CHAPTER VI. MEDICAL EDUCATION. Degrees-Diplomas-Medical Appointments-Success-Reputation-Eminence-Moral and Physical Medicine-Art of Prescribing. It is now universally admitted by all our medical institutions connected with education, that those intended for the study of the healing art should receive a good general and classical education. The professors of all our universities and medical schools, the examiners of all our colleges and apothecaries' societies, delivered their evidence in proof of this point, before Mr. Warburton's Parliamentary Committee on Medical Education and Practice, in the summer of 1834. All the witnesses proved that a knowledge of the Greek, Latin, English, French, German, and Italian languages; of mathematics, logic, moral philosophy, natural history and philosophy; in fine, that the course of general education required by the universities for degrees in arts, is indispensably necessary to those intended for the medical profession. This extensive course of preliminary instruction has long been required by the universities of all candidates for admission into the learned professions; and is now exacted by most of the colleges of surgeons, and societies of apothecaries, of those intended for the practice of medicine. No class of men stand in so much need of extensive erudition and knowledge. They may attend all ranks of society from the lowest to the highest, and ought to be exceedingly well-informed in general as well as in medical literature. A greater character for learning and science cannot exist than that which constitutes an accomplished physician; the most extensive study, and the most comprehensive mind, are therefore requisite. The youth intended for medicine should have all his senses acute, and in the utmost degree of perfec tion; because it is from the perceptibility of the senses alone, that the human mind is stored with all those sublime ideas which shine so conspicuously in the future life of a medical practitioner. When the senses are obtuse, dulness is the consequence; and a dull student never made a brilliant physician. The medical student should, therefore, have the clearest powers of perception, so as to receive accurate impressions, and possess tenacity in their retention. He ought to have a good memory and great reflection. The intellectual faculties should be copiously enriched by indefatigable industry, and unceasing study; with the most extensive ideas of sensation and reflection; with memory, invention, and genius-so as to be capable of arranging a variety of ideas in strict logical order. When all demonstrative facts relating to our art are acquired, reflection, acute reasoning, and profound judgment, will decide the manner in which they are to be applied in the treatment of diseases. What a vast field of knowledge is comprehended in the medical sciences! How many days and years of labour and industry are required! What sedulous diligence is absolutely necessary! We must, therefore, pursue with an ambitious zeal the various branches of the medical and collateral sciences; we should study all, as all united form, with experience, the greatest medical characters. "We set out in pursuit of professional distinction when the buoyancy of youth, and the vigour of imagination lift us over every impediment, and break down every barrier. Hope tints the distance with the most glowing and flattering colours, and the mind revels in delightful anticipations of pleasure, fortune, and renown. A moderate experience in the cold realities of life proves that we have been dreaming, and teaches that if these good things are ever to be realized it is only when years of patient endurance have elapsed, and after the fires of youth have been well nigh expended in the service of our fellow-creatures. Accident may sometimes realize the expectations of youth, but the most universal rule is, that wealth and fame from professional exertion is the slow, though sure reward of long labour and persevering industry. This circumstance is of the greatest advantage to society, and to our profession; but those who have yielded too much to the dominion of hope and fancy, are frequently so much affected by discovering the truth, as to suffer an entire revulsion of feeling, and sink from the most brilliant flights of imagination to the lowest depths of despair. This despondence is permitted sometimes to prey on the mind until it produces neglect of business or harsh misanthropy; and the unfortunate sufferer is continually tortured with notions of the ingratitude of mankind, the neglect of merit, the low state of professional character; while he is letting slip the best opportunities to convince himself of the contrary by efficiently performing those duties his profession enjoins, and society requires. then prepared to discover, that the world yields neither wealth nor distinction except as the price of industry and great deservings. Stop not to consider whether men are ungrateful or merit is neglected; but perform the actions that create a claim to their gratitude; declare your merits by the faithful discharge of your duties: and then you will find such complaint impossible. Be "If such were not to be the result, policy would dictate the propriety of concealing our mortification. The voice