THE OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

Evening Star, Issue 4104, 22 April 1876, Page 2

THE OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

MEDICAL SCHOOL REPORT. A meeting of the Council of the Otago University was held yesterday afternoon. The Kev. Dr Stuart (Vice-Chancellor) was in the chair; and the following members were also present:—Messrs H. S. Chapman, E. B. Cargill, W. H. Reynolds, and Doctors Hnlme and Burns. The committee appointed for the purpose submitted the following report, which was approved EEPOBT. The committee of the Council of the University of Otago, appointed on the 22nd day of March, 1876, to report on the staff of Professors and Lecturers necessary to complete the Medical School, hare met on several occasions, and have received the evidence of the following Professors and medical practitioners, namelyDr Alexander, Professor Macgregor, Dr Gillies, i'refossor Coughtrey, !>r Blair, and Dr Hocken. Abstracts of their evidence as to the subjects comprised in a complete medical education will be found appended to th>s report. To these is added an abstract of the several subjects taught at the University of Melbourne, and the Professors and Lecturers by whom the same are taught. We also append, for the information of the Council, the written answers of the several witnesses examined, as they contain information which could not be Comprised in the abstracts already alluded to. It will be seen that the Melbourne ourriculum is divided into twelve subjects, taught by two professors and six lecturers. Of these, six are medical meu (physicians or surgeons) and two are not so—namely, the teachers of botany and chemistry. All the witnesses, with the exception of Dx Conghtrey, are of opinion that a staff of from five to seven teachers, in addition to our existing teachers, would be sufficient to give a good medical education, and this coincides very nearly with the present staff of the Melbourne University. It may, therefore, he assumed that ultimately it will be necessary to have at least eight teachers (professors and lecturers), and,as the number of students increases, and as some of them advance beyond the subjects of ‘he second year, it will not only be found necessary to increase the range of subjects, but to subdivide them, and to assign the subdivided and more limited subjects to separate teachers. In Melbourne, although the sub] ects ore nominally 12, they might, and probably will hereafter be subdivided. At present four subjects are assigned to one professor of anatomy and physiology, and two or onelecturer on chemistry. Some of these are merely subdivisions of a general subject. But the general tendency of the course of education in England is not only to subject general divisions to farther sub-divisions, but to assign each of snch sub-divisions to one teacher. There can be no doubt that the teaching is likely to be much more complete and effectual when snch subdivision and limitation is carried into operation. We have at present among the professors effectual means of teaching anatomy or physiology, nnd perhaps both, and also chemistry. We have been informed by one medical witness that, in fact, anatomy and physiology can be grouped together; and this is, in fact, done in Melbourne, and has been so for some years. Bat, to proceed beyond the functions of Professors Black and Conghtrey, it will be necessary at once to provide for the teaching of the theory and practice of medicine (with clinical lectures) and of surgery (also with clinical lectures). We therefore recommend that the medical school should be organised as soon as the funds at the disposal of the Council will permit, to the extent necessary for the purpose of a complete medical education.

We recommend that, at as early a date as possible, a lecturer on surgery and a lecturer on the theory and practice of medicine be, appointed, such lecturers to give clinical lectures in their respective departments at the Hospital. Some doubt exists among the medical men as to whether these lecturers should have attained the degree of fellows of their respective colleges, or whether mere membership or licentiateship Is suffi cient. As for as we can learn, it will be sufficient if they he members or licentiates, provided that immediately after appointment they take steps to secure recognition from the medical corporations at Home. We recommend, therefore, that those who may be appointed should be required to obtain for themselves recognition as teachors. We think that with the two professors who already hold office, perhaps with a lecturer on botany, the staff will be lamply sufficient for the studies of the first year, and with the two lecturers already suggested, the staff will be sufficient for the>second year. Thus the University can now receive students of the first year, who have passed their preliminary examination, and there is the strongest probability that the arrangements for the second year’s course of medical study will be completed before the Ist of May, 1877, after which it may be hoped that the full stuff necessary for a complete medical education wil' he filled up. We recommend that the Council should inform the Chancellor of the New Zealand University of the commencement of onr Medical School, and of the resolution of the Council to carry the some to completion, as indicated in this report, as it may strengthen the University in their application for a Royal Charter.

We have little information as to the expense, hut wo believe that an average of L2OO a-year to each teacher would be sufficient to secure competent medical men.