If all inedical students had fifteen or twenty years at their disposal, and could dedicate them all to professional education, we might pardon a little innocent declamation in displaying the rich and varied field of knowledge about to be disclosed to them; but even then, sober truth would compel us to confess that the field so pompously displayed far exceeded in extent what the best minds could hope to compass, even in fifteen or twenty years. When, however, we recollect what space of time the majority of men so addressed really can give to their education, the whole affair becomes inexpressibly ludicrous.

Now I do protest, in the name of common sense, against all such proceeding as this. It is all very fine to insist that the eye cannot be understood without the knowledge of optics, nor the circulation without hydraulics, nor the bones and the muscles without mechanics; that metaphysics may have their use in leading us through the functions of the nervous system, and the mysterious connection of mind and matter. It is a truth; and it is a truth also that the whole circle of the sciences is required to comprehend a single particle of matter: but the most solemn truth of all is, that the life of man is three score years and ten.

How has it happened that while, in other countries, the medical profession has been exhibited under every imaginable form of ridicule, here, in England, it has been so seldom chosen as a fit thing to laugh at? The truth is, that here no idea of ridicule was ever popularly associated with it; and to have exhibited it as if there were, would have been out of nature and unsuccessful.

A vain, pompous, counterfeit form of knowledge without, and a downright stolid ignorance and incapacity within, made up a precious combination, which, not long ago, was found every where abroad. The mockery and fun that it excited were irresistible and inexhaustible; and Molière and Le Sage made the world ring with laughter at the expense of physic and physicians.

Depend upon it, what all men indiscriminately are told they ought to know, all men indiscriminately will soon pretend to know, be it never so extravagant; and when every medical man in every town and village throughout England, be he physician, surgeon, or apothecary, shall, in right of his profession, claim the homage due to vast learning and science, there will not be wanting some Molière or Le Sage to hold us all up to the just ridicule of mankind.

Let us take care then what we are about, and beware how we change the character of the English practitioner of physic. He is sound and unpretending, and full of good sense what he wants is a little more careful, and a somewhat larger instruction

in what bears directly upon the practical part of his profession. Give it him (indeed we are giving it him), and he will become more trustworthy and more respected every day. But for all that is beyond this, we may recommend it, but we must not insist upon it; we must leave it for each man to pursue according to his leisure, his opportunities, and his capacity, and not exaggerate it into a matter of necessity for all. Where too much is exacted, too little will be learned; excess on the one hand naturally leads to defect on the other.

I know that much disquietude, if not unhappiness, has been felt by students, and especially by the best informed and best disposed, when, at the entrance of their profession, they have been inet by obstacles which seem insurmountable. It is the special infirmity of ingenuous minds to reflect with too much anxiety upon their own knowledge; to sit in judgment upon themselves, calculating whether they have made the best of all their opportunities, and wishing, vainly wishing, that their time might come over again, to enable them to supply this omission, or rectify that mistake. By many such, who are at all times too ready to deal hardly with themselves, every exaggerated statement of what they are required to learn is severely felt.

I

A well-weighed scheme of professional education, sound and practicable, comprehensive yet moderate in its requirements, and adapted to all, besides the many good purposes it would serve, would have the special benefit of satisfying the minds of students themselves that at each step of their progress they are in the right path. Such a scheme we are not likely to have soon. will not presume to suggest what it ought to be; I would rather endeavour to show you, that, in spite of what you are at present inclined to fear, you may hope to earn a good reputation, to deserve and gain the approbation of mankind as others have deserved and gained it, although you do not possess a perfect literary and philosophical education.

Turn away, then, from the contemplation of this ideal perfection, which can only make you despair, and look to some real examples for your encouragement. But take care that they be high examples, and such as no small or ignoble efforts can imitate."

The chapters on "The Doctrine of Symptoms," embrace auscultation and the various physical signs of disease, and ought to be studied by all who aspire to a knowledge of these subjects.

Half-Yearly Abstract of the Medical Sciences. By W. H. RANKING, M. D., etc. Assisted by Drs. Guy, Day, Ancell, and Kirkes. No. 5, January to July, 1847. Philadelphia, Lindsay and Blakiston.

We had hardly thought of looking for this number until we found it upon our table, so prompt have all those been who are concerned in bringing it out; to the American publishers, in particular, the greatest praise is due, for supplying it to us at so early a date after its appearance in Europe.

