72 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



That Professor Tyndall is unable to draw anything as seen from anywhere, 

 I observe to be a matter of much self-congratulation to him; such inability 

 serving farther to establish the sense of his proud position as a man of science, 

 above us poor artists who labor under the disadvantage of being able with some 

 accuracy to see, and with some fidelity to represent, what we wish to talk about. 



If a course in art can develop this ability, it should be considered 

 by medical students. To perceive accurately is not only a source of 

 great enjoyment in itself, but to a certain extent it is an aid to the 

 practising physician. One medical school in the United States recom- 

 mends drawing for admission, and another provides instruction in 

 anatomical drawing as an elective course. 2 



College Physiology and Hygiene. — Some colleges offer courses in 

 physiology which are dilute presentations of medical school work. 

 Thus, in one course, the student may be taught something of human 

 anatomy, physiology, hygiene and medical bacteriology, all of which 

 may be useful for those who are not intending to study medicine. It 

 is wholly undesirable for the medical student to take time from other 

 college work for the sake of such courses. 



The Value of Research. — Some teachers believe that the original 

 investigation of a subject in science, since it compels the student to 

 think for himself and to depend upon his own observations, is worth 

 several regular courses as a preparation for medical study. Certain 

 researches, moreover, are not difficult. A study of the variation in 

 the number of rays in the daisy, or of spinal anomalies in the sala- 

 mander, might be made by an undergraduate if specially taught for 

 this purpose. Such researches, however, are generally at the expense 

 of fundamental education, and " researchlings " are not good students 

 of elementary subjects. 



Summary of Recommendations. — In the preceding pages it has been 

 recommended that the medical student should have studied Latin, 

 French, German, mathematics, physics and drawing in preparation 

 for college ; and that in college he should elect courses in zoology, botany, 

 chemistry, physics, psychology, English, French and German, since 

 these studies will be of direct value in connection with his work in 

 the medical school. Between two and three years will be required for 

 the recommended studies, but some time will be free for philosophy, 

 history and political economy. These subjects are named since they 



2 Since this was written, President Eliot has referred to the advantages of 

 studying drawing in the preparatory schools, as follows: "A university student 

 who enters on the subject of botany or zoology is really crippled unless he can 

 draw. He will make much slower progress; and will not have the best means 

 of recording what he sees. And yet it is only a small percentage of the young 

 men who now come to Harvard College that have any capacity for drawing. 

 They have never had any opportunity to acquire any artistic skill." — Address 

 to Graduates of the Massachusetts Normal Art School, April, 1909. 



