To the members of the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh / [James Hamilton].

  • Hamilton, James, 1767-1839.
Date:
[1825]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: To the members of the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh / [James Hamilton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    new appointment; and as that had been granted, I had supposed that they could not take any steps which might involve them in an open warfare with me. Besides, I have no hesitation in declaring my conviction, (without meaning any personal offence to those Gentlemen), that they are the two Members of the Senatus Academicus, among the least compe¬ tent, from their experience, to decide upon the education of men who are to be engaged in the active duties of Medical Practice, and, of course, to estimate the utility of my Professorship ; and I have no doubt, that in this opinion every Medical Practitioner in Edinburgh will cordially agree. Dr Hope should recollect, that he has not practised Medicine for above twenty years past, and therefore, that he could have had no opportunity of understanding the present state of Medical Knowledge. Since his day, there has been a very great change in the acquirements and in the manners of Medical Practitioners, and it can scarcely be doubted, that there ought therefore to be a correspondent change in the course of Education. As to the Reverend Dr Brunton, his interference in the affairs of the Medical Department of the University is, perhaps, still more in¬ excusable. As one of the Clergymen of the Established Church of Scotland, as Professor of Oriental Languages, and as joint and resident Librarian of the College, it may be supposed, that his time is too fully occupied to leave leisure for legislating for the Medical Faculty; and even if he had that leisure, it cannot be conceded that he has the ne¬ cessary previous knowledge of the subject. But leaving the mover and the seconder of this attempt at censure upon my conduct, to their own reflections, let us consider the motion itself It bears, “ That though the Senatus Academicus are perfectly E. sensible