The Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons under the Medical Act : the introductory address at Surgeons' Hall, session 1861-62 / by John Struthers.

  • John Struthers
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons under the Medical Act : the introductory address at Surgeons' Hall, session 1861-62 / by John Struthers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    most salutary, seconding the efforts of teachers to give a more practical turn to medical education, and to discourage the system of trusting to text-books merely. Tlie examination, I may observe, can alone be trusted as the real test of the education. The mere attendance on a curricu- lum certifies nothing, for all the ])receding lectures and oppor- tunities may have been utterly neglected; still less does attend- ance on particular teachers or at particular schools, as this would only lead to the suspicion that the protected teachers and schools had felt the less inducement to be efficient than those whose success depended on their efficiency. Examinations are accord- ingly daily assuming greater importance, not merely as pass examinations for diplomas in those institutions which are de- sirous of maintaining a high standard, but in the competitive form as the gateway to some of the public services. Formerly the appointments to medical offices in all the public services were sought and bestowed by way of personal favour, and, naturally, the students to whom they were promised were con- tent if they could squeeze through the diploma examination, while the friendless had no hope, and talent and industry could do nothing, in that direction. Now, however, we have to con- gratulate you on the largest branch of the public service—that of the now merged Army and Indian Services—being freely open to all the qualified, not merely as all other public appoint- ments are, but by the test of merit alone, without hindrance and •without favour. Those who possess the diplomas of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons are fully quahfied for and entitled to admission into the competitive examination, no pre- ference being now given to any, except that which the merit of the candidate shall secure. The change could not be ex- pected to meet with the favour of those whose chances were greater under the old system, or of those whose feelings and interests were bound up with that system. But, whether we regard the advantage of having the public interest well served.