340 
OBSERVATIONS ON MEDICAL EDUCATION. 
than if they were ignorant of all others ; and they might, after a 
certain devotion of time to such object, and passing a second and 
searching examination, be received into the class of consulting 
practitioners, with the distinct understanding of their confining 
their practice to medicine or surgery, according to their choice, and 
not becoming the rivals of their brethren in general practice, by 
dabbling in all. By such a plan, a general practitioner could, as 
his experience increased, or his views in life altered with his incli- 
nations and circumstances, pass at any future time into the class of 
consulting practitioners. One great and serious difficulty stands 
in the way, at present, of any hope of this important adoption of 
one common portal to all ; this is one of which I can speak with 
some authority; — I refer to the too frequently imperfect preliminary 
education of the aspirants for our profession. The distinction of 
grades which has so long existed has been a pregnant cause of this 
fearful evil. Too few, excepting those looking forward to the 
College of Physicians, commence their medical studies with any 
thing like a sound classical and mathematical education, so essen- 
tial to their proper standing, and the want of which all must deplore 
who unfortunately do not possess such advantages. In conversing 
with “ freshmen” on such subjects, it is too generally found that 
they bring with them a mere smattering of classical but little ma- 
thematical knowledge, and too frequently an absolute ignorance of 
the modern languages, so essential and important to every gentle- 
man who becomes a member of a liberal profession. Of course, there 
are many and noble exceptions to this statement, but still the 
picture I have presented is not overdrawn ; the mass certainly fall 
under the category I have alluded to. It is painful to see a person 
who might make a respectable tradesman or trustworthy clerk 
entering a profession to which he is by education unfitted. Nor 
can this be remedied, until the state interferes with the great subject 
of education. It is a disgraceful thing, that in England any man 
may open a school, and assume the dignity of preceptor, without an 
approach to the attainments which fit him for his practice. When 
we reflect but for a moment on the influence exerted by education 
on the boy in the career, — nay, on the habits, intellect, and mind 
of the man, — can we avoid being struck with the monstrous ano- 
maly which compels every illiterate enthusiast who considers he 
has a divine call to apply for a license to preach, and which does 
not permit the lawyer to practise without his annually renewed 
license, should yet not interfere to protect the mind of the child 
(who is, indeed, the father of the man) from running to waste from 
ignorance and neglect, or becoming poisoned by the rank weeds 
arising from bad associations and often worse principles ? It is true 
that good schools are to be met with, and that many on a colle- 