of repining and discontent is ever painful and offensive to others; and the same persons who warmly sympathize with a noble spirit struggling against misfortune, and, though brokenhearted, looking calmly on the approach of inevitable fate, despise the creature who is continually vexing their ears with fruitless and peevish complaints, or venting selfish ejaculations against the characters of those who have lived beneath a brighter sky, or been wafted along by more propitious gales. "Of this you may feel perfectly assured, that really meritorious conduct cannot go altogether unrewarded; neither can the fire of true genius be entirely smothered. The time must come when perseverance in the conscientious discharge of high duties will secure the remuneration and respect it is entitled to; the mind that has been wrought up by the study of proper objects, and is sustained by a determined enthusiasm, to effect great purposes, may for a time be weighed down by poverty or misfortune; but, like the giant of ancient fable, its struggles will convulse the superincumbent mass, and must eventually shake off every hindrance to perfect success. "If, in offering these considerations to you on the present occasion, we appear diverging too far from the beaten track, we trust you will pardon the zeal that urges the laying before you, what reason and experience induce us to hope may be to your advantage. Being exclusively devoted to the service of those who are engaged in the study of medicine, we may be allowed in some degree to identify our feelings with theirs, and be anxious to spare them suffering, not less than to aid in insuring their success. Whatever defect there may be in manner, there is none in feeling; nor is there the slightest departure from fact in stating 'For you, ye studious, I strive, For you, I tame my youth to philosophic cares, We may, however, practise any one department suited to our taste or inclination; but we should study and know the whole. One practitioner prefers surgery, another obstetricy, a third aural, a fourth ophthalmic, a fifth dental surgery; others devote themselves to diseases of the brain and mind; some to maladies of the chest; more to those of the heart; many to disorders of the digestive system-stomach, intestines, liver, &c.; more to genito-urinary diseases; others to local affections-lithotrity, gout, &c. But every physician and surgeon should be conversant with the nature and treatment of every species of human disease. It is perfectly impossible to separate diseases into medical, surgical, and obstetrical; as any one disease, no matter what may be its situation, can and does derange and disorder all the organs and functions in the human body. Away, then, with the absurd and untenable distinctions of medicine, surgery, and obstetricy; the profession as a science, is one, and indivisible. It is highly advantageous to the cultivator of the healing art, to visit different universities and schools, and to learn the principles and practice of medicine under the most celebrated * Godman's Addresses, 1824. professors. It is for this reason, that students who commence in London, repair to Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, Vienna, or Pavia. When a man of superior merit is to be found in any part of the world, his fame has great influence on strangers, and remote countries send him disciples and admirers. Few are ignorant of the great afflux of students from many nations to the lectures of Boerhaave, Morgagni, Monro, Hunter, Frank, Cullen, Scarpa, Abernethy, Cooper, &c., &c. It has often been a great advantage to have studied under such masters; and, even in our own time, under an Abernethy, a Cooper, a Dupuytren, a Bell, a Colles, &c. Lucrative and important appointments have been given to the pupils of these eminent individuals. There is, however, a more independent spirit abroad in our day; and few are ready to swear by the word of a master. Moreover, the opinions of all eminent practitioners are generally published, and may be procured with the utmost facility. This incalculable improvement was effected by the medical periodical press, and is now general throughout the world. The periodical press publishes the lectures and opinions of the most celebrated and eminent practitioners of different countries, and presents them on such low terms that every student and practitioner may possess them. It saves a vast expense which would otherwise be incurred, in the purchase of numerous original works; and affords the greatest facility of learning the opinions of celebrated physicians and surgeons of all countries. The medical periodicals also form a complete encyclopædia of the healing art, and prevent the necessity of procuring many expensive works. It is for this reason that every scientific practitioner, and every industrious medical student, possess them. A good library is, however, indispensable to medical practitioners. It ought to contain the best systematic, monographic, and elementary works, of this and foreign countries. A well-selected museum is also a source of much instruction and information. It is likewise essential to associate with literary and scientific individuals, and to join the medical societies and academies. Such are a few of the requisites for |