The Hunterian Oration, 1875 / by F. Le Gros Clark.

  • Frederick le Gros Clark
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Hunterian Oration, 1875 / by F. Le Gros Clark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    in the dissecting-room and by the bedside. What would John Hunter, whose life was spent in intercourse with Nature, have said to this ? Our prepared College dissections are copied to facilitate their recognition,—our selected museum specimens are studied that they may be identified,—our written questions are stored for the instruction of future candidates for our diploma, as if this were the “ Ultima Thule ” of their aspirations or responsibilities. Suggestive writing, personal dissection, and even clinical teaching have not the popularity which is accorded to exhaustive or dictatorial instruc- tion ; because the latter saves the learner the trouble of reflect- ing on what he is taught, of seeking for a meaning in what he witnesses, of pondering on the relation between cause and effect. Possibly, the time allowed for study is not commensurate with the extent and variety of the information now required of candidates for a medical degree,—possibly, the student prefers that method of learning which costs him the smallest expen- diture of time and energy, and yields the readiest return in his success at his examinations. Whatever the explanation may be, the result too often is a quickened memory, but an otherwise undisciplined intellect; and, as a natural sequence, where such is the case, in the responsibilities of practice the frail reed of precedent is leaned upon, because the sustaining resource of sound principles has never been properly appre- ciated,—for the learner has not cultivated the habit of thinking for himself. In making this observation let me pause for a moment, whilst I direct your attention to the well-known and truthful portrait before you,* and ask—Was meditation a trouble to him it represents ? Whilst we gaze on that face there is no difficulty in crediting the exclamation attributed to Hunter, u It is a plea- sure to me to think !” I venture to commend this sentiment, * Portrait of John Hunter by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
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