Third report from the Select Committee on Medical Registration and Medical Law amendment : together with the minutes of evidence and appendix.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Medical Registration and Medical Law Amendment.
Date:
1848
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Third report from the Select Committee on Medical Registration and Medical Law amendment : together 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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    Sir D. BrCluster, K.H. LL.D., F.R.SS.L.& E, 25 July 1848. anatomy effectively without subjects ? I must have subjects to teach descriptive anatomy effectually.—Is it your opinion that medical education cannot be completed at St. Andrew’s? Two things are absolutely necessary before any school of medicine can be rendered effective in teaching all the branches of medical science; and these are, an abundant supply of sub- jects for dissection, and a hospital for the sick. From the smallness of the population in St. Andrew’s and its neighbourhood, it is in vain to attempt to establish a complete medical school here; and at present we have the means of instructing the medical student only during the first session of his medical studies.” 5699. Chairman.] And you refer to the rest of the evidence?—Yes. 5700. In your own opinion St. Andrew’s does not present any means of efficient medical instruction generally?—No, it does not. 5701. Do you consider it efficient in anatomy?—Not at all in anatomy, because, though Dr. Reid is an excellent anatomist and physiologist, and a good teacher, yet anatomy cannot be properly taught without a supply of subjects tor dissection. 5702. Though it would form a part of the annus medicus ?—Yes. 5703. Do you consider it efficient in chemistry?—Yes; and we have a most excellent professor. 5704. Mr. Hamilton.] Have you no clinical instruction?—No. 5705. Chairman.] There is no hospital?—There is no hospital. 5706. Colonel Mure.'] Referring to the general tenor of your evidence, from the early history of the school of medicine, such as it is, these professorships seem very much, without any reflection upon the character of the gentlemen who may have held them, to have been established for the purpose of getting up some- thing like the means of granting diplomas in the mode in which you describe, for the benefit of the funds of the university?—That is, I believe, the motive. I think they have had that in view, and that that has influenced them. 5707. You mentioned that you thought the present system ought to be abolished entirely?—Yes, entirely. 5708. Then I suppose you would also abolish the school of medicine entirely ? —Yes, but not the chair of chemistry. 5709. You would not have any medical school at St. Andrew’s unless it could be placed upon the same efficient footing as such medical schools are in other districts ?—-No. 5710. Was the attention of the University Commission called to the state of matters at St. Andrew’s ?—Yes, and they examined Dr. Reid and Professor Con- nell; I have already quoted Dr. Reid’s evidence. 5711. Did they not consider it necessary to recommend some very decided change to put an end to the abuses you have alluded to?—In the late Report they have not done so. In the Report of 1830 they recommended the conversion of the anatomy chair into one of natural history; and in the same Report, after great consideration, and after examining many competent witnesses, they have laid down rules for granting medical degrees, which, if acted upon, would com- pletely exclude St. Andrew’s from having the power of granting a medical degree. 5712. Then in short their views virtually coincide with yours, that unless the whole system of St. Andrew’s be put on a different footing, it would be better to abolish it as a school of medicine?—Yes, my views are nearly the same as those contained in the Report of the Commission of 1830. 5713. Mr. Hamilton.] In the regulations for granting medical degrees, which in the former part of your examination you stated had been distributed very gene- rally, I find it is set forth, “ That no degree will be conferred until it has been ascertained bv a minute and scrupulous examination, conducted by the profes- sors of medicine and chemistry, in conjunction with other distinguished members of the medical profession, being resident feilows of the Royal College of Physicians or Surgeons in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, or Dublin, that the can- didates have suitably profited by attending the prescribed classes and hospitals, and are in every respect qualified to practise with advantage to the community.” Then there follows the course of lectures, beginning with anatomy, two courses of six months each, and practical anatomy, 12 months; theory of medicine or phy- siology, one course of six months, and so on, through a series of 13 courses of lectures. And the regulations proceed to state, “ These regulations will be invariably observed, except when the candidates are possessed of a surgeon’s diploma or licence from the Colleges of London, Edinburgh, or Dublin, or the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, or a licence from the Apothecaries’ Company, in which case thev have merely to present such diploma or licence pre- vious to their examination for m. d ” I want to know whether, in point of fact, any apothecary’s licence is taken as an equivalent for the certificate of having attended