The introductory lecture delivered at King's College, London, on opening the medical session of 1848-49 / by William Fergusson.

  • William Fergusson
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The introductory lecture delivered at King's College, London, on opening the medical session of 1848-49 / by William Fergusson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    grand object of all is that you shall in a manner be forced into those positions, where, by the most mode¬ rate use of your faculties, you must of necessity acquire a knowledge of the” profession ; and let me therefore entreat you to take this view of these regulations. Gentlemen, I do not scruple to affirm that, in this College, we entertain the opinion that it is doubtful if any man, as a student, can attain higher honours—can achieve a character for himself more likely to be of advantage to him in after life, than the approbation of the authorities in this institution. I do think, in addition, that it is one of the crowning efforts that a young man can make, when he takes his degree, diploma, licence, or honour, which initiates him into the profession ; but I, at the same time, feel bound to declare, that the grandest object of your conduct here, including your compliance with regulations, and your probationary occupations of four or five years, should be that of acquiring a thorough knowledge of your profession. It is not a residence at any given place, nor the possession of any particular degree or diploma that will altogether stamp your characters as profes¬ sional men. It will be your abilities and acquirements which will truly characterise you, and you will be judged of afterwards, more by the professional know¬ ledge which you can bring to bear on the exercise of your avocations, than by any such accidental charac¬ teristics. I do myself hold a strong opinion that what is called a u respectable ” degree or diploma may be of some service to a man in after life, and so may the
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