Papers in connexion with the letter of Professor Syme, regarding the present state and future prospects of the Medical School. Printed by order of the College Committee, 10th September 1840.

Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Papers in connexion with the letter of Professor Syme, regarding the present state and future prospects of the Medical School. Printed by order of the College Committee, 10th September 1840. 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.

    43/70 (page 37)
    2. Because the want of such recognition, together with the complete acknowledgment of these Schools by all other Public Bodies in the British Empire, which grant to any ma- terial amount, Medical Honours, or the right of Medical Practice, is one great cause of the disproportionate decrease that has taken place during the last eight years, in the number of Medical Students at the University of Edinburgh, compared with what has occurred during the same period in any other British Medical School. 3. Because the exclusive system hitherto pursued at this University, by which no Lectures are recognised, unless de- livered in some University where Degrees are given, is almost universally and strongly reprobated by the Medical Profession throughout Britain, and especially by those who have made Medical Education a subject of careful study. 8th February 1840. The consideration of Mr Syme’s letter to the Lord Pro- vost taken up. The letter read. Before any discussion took place thereon, Mr Synie rose and stated, that finding certain passages of the letter had been construed in the sense, that they bore reference to the actual state of the Medical Faculty of this University, and to certain individual Professors of that Faculty, he was most anxious to disclaim all such intention, and begged the Senatus to believe, upon his honour, that he meant only to canvass a system, and not to make allusion to persons. After some discussion, Mr Syme expressed his will- ingness to write an explanatory letter to the Lord Provost, to the same effect as the statement now made to the Senatus. This statement and proposal, the Senatus considered satisfac- tory. * After considerable discussion, Mr Dunbar moved, “ That in reference to the opinions stated in Professor Syme’s letter, the College Committee cannot fail to be perfectly aware, that in addition to the general causes which have occasioned a de- * In the letter of Mr Syme printed above, No. I. of these Papers, the pas- sages objected to have been omitted, and those transmitted by him to the Lord Provost, in consequence of what passed at the iMecting of the Senatus, substi- tuted.