446 



NA TURE 



\J\Iarch 1 1 , I ! 



lionours in biology, has been in no better position as 

 regards his medical curriculum than he would have been 

 had he taken an ordinary pass degree. For the statute 

 now in force, which we hope in a week or two will be 

 replaced by a better, does not permit him to present 

 himself for his medical examination in anatomy and 

 physiology until two years after his degree. In future it 

 will be possible for him to do this at the same time with 

 his examination in the Honour School in the same subjects ; 

 the practical effect of the change being that two years 

 will be saved, and that he will be enabled and encouraged 

 as an imdcrgraduaie to stud)- human anatomy and physio- 

 logy in their relation to medicine. 



In Oxford, as is well known, every man who intends to 

 take a degree in Arts, which is a necessary precursor to 

 that in Medicine, must have passed the examination in 

 classics and mathematics, which is known as " Modera- 

 tions," and inasmuch as he is not permitted to present 

 himself for this examination until the fourth term after 

 matriculation, it is obvious that he is practically precluded 

 (supposing him to have Medicine in view) from beginning 

 his scientific education until after this period. Conse- 

 quently, of the four years which intervene between 

 matriculation and his final examination in the Natural 

 Science School, only three at most are at his disposal for 

 the study of physics, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology.' 

 Of these three years one at the very least is occupied 

 in acquiring a sufficient knowledge of the four subjects to 

 pass the very thorough and practical " Preliminary 

 Examination." In the scanty remainder of time which is 

 thus left to him he has to get through the most important 

 part of his Oxford work. He has to acquire such pro- 

 ficiency in physiology as will enable him to obtain a class 

 in the Natural Science School, in addition to a very de- 

 tailed knowledge of human anatomy and a limited 

 acquaintance with organic chemistry. Under present 

 conditions this can only be accomplished by men of ex- 

 ceptional power of work. The rest find it to their 

 advantage to defer their anatomy and chemistry for 

 another year, and consequently are not in a position 

 to enter on their hospital studies until five years after ma- 

 triculation. As this is more time than men of moderate 

 means can spare, our system cannot be considered satis- 

 factory until the medical student is enabled to devote the 

 four years of University residence entirely to scientific 

 education. The occupation of the first year in studies 

 which, however excellent in themselves, do not fit him 

 for the hard work before him is a grievance of which he 

 may justly claim to be relieved. As, however, the ex- 

 emption of natural science students from Moderations 

 has already in principle been accepted by Congregation, 

 there can be little doubt that, in the course of a year or 

 two, the desired change will be carried into effect. 



The great success of the School of Medicine at Cam- 

 bridge, although no doubt chiefly due to the ability and 

 energy of the men who are at the head of it, affords 

 evidence that the conditions under which medical educa- 

 tion is there conducted, are in themselves well adapted 

 to the requirements of students. It is therefore of interest 

 to compare our own proposed arrangements with those 

 of Cambridge. Assuming that, with the aid of the new 

 Faculty of Medicine, we succeed in giving eftect to the 

 views above indicated, there will still be fundamental 

 differences between the two schools. 



The first of these is that whereas here every aspirant to 

 the degree in Medicine must have first graduated in Arts, 

 the Cambridge student becomes from the moment that 

 he has passed the " Previous Examination" free to devote 

 himself exclusively to medicine. Tliis of course means 

 that, whereas in Oxford at least four years must intervene 

 between Matriculation and the first examination in medi- 

 cine, in Cambridge the corresponding point is reached in 



in the Oxford ihi^ 



e of study in Oxford : 

 r J.^nuary 27, i3S6. 



three years, or even in two, — a loss of time which is 

 chiefly due to the circumstance already referred to, that 

 the year which intervenes between Responsions and the 

 First Public Examination, is by the Cambridge medical 

 student devoted to physics, chemistry, and biology. It 

 is not, however, in this way only that our Oxford system 

 tends to lengthen the course of medical study. Our 

 " Preliminaries," which are adapted to the requirements 

 of an Honour School, are at Cambridge represented by a 

 pass examination in the same subjects, specially intended 

 for medical students, and therefore presumably easier. 

 But it is a point of much more importance that our 

 medical candidate is required, before he presents himself 

 for any medical examination, to have obtained a class in 

 one of the branches of biology. On general grounds there 

 seems reason for thinking that this is disadvantageous, for 

 it does a man harm to compel him to pass an honour exam- 

 ination for, if one may so express one's self, pass purposes. 

 Of the two subjects open to him, the medical student 

 naturally chooses physiology, not only because it is more 

 closely related to medicine, but because he may hope, by 

 obtaining a first or second class, to exempt himself from 

 farther examination. In that subject the schedules are 

 framed for the purpose of affording first or second class 

 candidates the opportunity of showing their knowledge. 

 Consequently, in attempting to prepare for it, the medical 

 student who studies physiology specially for the sake of 

 its applications to medicine, acquires a knowledge of 

 wider range than he requires, but of imperfect quality. 

 The evil is a serious one, but happily not difficult to 

 remedy — either by establishing a pass examination in 

 physiology, or, more simply, by marking oft' in the 

 schedules those subjects which are of less importance to 

 the medical student than the rest. 



Enough has been said to show that, however insignificant 

 the position of medicine in Oxford may seem to be at 

 present, it is not likely to remain so. One of the diffi- 

 culties in the way of medical study here — the non- 

 recognition by the licensing bodies of Oxford teaching — 

 was removed a year ago. The other is the occupation of 

 time, of which the student requires every moment for his 

 preliminary training in physics, chemistry, and ele- 

 mentary biology, with studies which, excellent in them- 

 selves, are not conducive to his purpose. From the 

 moment that we are relieved from this drawback, we 

 shall have everything in our favour, and success or failure 

 will depend on our own exertion. In the meantime, it is 

 not too soon to proceed with the organisation of our 

 system of studies, so that, when the opportunity is offered 

 for efficient action, we mi)- be prepared to take advantage 

 (fit. J. B. S. 



CHARLES WILLIAM PEACH 



AT the ripe age of eighty-six this genial and enthusi- 

 astic naturalist has at last passed away. Never was 

 there a more notable example of the irrepressible instinct 

 of a true lover of nature. Born in Northamptonshire, 

 he eventually joined the Coast-Guard service, and was 

 stationed at various parts of the coast where smuggling 

 went on apace and where his shrewdness and tact were 

 often more than a match for the daring spirits who defied 

 the revenue laws. But in the intervals of his duties he 

 found time for close observation of the living things he 

 met with along the shores and of the plants, insects, birds, 

 and fishes he saw inland. Working in the pre-Darwinian 

 days, when the adding of new species to the known list 

 was one of the chief aims of natural history students, 

 his zeal was early enlisted on behalf of the species-makers. 

 Some twenty species and several genera of sponges were 

 first made known by him as inhabitants of our seas. He 

 considerably augmented our list of native hydrozoa and 

 polyzoa. Among the naked-eyed medus?e, echinoderms, 

 moUusks, and fishes he also materially increased our know- 



