Statement by Dr Christison and Professor Syme, with concurrence of other members of the medical faculty, as to the suppression of the Chair of General Pathology : addressed to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statement by Dr Christison and Professor Syme, with concurrence of other members of the medical faculty, as to the suppression of the Chair of General Pathology : addressed to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. 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.

    21/26
    cribe this result mainly to the subject of the Chair being a superfluity, and to the fact, that the kindred subject of the Practice of Physic was ably taught all the while by its Professor, Andral. It is true that this gentleman has recently exchanged the Chair of the Practice of Physic for that of General Pathology, vacated by the death of Broussais two years ago. It remains to be seen what will be the result of the change; for it is not the experience of one or two years that will suffice for this purpose. But even supposing this Pro- fessor prove successful, it is humbly represented that, if a man who ranks as the most eminent Pathologist of the day, who is the best em- ployed physician in the French capital, and who has been for some time a highly popular Professor of the Practice of Physic, should carry his pupils and his popularity with him into the kindred Chair of Patho- logy, where he may, and must, teach in a great measure the same to- pics differently grouped,—this circumstance would constitute but afeeble argument for founding or keeping up a similar Chair in the very differ- ently organized University of Edinburgh. Quitting foreign Universities, which manifestly constitute no safe guide to follow, let me next point out the real merits of another argu- ment adduced in favour of maintaining here a distinct Chair of General Pathology,—namely, that an equivalent Chair has been founded in Uni- versity College, London, and that Lectureships have been established in several “ even of the minor Schools” of that city. As to the minor Schools of London, it really seems surprising that they should be quoted as authorities. In London, minor Schools every now and then rise without being noticed, and sink without being missed. In some of them the attendance is so miserably small, that the Lectur- ers seem to have taken a part in them, rather for the sake of the little notoriety of their advertisements, than for the sober purpose of success- fully teaching a medical science. And the Teachers are nowise restrain- ed, but may take one subject of prelection this year, and another the next in the event of failure. It is a mere farce to call such institutions “ Schools of Medicine.” Besides, what has been the success of these so-called Lectureships on General Pathology ? Has any pne of the Teachers ever drawn together a class ? Can it be proved that there is a single Teacher of General Pathology in London at the present moment, who has met with even decent encouragement ?—No, not one. It is said, however, there is, in University College, London, a Chair equivalent to that of General Pathology in Edinburgh. The Patrons will presently see there is no such thing. But grant that there is: what has been its success ? The true question to consider is not, whether Chairs may be discovered here and there approaching in nature to the dinburgh Chair of General Pathology,—but M hether any of these