MEDICAL EDUCATION. The rise and progress of medical education in India is a subject of congratulation alike to the
Indian Medical Service
by which
the results 24
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
174
have been achieved, and
and
to the Government
people who have so greatly benefited thereby Commencing with bedside instruction in Military and Civil Hospitals, and the training of "native doctors medical education has been developed possess medical in the presidency-towns teaching and men up to university standards on a par
step by
step
colleges training
until
now
we
with those of other civilized in these
imparted
instruction
enables the educated
satisfy
the
youth
requirements
of
countries.
colleges
not
aud ambitious
thus enabled to commence, and all youths but complete, their medical education in their
country; and
own
subsequently,
of trouble and expense, place thereon by means of obtaining ma
or
degree. O
a a
at a
minimum
coping
stone
British
diplo-
but the colleges O teachers for the vernacular
only
Not
provide competent
J
so
schools, which have been established throughout Iudia, and the advantages of rational and systematic
medical
education
have
through
this
The exagency been extended to the masses. tent to which Government has profited by the
educational
of
services
its
medical
officers,
which it is but right to say have hitherto always been warmly encouraged, needs no detailed desIu the
cription.
Army, European
and
native,
in
stations, in hospitals and dispensaries everywhere, the official requirements and charitable civil
enterprises of Government have been most fully and faithfully ministered to by the passed students And of Indian medical colleges and schools. the wants of the population have also been in very abundant measure satisfied by means of the services of
a
multitude of
the human
systematically studied
diseases,
and have
been
who have
men
trained
body to
and
its
habits of
rational observation and thought, and taught the employment of rational methods of treatment. The time has now come when the State should
place the stamp (and this term well) by means of
such as
men
medical
registration.
of
legal recognition
must now some
include
simple
on
women
measure
And it is necessary
obtaining men
of
also*
for the
medical education
from the ranks of the
competent
energy, and
only
are
to consider the future of
praise
best be made in this country, and how it to keep pace with the rapid advances of the age. Hitherto no difficulty has been experienced in
and
university examining
thankfulness and
recording
1890.
can
of
of the country to
Britain,
past,
The
boards in the country, but the college courses qualify for the examinations of corporations and universities in Great
while
[June
by
enthusiasm, and
professors schools.
of the
education, talent, perform the duties in medical colleges
to
teachers
at
home, strong
possess attractions for
recognise in these fulfilling the highest
who
men,
opportunities
public services
of
Teaching appointments
both here and
medical
reason
for
the best functions
they have devoted lives. This not is their likely to weaken spirit and this spirit it is which, we are firmly or wane, convinced, stimulates and supports the ambition ?which medical men have to obtain such offices, and it is a spirit which ought to be encouraged to the full. Medical education, as medical science and art expand, is becoming a more laborious and engrossing occupation. It is a noble work but it is also an arduous business, and it makes demands on a man's time and energies in a milliner
profession
and
to
an
to
which
extent which it is difficult to over-
estimate. To possess an aptitude for instructing, to acquire the necessary knowledge and o-ain the art of
instructing?these things come by labour and experience. to further, And reap the ever-ripening ears of growing knowledge, to sift the wheat from the chaff, to decide what to give, and what to with-
not
by intuition
but
hold?these require patient study
and deliberate
thought. Moreover, the professor ought himself to be a student, to observe and investigate, to advance his subject, to originate and devise, to meditate and publish, to utilize his opporto be a man not only of learning experience and skill but of culture, and originality ; and these are matters which necessitate devotion
tunities,
of life and
time,
and exclusion of
tions, interests and pursuits. us to
the main
which is that,
of
object looking to the
petty distrac-
And this
brings
piesent contention present requirements
our
education, teachers ought to be reemployments which do not directly and immediately bear upon their work. In England and the Colonies this desir-
of medical
lieved of all duties and
June
MEDICAL EDUCATION.
