Panel ophthalmic practice / by A. Freeland Fergus.

  • Fergus, A. Freeland (Andrew Freeland), 1858-1932.
Date:
[1919?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Panel ophthalmic practice / by A. Freeland Fergus. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Reprinted from The Lancet, May 3, 1919. PANEL OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE. By A. Freeland Fergus, M.D., C.M., P.R.F.P.S. Glasg., SURGEON, EYE INFIRMARY, GLASGOW. I take it for granted that panel ordinary practice is to be continued, but contract practice seems to me so intrinsically bad that instead of being extended it should be limited as much as possible. No doubt scores of superb men are on the panel, but there can be as little doubt that a fair amount of panel practice is scamped, and moreover it tends to atrophy the medical practitioner. When a student leaves college entitled to registration, he knows little of his profession. He may have laid a foundation on which he can build, but that building may not be done at all if he forthwith acquires a large panel practice. Real study begins when a man has got his diploma. Every young practi¬ tioner should on attaining that status, begin either in hospital or clinical laboratories with clinical ward work, or, failing such appointments, he ought to become an assistant to a competent general practitioner. Work of that sort should be compulsory for at least two or three years. