The introductory lecture delivered at King's College, London, on opening the medical session of 1848-49 / by William Fergusson.

  • Fergusson, William, Sir, 1808-1877.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The introductory lecture delivered at King's College, London, on opening the medical session of 1848-49 / by William Fergusson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    just applied the term “ mutual.” The youngest among you will, doubtless, suppose that you fully appreciate the duties of the teacher; that it is to him you must look for that knowledge which pertains to his depart¬ ment, and that, therefore, it is his duty to instruct you in this knowledge. To a certain extent, this estimate is correct; but, it may be feared whether an equally stringent view is taken by the pupil of his duty on the occasion. He is but too apt to suppose that he has only to look and listen, and so do his part of the mu¬ tual compact. Herein, . however, he commits a great error; it is only the most superficial knowledge which is acquired in this way, and that too,—through forget¬ ting many points in a lecture,—of a most limited sort. It can only be by thought and study elsewhere, that proficiency is to be attained ; and the student who wishes to become accomplished in any single depart¬ ment must trust as much to his own exertions as to those of his teacher, however eminent that individual may be. In short, to attain this accomplishment, he is in duty bound, as much as his teacher is, or has been, to give a share of study to his subject greater than that which may be evinced in the ordinary attendance upon lectures. We, as your teachers, know, from past experience, how great a responsibility we undertake in professing to teach you medicine ; but you, who are young, and just beginning the responsi¬ bilities of manhood, cannot, as yet, appreciate all that is expected of you. We hesitate not to say, then, that whilst with every confidence we can undertake for your