Observations on the present state of medical education : with suggestions for its improvement / by James Syme.

  • Syme, James, 1799-1870.
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the present state of medical education : with suggestions for its improvement / by James Syme. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    than can be obtained from the plan now followed, while, instead of distracting the student’s attention from his proper object, it would prove a constant and powerful stimulus to exertion in mastering each de¬ partment of the curriculum. From first to last he would thus have but the one object of qualifying him¬ self for the practice of his profession, and not feel, as at present, that he is loading his memory with a quan¬ tity of useless lumber, which must be thrown aside before he can acquire any useful information. I approach the subject of teaching with the con¬ sciousness of being about to tread on tender ground; but, knowing that my opinions on this subject are the mature result of long and careful observation, feel no scruple in freely expressing them. The great object of teaching is to promote the ac¬ quisition of learning ; and, unless it accomplishes this, may be regarded as useless, although characterized by the most brilliant eloquence and the profoundest science. It has been too generally supposed that the mere enunciation of facts and opinions constitutes teaching; but this may require for its reception only an exercise of memory, while learning is an act of the mind that may be likened to the digestion and assi¬ milation of bodily nourishment. The teacher should excite and maintain the appetite for this mental food, and supply it in such quantity, quality, and order as may be most conducive to the end in view, taking care not to oppress the memory with unconnected crudi¬ ties, or confuse it with conflicting theories. He should