1890.]
able result is attained by engaging for the duties of his office the whole time of the incumbent* With
to
regard
certain
subjects
such
as
anatomy,
chemistry and physiology, this arrangement is eminently advantageous, and this has been re-
cognized
The time
in India.
fessor of
in
chemistry
was
when the proengaged in
Calcutta
cial and
175
non-official, in
understood in the
consultation
England?without
as
that term is
fee of
course
in
of Government
officers,?and they should be permitted to undertake professional work, such as referee for insurance companies, university examiner, editor or correspondent of a medical journal, &c., &c., which could be percase
general practice, and when physiology was formed during the hours of leisure to which taught by a man encumbered with many every man is entitled. An arrangement of other pursuits public and private. The professors this sort would necessitate a considerable inof these
important subjects
devote their
to
branches
these
in
except
so
are
undivided
time
to
and
theoretically
far
now
enabled teaching
practically, considerably higher
Government avails itself of
as
for cognate purposes. But it is otherwise with the remaining chairs. Their occupiers have had imposed on them of their
a
special knowledge
multitude of petty and miscellaneous duties no direct relation to the subjects
which have which
and the remuneration connect-
they teach,
ed with the chair has been
compelled professors practice for the purpose distinction
The
practitioner and substantial
nently mostly
adjusted
the in
one
in
Britain,
and it is
to
one.
requisite
desirable.
au
emi-
much leisure
time and for
study
he may consider This is the sort of aras
rangement which we should wish to see carried out iu India. It would be unjust to the public, official and non-official, to them of the
special
deprive
skill in
medicine, surgery, midwifery, aud ophthalmology obtained by study and hospital practice by the professors of these subin India, as elsewhere, the distractions jects ; but of
general practice
are
inconsistent
with that
predominant devotion to the work teaching, which the vast extent aud rapid service now demand. Our growth of medical
exclusive
or
of
contention is, i11 short, that the professors of medical colleges should be relieved of presi-
dency surgeons' duties,
tion that the
permission
practice
of itself
was
and the expenses on the assump-
a
engage in general substantial addition to
to
the official pay. It would also necessitate a revision in part or in whole to the old system of separate
This would surgeons. of services ; medical cost add to the undoubtedly but the added cost would be more than com-
presidency
very tion of medical
The latter
permits ordering his own for the duties of his chair and reserving as
a
consulting practice,
of his
and research
living considerably
is,
lower, and
general
has become
confines himself
or
that the
professor
useful and convenient
which
so
than it
was was
pensated by the increased efficiency of teaching, which would then constitute the whole, in place of earning a liveliof as at between the general present a fraction, of the official occupa-
to engage
are
hood.
in the present scale of salaries, which drawn up when the value of the rupee
crease
and
prohibited from engaging in general or family practice. Their services should be available to the public, offi-
professors.
Indian Medical Service
by which
the results 24
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
174
have been achieved, and
and
to the Government
people who have so greatly benefited thereby Commencing with bedside instruction in Military and Civil Hospitals, and the training of "native doctors medical education has been developed possess medical in the presidency-towns teaching and men up to university standards on a par
step by
step
colleges training
until
now
we
with those of other civilized in these
imparted
instruction
enables the educated
satisfy
the
youth
requirements
of
countries.
colleges
not
aud ambitious
thus enabled to commence, and all youths but complete, their medical education in their
country; and
own
subsequently,
of trouble and expense, place thereon by means of obtaining ma
or
degree. O
a a
at a
minimum
coping
stone
British
diplo-
but the colleges O teachers for the vernacular
only
Not
provide competent
J
so
schools, which have been established throughout Iudia, and the advantages of rational and systematic
medical
education
have
through
this
The exagency been extended to the masses. tent to which Government has profited by the
educational
of
services
its
medical
officers,
which it is but right to say have hitherto always been warmly encouraged, needs no detailed desIu the
cription.
Army, European
and
native,
in
stations, in hospitals and dispensaries everywhere, the official requirements and charitable civil
enterprises of Government have been most fully and faithfully ministered to by the passed students And of Indian medical colleges and schools. the wants of the population have also been in very abundant measure satisfied by means of the services of
a
multitude of
the human
systematically studied
diseases,
and have
been
who have
men
trained
body to
and
its
habits of
rational observation and thought, and taught the employment of rational methods of treatment. The time has now come when the State should
place the stamp (and this term well) by means of
such as
men
medical
registration.
of
legal recognition
must now some
include
simple
on
women
measure
And it is necessary
obtaining men
of
also*
for the
medical education
from the ranks of the
competent
energy, and
only
are
to consider the future of
praise
best be made in this country, and how it to keep pace with the rapid advances of the age. Hitherto no difficulty has been experienced in
and
university examining
thankfulness and
recording
1890.
can
of
of the country to
Britain,
past,
The
boards in the country, but the college courses qualify for the examinations of corporations and universities in Great
while
[June
by
enthusiasm, and
professors schools.
