Observations on the principal medical institutions and practice of France, Italy, and Germany : with notices of the universities, and cases from hospital practice : to which is added an appendix, on animal magnetism and homœopathy / by Edwin Lee.

  • Edwin Lee
Date:
1837
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the principal medical institutions and practice of France, Italy, and Germany : with notices of the universities, and cases from hospital practice : to which is added an appendix, on animal magnetism and homœopathy / by Edwin Lee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    When the examination is finished, each of the professors gives his vote separately, as to the fitness of the candidates ; those who are considered not sufficiently qualified, have to study during another year. FLORENCE. Florence, situated in a plain surrounded by the Appenines, has a population of eighty thousand persons, and contains four hospitals; these are placed under the direction of a superintendent, appointed by the grand duke. The Spedale Santa Maria Nuova, for the reception of accidents, acute and chronic diseases, is a handsome edifice, and contains nearly one thousand beds ; the bedsteads are made of iron and have curtains. In some wards the beds are too closely placed together to allow a free circulation of air, but in general the wards are clean, lofty, and well ventilated. A paper, stating the material circumstances and daily progress of each case, is placed at the head of the bed. Patients are admitted on application, and are attended upon by sceurs de la charite. The bodies of those who die are invariably examined, and supply the dissecting room. There are two commodious operating theatres adjoining the surgical wards, one on the ground floor, the other on the first floor; a theatre for the delivery of anatomical and other lectures ; a dissecting room, and a cabinet of pathological anatomy. Separate wards are appropriated to syphilitic patients, and patients afflicted with diseases of the eyes are placed in a darkened ward; a ward is also set apart for those patients who contribute towards their own maintainance, from three to five pauls a day. Two professors of medical clinique, two of surgical clinique, and several assistant physicians and surgeons, who receive salaries, are attached to the service of this hospital. One half of these attendants do duty for six months in the year, at the expiration of which period they are replaced by the other half. The surgical visit takes place at eight o'clock every morning, and the medical visit at ten ; the professors hold clinical discourses with pupils at the bedside of patients. The lectures of the Faculties of Medicine and Surgery are delivered in this hospital, on the different branches of medical education; the examination of candidates for the diploma of medicine or surgery takes place before the members of the colleges. Medical candidates are previously obliged to take their degree at the university of Pisa. The Spedale di Bonifacio is divided into two parts, one for insane patients, and the other for military patients, and those afflicted with incurable diseases. The hospital contains about eight hundred beds: the wards are spacious, airy, and particularly clean. The average number of insane in the hospital is from two hundred and eighty to three hundred: males are in greater proportion than females. Small cells, having each a window with iron bars, and con-
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