In looking over the present number, we have found the same careful selection of matter and admirable arrangement so conspicuous in its predecessors. The "Reports," which constitute an important feature of the work, are characterized by great ability and impartiality.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

PHILADELPHIA, AUGUST, 1847.

'NATIONAL MEDICAL CONVENTIONS.

We have received the official copy of the "Proceedings of the National Medical Conventions, held in New York, May, 1846, and in Philadelphia, May, 1847." An account of the Convention which assembled in New York was published in the Medical Examiner last year, and a considerable portion of the proceedings of that held in Philadelphia has likewise been laid before our readers, and the remainder will appear as we can afford space. In our Record department of the present number will be found the "Report" of the committee on "a uniform and elevated standard of requirements for the degree of M. D." The report is plainly written, and manifests throughout good temper and honorable purpose; but its reasonings, to our mind, are not always conclusive; not because of any lack of in

ductive power on the part of its authors, but from the want of a proper attention to some of the facts which are involved in the questions discussed.

The Committee, it will be seen, institute a comparison between the requirements for medical honors in the United States and those demanded in the oldest countries and most absolute governments of Europe, where the precepts of the Colleges are enforced by the strong arm of the law, and where every licensed practitioner is protected in the exercise of his profession; and where, too, in the strongest instances cited, the educational expenses of the student are borne by the govern

ment.

"We are free to confess," say the Committee, "that within the last twenty or five and twenty years, medicine has been better taught among us than at any former period."

This is certainly true; and we are glad to have the testimony of the Committee to the fact, for it would seem to be the opinion of some enthusiasts on the subject of "reform in medicine," that every thing is growing worse, and that medical instruction, as well as every other thing medical, is absolutely approaching the lowest point of degradation.

We are probably correct when we say that a majority of the Convention which adopted the declaration we have cited, as well as several of the committee from whence it emanated, received their medical education under circumstances and at a time when, according to the report, medicine was not so well taught among us as at present; and yet we do not believe that any one of these respectable gentle. men thinks, or would have others to think, that his education was so defective as to disqualify him for the proper performance of the duties of a physician; and if not, with what justice can such a con. clusion be predicated of those who now enjoy the greater advantages admitted by the report!

Again-"It is unquestioned," says the report," that the facilities for education have been augmented, not only in the public schools of the country, but private enterprise has exerted no slight influence in the attainment of this end."

That "the facilities for education have been augmented," and, in the larger medical schools, at least, are every year "augmented," is a fact familiar to all who have enjoyed opportunities for observing. This, one would think, ought to satisfy well wishers of our profession that the present system-a system which, it is confessed, leads to regular improvement-should not be hastily or inconsiderately

changed. The "private enterprise" alluded to, we understand to mean, the numerous associations and individuals engaged in lecturing on the various branches of medicine and collateral subjects; and we are happy to agree with the report in the estimation of their utility. These private teachers are found in all our large cities where Medical Colleges exist, and, by occupying the summer months, in effect extend the term of instruction, which students may enjoy, to eight months or more in the year. Not only is "the term" extended in this way, but students have the opportunity of hearing the views of different teachers on the same subjects, and are thus led to compare and examine for themselves; and what is also important, the perpetual tread of these aspirants for professional honors upon the heels of those preceding them, prevents the possibility of the latter falling back, or even standing still. But fill up a large part of the year with college exercises, and this "private enterprise" to which the report accords, and justly accords, so much good, will be crowded out of existence-a result which certainly none but lazy and incompetent professors ought to desire.

We are glad to perceive that the report attaches much importance to the efforts of " private preceptors" in elevating the standard of our profession-a subject upon which we shall probably offer some remarks in a future number.

After an enumeration of the branches proposed to be taught in the schools-which are precisely those now taught in our principal colleges the report argues: "With a lengthened period for teaching, a double advantage will be gained; a wider extent of information may be imparted to a student, while his time will be occupied with fewer lectures during the day." If "a wider extent of information" can be imparted in fewer lectures, most teachers will be glad to learn how; but if it require that the number of lectures shall be increased to attain this end, and fewer are to be given each day, then, according to our computation, it will require a very considerable extension of the term to accomplish the object. Among the resolutions passed by the late Convention, was one requiring that not less than one hundred lectures should be given on any one of the branches; but, on discovering that this would nearly double the number of lectures now given on certain of the branches, while the scheme of the Convention only contemplated one-third additional time, it was rescinded on the very next day-shewing that, however desirable the change, it was then deemed neither practicable nor expedient.

The first resolution reported by the committee, and adopted by the