University of Maryland School of Pharmacy - Terra Mariae Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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(Trna iflariar. 1311 students wduld while away their leisure hours, wjiieh now, for the lack of elsewhere to go. are often spent in saloons, poolroonis and moving picture parlors, among the books and studying medicine in the more than thirty journals which at present are filed as out of date, their covers unopened, their tale untold. The library should be general and con- tain books of interest to all the departments of the University and its use sliould be free from any expense to students, even at the loss of a few books each year. If some place for recreation in an atmosphere of thought and learning were provided for the men they would quickly avail themselves of the opportunity ofifered. When publishers found our library used, as a medium of advertising they would soon fill its shelves with the best literature of the world. The obsolete volumes would find place in the basement to make room for the new. and while the beneficial work goes on our students would grow broader, learn more medicine and finally become more intelligent men and capable phy- sicians, raising our standards by common consent of those who have the institution ' s welfare at heart. A University can remain no greater than the final attainment of those who leave its doors, and much ought to be done just by the utilization of this one latent resource. If ordered by the authorities, the hospital students would l)e i)erfcctlv willing to dress in white, securing not only the aid to uniformity and discipline that at- tends similarity of dress, but would be pleasing to the eye and secure a more willing ac- ceptance by the patients. ' hen so attired the use of the front stairs would save the stu- dents many steps. The hospital students have recently l)een deprived of the assistance of nurses, but upon reflection the impossibility of aseptic dressings, under such conditions, will make this rule short-lived. The two hours, morning and evening, allotted to ward work are almost entirely consumefl at meals and classes, anfl as the unoccupied hours of dif- ferent sections are not the same, it is not unreasonable to ask that this work be allowed throughout the day, e. ce])ting visiting hours. If the chiefs of clinics were required to be at the dispensary promptly at tweh ' e the work could be finished in time foi- posted stu- dents to attend the one o ' clock clinics. ' IMie superintendent of the hospital should protect the students from those who would needlessly waste their time or inflict other impositions, and while ever mindful of their welfare and willing to listen to their reasonable re(]uests, he should rule them with a rod of iron, oft ' ering encouragement to those conscientious and untiring in the flischarge of duty and giving no C|uarter or consolation to the negligent and slothful. ( )ur nurses and students are constantly thrown together in their work; in concession to the undying interest i)uth finds in youth, would it not be l)etter that the meetings on dark street corners be replaced by visiting privileges at reasonalile hours in the hospital ])arlors. under proper restriction and supervision? A system of jjermits might l)e devised allowing them to attend together theatres or other proper places of amusement, in the somewhat dubious medical student the nurse finds a man more aware of his moral respon- sibilities than is the case with other men who flock to our large cities, whom she with- out social introduction must sooner or later be thrown. At least let it be remembered that the springtime of life is short and to change the natural course of human e ents is difii- cult. If the dental students were to use the medical library its sco])e of usefulness would be greatly augmented s])eedil ' covering the needs of that department. The dental smoking- room could be made attractive by the addition of a few pieces of furniture. Their lec- ture-room chairs might be. for order, wired to the floor. The reception-room should be less l)ul)lic and provided with retiring departments. A more detailed dissection of the head an l

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21 ' Crrra iMariar. 1 a 1 1 1 he aw ardiiii, ' (if credit.-. liuultl rc.-i xilcly with the Dean, Mich credentials Ijeing pre- served and i)ruiii])tly returned on proper occasion. From this office a yearly report should he mailed to the student, or his parents, and the student should be relieved uf the humil- iation of depositing two cents for postage, but should receive his mail as he would from anv other business house or individual with whom business led him to corres])ond. I do not suggest that the entrance reciuireiiients be raised, hut that the standard estalilished be, rigidly enforced Sd that the present ruiuors of laxity, in this particular, shall, for want of ])roof, die out. The honor system luning arisen in the student body of our Medical Department, will for its continuance depend upon the confidence and encouragement of the teaching body, who could greatly enhance its value by luaking little talks relating to the demands lit the honor system before each examination. Academic day should be attended by every member of the different faculties, and each should stand ready to work up, if required, a jirogram that no student would care to miss. The Faculty should avoid such petty irregularities as. when under their guidance, a subscription was taken among the students