Volume 1

Report from the Select Committee on Medical Education : with the minutes of evidence, and appendix.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Medical Education.
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report from the Select Committee on Medical Education : with the minutes of evidence, and appendix. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    terms ?—The professor of physic lectures from ten to eleven, and attends at the JQ]^n Haviland hospital at eleven. The professor of chemistry lectures from twelve to one. The Esq. m.d. professor of anatomy from one to two in Michaelmas and Lent terms. The professor of botany lectures from one to two in Easter term, and the professor of mineralogy 18 April 1834. from two to three. 3886. Have any students been able to attend all the courses required in three successive terms ?—I cannot say. They bring the certificates to me, of having attended the lectures. I do not inquire when they attended them. They certainly could attend them all, if the hours do not interfere, and I dare say they do not. 3887. What evidence are the candidates for a degree required to produce that they have actually attended the lectures, hospitals, &c. which they are required to attend ?—That is implied in the grace I have read. 3888. With regard to hospitals that is the same ?—They are to bring a certificate from the hospitals, to satisfy the professor of physic, 3889. Is that given by the physician of the hospital ?—Yes, it is a certificate to satisfy the professor that the students have attended, and have been diligent in their attendance. 3890. What means are taken to ascertain, that the certificates produced are really satisfactorv evidence of the lectures having been attended ? —Each individual who attends the lecture brings with him a card; and if he neglects to attend, < I require him to make up the number on another occasion. 3891. If any one lecture out of the whole course were missed, should you require him, in a subsequent course, to attend to make up that day ?—I might do so. 3892. A slight omission, perhaps, you would not take notice of?—They generally make up the full number. I should not refuse a man a degree for one lecture, I dare say, 3893. Since no attempt is made to enforce regularity of attendance on the part of students in general at the lectures of the professors of anatomy or chemistry, by what means is it ascertained that medical students have actually attended those lectures with regularity ?—I really do not know what the practice is. With regard to the professors, they certify to me that the students have attended their lectures ; and I presume that they have ascertained it, before they certify it. 3894. How long is it before a candidate for the degree of bachelor in medicine keeps his exercises in the schools, that he is examined by the professors of anatomy, chemistry and botany?—The usual plan is, that the examination shall be under- gone just before the taking of the degree. We have three examinations in the » year, the principal one in May. 3895. What are the periods of the year ?—It is discretionary ; we are limited to have one in each term, and it is suited to our convenience. 3896. The principal one is in May, so that the candidates may take the degrees at the commencement?—No ; the bachelors do not take their degrees at the com- mencement; but soon after they have passed their exercises, generally in June. 3897. When rvas it that you discontinued examining in all the subjects of physic, anatomy, chemistry, and botany ; and that a part of that examination devolved upon the several professors of anatomy, chemistry, and botany ?—In 1829 ; but allow me to say, that the subjects referred to in the last question do not include all the subjects of examination. The candidates are examined in the Greek and Latin medical writers, besides. 3898. You mean that not only is that examination conducted by you, but that, shortly before granting the degree, the professors of anatomy, chemistry, and botany, examine also ?—All the examinations commonly take place in the course of the same week. There are three or four days employed about it. It usually begins on Monday, and terminates on Thursday ; sometimes on Wednesday ; or it may be protracted till Friday. I examine twice, and each of the other professors once. • 3899. Do they adopt the mode of having printed papers of questions ?—It is prescribed in the grace I have handed in, not that the questions must be printed, but they may be written; the answers must be written. 3900. Are you able to produce any of the papers that have been laid before candidates by the professors of anatomy, chemistry, and botany?—I rim not able to produce them. 3901. Should you be able to procure the questions proposed at the last exami- nation ?—Probably not, because they are not always printed ; and unless there are a good many candidates, we do not take the pains to have them printed, and the professors may not keep a copy of the written questions; but I have no doubt 0.20. K K 2 1 could
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