THE REFORM OF THE MEDICAL CURRICULUM 671 



equally incapable of using their own language effectively in 

 writing accounts of their work, equally untrained in the use 

 of books, equally lacking in manipulative skill. Indeed, the 

 non-matriculated students, on the whole, have had freer minds 

 and from this point of view have been better students. The 

 impression I have gained is that the matriculation is of value 

 only as a proof of ability to pass an examination of a particular 

 type — of the literary type ; in fact, the chief tendency of the 

 examination appears to be to bring about the selection of a 

 bookish type of student. I am persuaded that for all practical 

 purposes a properly conducted College. entrance examination is 

 both far superior to the matriculation and free from its unfair- 

 ness — for many are denied access to the University degrees 

 by failure at matriculation who are quite able to follow 

 University courses of instruction with profit, improving vastly 

 as they gain in experience. It is perfectly easy, in a college 

 entrance examination, to judge which of the candidates are 

 likely to be able to follow the courses ; in the few uncertain 

 cases, no doubt remains at the end of the first or second term 

 of instruction and incapables are then easily weeded out. 



But the whole subject is full of difficulty. At present we 

 are but moving in a vicious circle. The work done in the 

 schools is unsatisfactory as a preparation, in laying a suitable 

 foundation, for the work to be done at the University ; the 

 Universities, however, exercise no proper influence on the 

 schools, owing to the academic unpractical character of their 

 entrance examinations. The two centres of activity need to be 

 co-ordinated and to be brought into effective co-operation. The 

 only way in which it appears probable that we may succeed 

 in introducing the desired reforms is by linking up the 

 secondary schools directly with the University schools, by 

 leaving these latter to determine the conditions under which 

 entry to their courses shall be accorded to scholars from 

 secondary schools. But it will be desirable, as far as possible, 

 to dispense with entrance examinations and to exact evidence 

 of training instead. The system in vogue in the Universities 

 of the Middle-West in the United States of America appears 

 to be the one most deserving of trial. This involves the in- 

 spection of the secondary schools by competent persons from the 

 University schools and the admission forthwith at the University 



