Four letters to Sir James Clark on administrative reform in relation to the medical schools and the examining boards / by Alexander Harvey.

  • Harvey, Alexander, 1811-1889.
Date:
1858
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Four letters to Sir James Clark on administrative reform in relation to the medical schools and the examining boards / by Alexander Harvey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    become practitioners,—the question, it seems to rue, above and beyond all others important, in relation to our pro¬ fession, and especially for those that are to come after us in it, is—How, under the circumstances, are the general prac¬ titioners of this country to be trained for the efficient dis¬ charge of their peculiar duties, and their competency ascertained ? The question of 'privilege and legal position, important as it is, may wait. Dependent on the will of the legislature, it must and it can yet wait awhile its good pleasure. But the other, already too long postponed, presses for an immediate settlement; and, fortunately, though it may be affected and will doubtless sometime be put under regulation by the legislature, it is at present no ways dependeiit on it for its solution. And sure I am, that if the medical professors in Scotland will only, now, again seriously address themselves to this practical question, and shall forthwith give effect to any sound scheme of medical education and of examination for degrees in medicine—keeping steadily in view “the practical objects for which medical science is cultivated,” the necessarv conditions under which it has to be culti- vated, and the actual state of the science—they will confer honour on themselves, and do unspeakable good to others —more immediatelv, to those committed to their charge— remotely, to the whole community. Nor let them longer be deterred therefrom by any fear that hereafter their work may be spoilt and their labour lost through the rude hand of the law. Rather let them believe that, by carefully