On medical education. 9 



one or two other places whore a physiological laboratory worthy of 

 the name happens to exist, ;i few students can be conducted through 

 a tolerably complete course of practical work in physiology. But the 

 amount of time which is required for this work, and the fact that such 

 a course is not included within the prescribed curriculum, and is 

 therefore, not requisite for examinational purposes, debars all but a 

 few from following it out. I should like to see every student made 

 to learn his physiology in the same practical manner that he learns 

 his medicine and surgery. But you cannot compel him to do this 

 unless you first provide the means necessary for performing your be- 

 hest. Your student can no more make bricks without straw than could 

 the Israelites of old. You must begin by providing him with well 

 appointed laboratories ; but how is that to be done ? Be sure it will 

 never be done so long as the present ruinous system of competition 

 between the London medical schools continues. I do not believe that 

 any one school unassisted can afford to teach physiology to all its stu- 

 dents, as it ought to be taught. I am sure there is not one school 

 that does so, although, from the tone of some of the advertisements 

 one would think that, in this as in other matters, there was nothing 

 left to be desired. The only hope which I can see, and that is a remote 

 one, lies in the adoption of some system of co-operation under which, 

 amongst other reforms, it might be arranged that the medical students 

 of the different schools should obtain instruction in physiology at a 

 few recognised centres, where it would be possible to make adequate 

 provision for the practical teaching of that subject by those who are 

 themselves engaged in carrying on physiological investigations. 



Whilst the student may profitably occupy his time during the first 

 winter session in familiarising himself with the fundamental facts of 

 physiology and anatomy, he may devote the first summer chiefly to 

 the study of histology, and partly to the acquirement of the rudiments 

 of materia medica, exclusive of the action of drugs. Unquestionably, 

 a complete course of histology, accompanied by practical work with 

 the microscope, of such a nature that each student learns for himself 

 and constantly practises all the more important methods of modern 

 histology, will occupy the greater part of the short summer session 

 What time remains unoccupied by this may probably be most pro- 