to erect a tablet to one of our distinguished alunmi. which, when unveiled, read: Erected l)y the Regents of the University of .Mary- land. The students ' confidence and admiration should he gained and held 1) - a constant opportunity for a closer association with his teachers. The collections of clinical knowledge and experience into papers and books would bring fame to their authors and reflect credit upon our Universitv. Our local Medical As- sociation needs tender nursing and fostering care from all connected with it. Prestige conies with the presence of the Faculty at all of its meetings. Since the audiences con- sist largely if students, they could be stimulated to greater effort by the election of the ice-|)resideiit fnjiii their luimlier. Criticisms by school inspectors and those who would further the interests of institutions should be given a patient hearing, while we lend dili- gence to the elimination of all that is really defective, leaving truth, more powerful than wdrds. to defend our cause. The course of stud ' should include all (|uizzes and dem- onstrations necessary for the develojjiuent of a good ])rofessioiial man. ( )ur most bene- ficial i)aid quizzes will be made to suffer with their less worthy brothers, but if these bridges iiuist co er the gaps, then let them become a i)art of each studv. Then those who lack the funds, and who perhaps need tlieni most, ma)- share in their ad antages. I have on several occasions, with pride, corrected the misstatement that we were without an academic department at the termination of an experimental affiliation. I ])ray that those who participate will not let the little misunderstandings of mortal man weaken the bond of union between these two great institutions and that their association lie con- tinued with an ever-increasing harmony that will lessen the great distance that separates us. Candidates for entrance miiNi judge the Tnixersity liy oui catalogue. ( )ur n.ible old school deserves a more vdhiiiiinoiis edition, one that will tell in detail the course of study, the ground covered and method of instructi( jii, and if these catalogues contained the names and addresses of all the living or known alniiini il would call to the mind of the prospective student the lives of many men uliom ilu-y would lie glad to cimilatc and renew the school ' s pride as being able to |)oint to s( , many who have lived wortliily. reflecting undying fame upon those at whose feet they had the goo d fortune lo sit when young. Hir lilir.ary is almost useless; it oi ' cupies an cnliie liuilding. et gix ' es litllc in re- turn. If its doors were o])ened early in the nionhng ami kept i pen f ir a lilile while at nighl, in charge of some zealou student trving to work his wav ihiough collci;e, ihe

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arrra iHariar. 1911 a lietter course on anesthetics would l e valuable additions to the dental compreliensicm. The number of chairs and demonstrators should keep pace with tlic number of student to be taught. If the dental student could secure the same demonstrator each day till a j;i en case be finished the work would be more co-ordinate and better service rendered. The use of a chemical laboratory would fix in the student ' s mind that which, if left to the un- aided memory must soon be lost. The use of the museum should l)e encouratjed. The clinics which exist now only in name should constitute a jirominent feature in dental in- struction and each student in exchange fiir his diploma should give more knowledge and more skillful work. Matriculation should be restricted to those who can at least s])eak the English language. In the Medical Department Easter holidays should be annt)nnced without the UNual petition. More autopsies should be held with the assistance of students and a collection of pathological and anatomical slides of unusual conditions by appropriate staining reactions be secured to be exhibited during the lectures, facilitated by magic lantern or other device. Eew things would add more to the teachers ' power to imjiart knowledge. Mid-winter ex- aminations that shall be final on the subject matter covered would inform l)oth student and teacher where increased efifort was needed. I would most respectfully suggest that manv of the lectures on anatomy be delivered from the centre of the dissecting hall, with students grouped around the dissections to secure a fuller com]:)rehension of what the lec- turer is teaching. A change of schedule could be made that would allow a more generous dinner hour. The minor branches of the senior year would become more efficient if divided into elect- ive groups. When college property is kept properly repaired there are many reasons to believe the disposition to its injury ceases. A small assessment per man each year would permit the classes to give smokers to their instructors which would tend to lessen the gulf between professor and student and perpetuate the good feeling that should ever exist between the host and departing guest. Five ])er cent, of the University ' s income for one year would abundantly sullice for our main- little changes, it only demands that we make useful our latent resources. The ])rice is not money Init interest from those who would guide the destiny of our school. That human enterprise is great that wisely, day by da ' , uses for the good of its kind the means at hand, and my earnest desire is that my pr(.)fessional . lnia Mater, dear old .Mary- land, shall be truly a great university. ERNEST S. i;i ' I.LL ' c ' K.