Medical reform. An address read to the Harveian Society ... 1847 / [Thomas Hodgkin].

  • Hodgkin, Thomas, 1798-1866
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical reform. An address read to the Harveian Society ... 1847 / [Thomas Hodgkin]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/24 (page 11)
    with corresponding distinctive titles; but in either case the desired unity and equality will be lost. Again, it is no uncommon thing for the General Practi¬ tioner, whose assiduity and acquirements have obtained their well-merited rewards in public estimation and an easy indepen¬ dence, to desire to limit his practice to consultation, or to the attendance of select cases. Nothing can be more reasonable than such a wish considered in itself; but it is commonly asso¬ ciated with the desire of obtaining the title of Doctor of Medi¬ cine, or some equivalent in connexion with surgery. The de¬ gree of Doctor of Medicine is essentially an academic distinc¬ tion, denoting a protracted course of advanced study; and, although there are many instances in which the degree is not granted on such grounds, the exceptions are to be regarded as cases of forgery, or debased standard, which should not invalidate the principle. That devotion to active practice, which confers invaluable experience and tact, is so different from extended and long-continued academic study, that prac¬ titioners who have been solely engaged in it are, as is well known, generally unfitted for the arena of academic compe¬ tition. To grant the academic title, which implies postponed emolument for the sake of protracted study and increased acquirements, to which study and leisure are essential, on those whom inclination or necessity has induced to choose more early emoluments, and the cares and engagements of practice, is a misnomer, as well as an injustice. I would appeal to the most fortunate and skilful General Practitioner in exist¬ ence, if he happen to be a father, and have given his son the most liberal professional education which time and affluence could confer, in order that he might obtain his Doctor’s degree, whether he would desire, or even consent, to receive the same degree himself, if he could not also stand the test of the like examination, even though he might greatly surpass the young graduate at the bed-side of a patient. The conferring of the academic title on those who have not undergone the exami¬ nations for its attainment, should therefore form extremely rare exceptions, and be limited to such individuals as, by their researches or study, have rendered important services to the science or literature of their profession ; and in such cases the title would be neither an injustice, nor a misnomer.