'