Introductory address to the students of University College, at the opening of the winter session in the Faculty of Medicine, 1844-45 / by Samuel Cooper.

Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Introductory address to the students of University College, at the opening of the winter session in the Faculty of Medicine, 1844-45 / by Samuel Cooper. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    minute observation of them in modern times, has had the best etfects, particularly when such division has been exercised by men who have had the same foundation, and begun their respective careers enriched from the same stores of science; for, gentlemen, if I am certain of any thing relating to professional education, it is, that medical and sur- gical practitioners should all go through precisely the same elementary studies; because, in whatever way the question about the classification of cases into medical and surgical may be disposed of, the unity and indivisibility of the science itself must continue. That the division of labour in our ]3rofession has materially contributed to its imj)rovement, is a fact that admits of no dispute. Human life is not long enough, and human faculties are not powerful enough, for any one man to attain in both depart- ments of the profession the degree of perfection, to which the talents and industiy of many generations have now brought them. Had he the longevity of a patriarch, his time would yet be insufiicient for so ambitious a purpose. I calculate, that the young physician and the young surgeon, who mean to reach the temple of Fame, ought to commence their journey and travel together many miles along the same road; but tliat, when they have proceeded a certain distance, they ought to diverge a little, each taking the patli leading to the summit of that branch of practice to