October 27, 1916] 



SCIENCE 



593 



through an insight into literature and his- 

 tory. At the same time this would free the 

 boys for studies in the basic sciences and 

 the girls for similar studies and work in 

 household economics and home-making and 

 such other practical work as begins to ap- 

 peal to them in the last years of high school. 



In medicine the basic sciences begun in 

 the high school should be continued in the 

 university and constitute the chief object of 

 the first two years' university training, 

 which should be required for entrance into 

 medicine. The studies should probably in- 

 clude, judging by your own observations 

 on modern trends, physics, chemistry, biol- 

 ogy and a reading knowledge of German or 

 French, whilst advantage should be taken 

 of the elective system to choose work in 

 economics, sociology and human relation- 

 ships, including the obligation as well as the 

 rights of the ordinary citizen. Psychology 

 should be available either here or as an elec- 

 tive in medicine after the foundation has 

 been laid in the anatomy, physiology and 

 pathology of the nervous system. 



Considerable discussion has arisen over 

 the demand of some American universities 

 of the bachelor's degree in arts or science 

 as a prerequisite for medicine. Harvard 

 and Hopkins were the leaders and certain 

 other universities have followed. However 

 desirable it might be to medical students to 

 take a previous arts or science degree, we 

 must not forget that the rapid accumulation 

 of knowledge concerning the science and art 

 of medicine calls for a lengthening rather 

 than a shortening of the medical course 

 itself. Even with the increase in longevity 

 which we fondly expect, we have to reeog-' 

 nize that there is a limit to the formal 

 training period. "We must be practical and 

 can not expect to spend longer time in 

 training than the prospective doctor ex- 

 pects to spend in practise. 



There is some sentiment for the inclusion 



of the so-called medical sciences, anatomy, 

 physiology, pathology and bacteriology, 

 with the arts or sciences in the university 

 rather than in the medical college. This 

 view is debatable. In any event, on the 

 conclusion of the two years of work in the 

 university preliminary to entering into 

 medicine, plus the two years' work in anat- 

 omy, physiology, biology, chemistry, bac- 

 teriology, pathology, etc., the student is de- 

 serving of a bachelor's degree in science. 

 Even should he discontinue his medical 

 studies at this point, he has completed a 

 course which fits him for work in many 

 other directions and which has as great 

 cultural and scientific value as many others 

 which he might select for a science or arts 

 degree. 



Certain of the Canadian universities and 

 some of the American, such as Minnesota, 

 grant the B.A. degree to those who have 

 completed three years in arts, inclusive of 

 the sciences, modern language, etc., when 

 the students have completed the first year 's 

 work in anatomy, physiology, bacteriology, 

 etc. Such a course is to be recommended 

 for the young man or woman who has the 

 time or inclination for it. 



In passing from one year to the next, 

 certain students, deficient through illness, 

 lack of application or other causes, may be 

 saved the loss of a whole year by providing 

 summer or vacation courses. These are 

 very useful too, for migrants from other 

 colleges, whose curricula are not identical 

 with that of the new institution. On the 

 whole, the best and most economic plan 

 has been devised at the University of Chi- 

 cago with the four-quarter plan, whereby 

 the university is in continuous session. 

 Modern economic efficiency demands that 

 expensive plant and equipment be used to 

 their fullest capacity. The human element, 

 i. e., staff and students, alone require rest. 



In regard to the training of the clinical 



