_ NATURE 
© THURSDAY, OCTO3ER 2, 1873 
Se 
ON MEDICAL STUDIES 
S at the present time so many students have just 
assembled at the medical schools in London and 
the provinces to commence or continue their medical 
education, we think that notwithstanding the Jadvice so 
fre-ly giveh them in all directions by their friends, and 
especially by those who deliver the introductory addresses 
at the different hospitals, there are some few points to 
which their attetition cannot be too frequently directed 
First; wich regird to the ranze of subjects which is 
required by the higher examining boards, such as the 
University of London, ia the earlier stagés of the medical 
curriculum. There cannot be the least doubt, though 
several who have not patticipated in its advantages are 
fond of expressing an opinion to the contrary, that the 
wider and more extended the field of study that can be 
grasped by a student at the outset, the more chance he 
has of ultimate success; and he who has no higher 
o>j2ct in view than that of passing the least difficult of 
the necessary examinations which give him a licence to 
practise, mist ultimately find himself far behirid in the 
race. In surgery, no doubt, there are a few who, without 
much scientific knowledge, have attained great eminence 
as operators, on accoutit of their manual dexterity ; but 
this position ought not to be the aspiration of the com- 
mencing student, as the reputation is generally of short 
daratioa, and is not much higher than that of a man who 
has rowed in a winning University boat-race. 
Oae great argunent in favour of a liberal medical 
education is that the meatal capacities of the young men 
who commence it are very different ; and if those who 
are the most gifted have but little chance of acquiring a 
knowledge of the facts and theories of Science, as they 
stind at the tim: at which they study, they are placed in 
a position of disadvantage for future research; and find it 
always difficult to make up for lost time. Wa4en all have 
t> start on the extended course, which includes a know- 
ledge of physics, botany, pure physiolozy, and chemistry, 
those wh? have the capacity for higher work in Science 
obtain an opportunity of developing their tendencies, and 
are often led to give up their origiaal design of being 
medical practitioners, to becom2 specialists in their 
fayourite subjects, and an honour to Natural and Medical 
Science. This means of selecting the best men for 
scientific work would be a sufficient result in itself to 
justify the primary education of all medical students in 
the pure sciences that relate indirectly to medicine ; for 
it must be remembered by those who hold the contrary 
opinion, that it is to its scientific supporters that the 
medical profession owes most of its dignity. If we look 
at the names of those who stand highest in the pro- 
fession at the present day, it is readily seen that nearly 
all have their reputation based on a thorough scientific 
foundation. The lowering of the scientific standard would, 
therefore, undoubtedly lower the status ofthe profession 
amongst society at large, and it will be generally acknow- 
ledged that such a result is anything but desirable. 
The recent thorough working out of the cause of the 
gutbreak of typhoid fever in the west end of London this 
No, 205—VOL, VII, 
summer, shows how satisfactory are the results which 
follow the employment of a rigorotis scientific method of 
observatioa. How long it would have remained undis- 
covered that the impurities in the milk-supply of a locality 
are the not unfrequent caus? of an outbreak of typhoid 
fever it is impossible to say, if the subject had not béen 
entered upon and carried through in a miafiner which 
does great credit to those who detected its origin; as 
Dr. Ballard had done on a former occasion in Islington. 
A second point worthy of attention is the social posi- 
tion of the medical studeat. That he generally does not 
compare favourably with the undergraduates of Oxford 
and Cambridge is certain ; but why this is thé case does 
not seem to be so definitely settled: One of the gréat 
reasons is that the medical education does fiot ificlude 
anything but the mental training : and although the medi- 
cal student is like the average University under- 
geaduate so far as age, preliminary education, and 
object of life are concerned, nevertheless after a curti- 
culum of three years or more; the latter has made more 
progress as a social individual; The different natures of 
their studies cannot be proved to have anything to do 
with the difference in the results, and nearly all may be 
traced to the systems in which each participates. The 
University undergraduate is subject to two independent in- 
fluences for good. A fixed code of University and College 
rules restrains him in many directions, as with regard to 
his conduct and the allotment of his time ; at the same 
time that a much more stringent, but not written code, the 
result of his necessarily intimate relations with a large 
number of companions of his own age, regulates the 
details of his actions continually, the infringement of which 
code removes him from his most pleasurable source of 
enjoyment during leisure hours. Most medical students 
miss both of these. The absence of a Proctorial system 
and College rules mikes him free to his heart’s content ; 
and the comparative smallness, a3 a rule, of the clique to 
which he belongs, helps to encourage rather than remove 
objectionable individual peculiarities, which would not be 
tolerated in general society. It is excessive freedom which 
is the bane of the young medical student, and the introduc- 
tion of any system which provided a reasonable amount of 
restraint during the medical education would undoubtedly 
improve the social status of its undergraduates. At= 
tempts have been made, but on too small a scale to be 
really successful. If the leading schools could be 
persuaded to invest money in building suitable apart- 
ments for their pupils, and spend part of the 
profits which must necessarily accrue to them, in 
giving scholarships, open only to those who resided in 
such buildings, a system might be developed which, after 
some time, from the convincing evidence it would give 
of its advantages, would cause all to participate in it, 
Until there is much more co-operative feeling among the 
different schools in London, it is difficult to conceive how 
this orany other really marked improvement can be effected. 
Whilst things stand as they do, we are convinced that, in 
the long run, those will enjoy the most profitable student 
ship, and afterwards find themselves in the most advan- 
tageous position, who put themselves under reasonable 
restraint, and endeavour to extend their circle of ac- 
quaintance beyond the few sympathising “ chums,” 
who generally have but little influence for good, at the 
ALA 
