Observations on the education and examinations for degrees in medicine, as affected by the New Medical Bill ... in a letter to the Right Hon. Sir James Graham, bart. / by Richard Quain.

Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the education and examinations for degrees in medicine, as affected by the New Medical Bill ... in a letter to the Right Hon. Sir James Graham, bart. / by Richard Quain. 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.

    18/60 page 18
    except in the cases where the Candidates have the Degree of Bachelor of Arts h” [General Report, p. 57) Medical Education.—The foregoing observations are followed in the “ General Report” (page 59) by an exposition of the opinion the Commissioners were led to form “ respecting the course of study in the science of Medicine which ought to be followed by persons desirous of obtaining a Degree.” Into the details of the recommendations made it is unnecessary to enter here, as the subject will come under observation iucidentally in the sequel. It may be stated, however, that the Commissioners recommended fom* years as the period of Medical Study. They, at the same time, expressed the opinion that for the Degree of Doctor the term of study ought to be longer; but they did not think it prudent that the more lengthened course of study should then (1831) be enforced (p. 61). Examinations.—Closely connected with the extent of Educa- tion, whether general or professional, is the method of Examina- tion, for it is clearly of little use to prescribe extended and well devised plans of study unless the test apphed to the attainments of the Student is adapted to support and develop those plans. As already shown, it was pai’t of the ^G’esolution ” of the Commissioners with respect to the Examination into the general attainments of students, that the Examination shordd be conducted by the Examiners for Degi’ees in Arts, in such works as shall be fixed by the Faculty of Aits.” In explanation of the term “Examiners in Arts,” it shoidd be mentioned that a previous recommendation had been made to the effect that other persons than the Professors shoidd examine for the Degrees in Aits, in these words:—“ That Examiners for Degrees, not being Professors, should be ap- pointed by the Senatus Academicus,” and—“That eveiy Ex- aminer should be precluded from examiniug any Candidate who has been one of his own pupils.” [General Report, pp. 40, 41). The reasoning of the Commissioners on the proper conduct of Examinations for Degrees is contained in two parts of then “ General Report.” The more general observations, which equally apply to Degrees in all subjects, occin in discussing the
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3