36 ANDREW JACKSON HOWE. 



capacity and conditions. The main purpose of educa- 

 tion is to make the human mind supple, strong, and ef- 

 fective, whatever be the avocation of life entered upon, 

 or in whatever career an individual may be called 

 upon to act, whether of choice or accident. An edu- 

 cation is something to help the intellectual citizen to 

 perform his part in life to better advantage than could 

 be done without it." 



It is my opinion that Latin should be an optional 

 and not a compulsory study in a medical education. 

 The success of a physician depends more upon a cer- 

 tain tact than upon erudition. A knowledge of hu- 

 man nature a ready understanding of its weak points 

 does more for a physician than a familiarity with 

 the conjugation of a Latin verb. However, I would 

 not be misunderstood in this matter. If two young 

 men of equal ability start off together in the study of 

 medicine, the 'one with a non-classical training and the 

 other with a university degree, the chances are that 

 the latter will outstrip the former in the professional 

 race, especially in large to\vns and cities where culture 

 is appreciated. The unlettered doctor is known as 

 such, and intellectual brilliance will not hide the fact. 

 He is something less than what he ought to be or 

 might have been. He may have genius, but lacks the 

 ability to display it to the best advantage. But, learn- 

 ing without talent is not as valuable as talent without 

 education. A combination of the two is what makes 

 the strongest man. 



Professor Huxley, in a recent letter to the Londo?i 

 Times, has expressed himself rather severely on the 

 perfunctory Latin course, saying: "Medical students, 

 like other cultured people, should have a sound liter- 

 ary training, and that they may attain a good degree 



