Observations on medical education / by John Hughes Bennett.

  • Bennett, John Hughes, 1812-1875.
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on medical education / by John Hughes Bennett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    It is supposed by some that every member of the profession is qualified to examine on any branch of medicine whatever. I know at least one corporation which has pertinaciously adhered to this doctrine for many years. Those who are acquainted with the actual condition of the various branches of medical know- ledge, as now taught in the schools, will readily see how the carrying out of such a view accounts for the numbers introduced into the profession, who, as Dr. Parkes pointed out, cannot prac- tise with safety. Tot the same reasons that teaching should be practical, so should examinations. Thus the candidate should be made to show his knowledge by naming objects placed before him, by per- forming chemical analyses or experiments himself, in displaying parts by dissection or objects under a microscope, and, above all, by showing at the bedside a sufficient knowledge of disease, of diagnosis, and of aptitude for treatment. It is only in this manner that the parrot-system of repetition and of grinding can be got rid of, and the student's mind directed to the true objects of study. I am also satisfied that, in this manner, both teaching and examination would be rendered not only more interesting and satisfactory, but would be attended with far less fatigue and mental distress to the student. To those, however, who look upon examinations from the old point of view, it appears to be a most difficult thing for the student to show any ability in art or practice. They urge that that must be the work of his after professional life, and that nothing more should be expected from him than a general know- ledge of medicine derived from books and lectures. But consider- able experience in this matter has convinced me that nothing can be more laborious, wearisome, and in many cases useless, than this attempt to burden his memory. Surely a man w^ho has carefully watched a case of heart-disease, listened to the morbid sounds produced, formed his own diagnosis or opinion of it, assisted in its treatment, and perhaps examined the heart after death, will know more of such heart-disease, and remember it better, than