of the
education, talent, perform the duties in medical colleges
to
teachers
at
home, strong
possess attractions for
recognise in these fulfilling the highest
who
men,
opportunities
public services
of
Teaching appointments
both here and
medical
reason
for
the best functions
they have devoted lives. This not is their likely to weaken spirit and this spirit it is which, we are firmly or wane, convinced, stimulates and supports the ambition ?which medical men have to obtain such offices, and it is a spirit which ought to be encouraged to the full. Medical education, as medical science and art expand, is becoming a more laborious and engrossing occupation. It is a noble work but it is also an arduous business, and it makes demands on a man's time and energies in a milliner
profession
and
to
an
to
which
extent which it is difficult to over-
estimate. To possess an aptitude for instructing, to acquire the necessary knowledge and o-ain the art of
instructing?these things come by labour and experience. to further, And reap the ever-ripening ears of growing knowledge, to sift the wheat from the chaff, to decide what to give, and what to with-
not
by intuition
but
hold?these require patient study
and deliberate
thought. Moreover, the professor ought himself to be a student, to observe and investigate, to advance his subject, to originate and devise, to meditate and publish, to utilize his opporto be a man not only of learning experience and skill but of culture, and originality ; and these are matters which necessitate devotion
tunities,
of life and
time,
and exclusion of
tions, interests and pursuits. us to
the main
which is that,
of
object looking to the
petty distrac-
And this
brings
piesent contention present requirements
our
education, teachers ought to be reemployments which do not directly and immediately bear upon their work. In England and the Colonies this desir-
of medical
lieved of all duties and
June
MEDICAL EDUCATION.
1890.]
able result is attained by engaging for the duties of his office the whole time of the incumbent* With
to
regard
certain
subjects
such
as
anatomy,
chemistry and physiology, this arrangement is eminently advantageous, and this has been re-
cognized
The time
in India.
fessor of
in
chemistry
was
when the proengaged in
Calcutta
cial and
175
non-official, in
understood in the
consultation
England?without
as
that term is
fee of
course
in
of Government
officers,?and they should be permitted to undertake professional work, such as referee for insurance companies, university examiner, editor or correspondent of a medical journal, &c., &c., which could be percase
general practice, and when physiology was formed during the hours of leisure to which taught by a man encumbered with many every man is entitled. An arrangement of other pursuits public and private. The professors this sort would necessitate a considerable inof these
important subjects
devote their
to
branches
these
in
except
so
are
undivided
time
to
and
theoretically
far
now
enabled teaching
practically, considerably higher
Government avails itself of
as
for cognate purposes. But it is otherwise with the remaining chairs. Their occupiers have had imposed on them of their
a
special knowledge
multitude of petty and miscellaneous duties no direct relation to the subjects
which have which
and the remuneration connect-
they teach,
ed with the chair has been
compelled professors practice for the purpose distinction
The
practitioner and substantial
nently mostly
adjusted
the in
one
in
Britain,
and it is
to
one.
requisite
desirable.
au
emi-
much leisure
time and for
study
he may consider This is the sort of aras
rangement which we should wish to see carried out iu India. It would be unjust to the public, official and non-official, to them of the
special
deprive
skill in
medicine, surgery, midwifery, aud ophthalmology obtained by study and hospital practice by the professors of these subin India, as elsewhere, the distractions jects ; but of
general practice
are
inconsistent
with that
predominant devotion to the work teaching, which the vast extent aud rapid service now demand. Our growth of medical
exclusive
or
of
contention is, i11 short, that the professors of medical colleges should be relieved of presi-
dency surgeons' duties,
tion that the
permission
practice
of itself
was
and the expenses on the assump-
a
engage in general substantial addition to
to
the official pay. It would also necessitate a revision in part or in whole to the old system of separate
This would surgeons. of services ; medical cost add to the undoubtedly but the added cost would be more than com-
presidency
very tion of medical
The latter
permits ordering his own for the duties of his chair and reserving as
a
consulting practice,
of his
and research
living considerably
is,
lower, and
general
has become
confines himself
or
that the
professor
useful and convenient
which
so
than it
was was
pensated by the increased efficiency of teaching, which would then constitute the whole, in place of earning a liveliof as at between the general present a fraction, of the official occupa-
to engage
are
hood.
in the present scale of salaries, which drawn up when the value of the rupee
crease
and
prohibited from engaging in general or family practice. Their services should be available to the public, offi-
professors.
