70 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



taking such a course in physics as has been recommended, should have 

 had algebra, plane geometry and plane trigonometry. These courses 

 come normally within the province of any good high school program. 

 For advanced work in physics, solid geometry and higher mathematics 

 are needed. For the benefit of medical students the mathematical 

 requirement in certain special courses in physics is made as light as 

 possible. It may be noted, however, that in the college course for 

 future medical students outlined by Johns Hopkins University, the 

 study of mathematics extends through two years. 



Psychology. — Although psychology is a college study directly re- 

 lated to medicine, it appears that no medical school has yet required 

 it for admission. A course in psychology often begins with a summary 

 account of the nervous system and sense organs, and proceeds with the 

 study of the states of consciousness. It discusses sensations and the 

 nature of pain, and deals with instincts, memory, habits and the will. 

 It gives the student a good understanding of " treatment by sugges- 

 tion " and is a foundation for the study of abnormal minds, especially 

 of hallucinations, illusions and delusions. Some knowledge of child 

 development and an insight into sexual instincts, neurasthenia and 

 psychasthenia are afforded by such a course. It is important for parts 

 of physiology, pediatrics and internal medicine, and particularly for 

 neurology and psychiatry. A half-course in psychology is therefore 

 recommended. 



French and German. — Since much of the progress of medicine is 

 recorded in French and German publications, it is desirable, and in 

 several schools it is required, that students should be able to read both 

 of these languages. A beginning should be made before entering col- 

 lege. Courses in general literature, with practise in writing and 

 speaking, will be found more profitable than those which are restricted 

 to reading scientific prose. The importance of French and German in 

 medicine is indicated by the number of periodicals in these languages 

 for which medical libraries subscribe. The figures for the scientific 

 libraries at the Harvard Medical School and for the Boston Medical 

 Library, which is used largely by practitioners, are as follows: 



SUBSCBIPTIONS FOR PERIODICALS 



English 



Harvard Medical Libraries 110 



Boston Medical Library 88 



198 



Since this medical literature should be at the command of students 

 and practitioners, and is indispensable for investigators, it is necessary 

 to be able to read both French and German. 



Other Foreign Languages. — Although important medical articles 



French 



German 



35 



109 



67 



161 



102 



270 



