THE TRAINING OF A PHYSICIAN. 3" 



its guidance. The nearer the teacher, the better the work. The value of 

 teachers grows less as the square of their distance increases. If the 

 college course is a secondary matter, with inferior teachers talking 

 down to their students lessons prescribed because the faculty cares too 

 little for the individual man to adapt its courses to his needs, an 

 atmosphere of trifling, or no atmosphere at all, the sooner the student 

 gets into something real, the better. A good university may develop 

 in a great city, a good college can not, because teachers and students 

 are all too far apart. 



In this matter the college degree is only an incident. It is the 

 badge of admission to the roll of alumni, a certificate of good fellow- 

 ship, which always means a little and may imply a great deal. But 

 the degree is only one of the toys of our educational babyhood, as hoods 

 and gowns represent educational bib and tucker. Don't go out of your 

 way to take a degree. Don't miss it because you are in too great a 

 hurry. For the highest professional success, you can afford to take 

 your time. It takes more provision for a cruise to the Cape of Good 

 Hope than for a trip to the Isle of Dogs. 





'ft* 





