Remarks on the necessity for a revision of the medical curriculum made at the Medical Teachers' Association on Monday, March 16, 1868 / by Walter Rivington.

  • Rivington, Walter, 1835-1897
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the necessity for a revision of the medical curriculum made at the Medical Teachers' Association on Monday, March 16, 1868 / by Walter Rivington. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    so that a higher standard of attainment might be demanded by the Examining Boards. Thirdly, there would be Practical Chemistry united with the greater part of Organic Chemistry. In this course, which may be termed a course of Medical Chemistry, the chemistry of the human body in health would be completely taught, both theoretically and practically. The inevitable blow-pipe would find its proper level, and both blow¬ pipes and glass-blowing would yield up some portion of the time spent over them to the mode of testing for poisons, and examining air, water, food, and the secretions of the human body. Fourthly, there would be Materia Medica deprived of its dryness by the removal of the method of manufacturing drugs, and the wearisome decompositions which take place in the process, but still affording information about their nature, composition, doses, adulterations, and mode of prescription; but above all, describing in a full and interesting manner their physiological actions. And lastly, I would advocate the introduction of a large part of Practical Hygiene now so sadly neglected, which would include all the conditions of health, all the philosophy of physical exercise, physical training, clothing and food, the principles of ventilation, and the structure of dwellings. If eigditeen months would not be too long for the acquisition of these subjects, it follows that the medical student should not be required to. attend other things at the same time; and if he should not be obliged to learn other things, it follows that the present compulsory attendance on Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery in the first eighteen months, and the present compulsory exercise in the wards during the first eighteen months,—an exercise of the legs at the expense of the brain,— would cease and determine. With the exception of the post¬ ponement of Midwifery, the ends alluded to would be effected by the Fifth and Sixth Resolutions. But these Resolutions have a wider scope, which a few words will explain. The Fifth Reso¬ lution would have the effect of abolishing compulsory attendance during the first eighteen months, not only on courses of Medicine and Surgery, but on second courses of Anatomy and Physiology. Whatever ma}^ be the value of compulsory attendance on lectures (a subject on which I reserve my
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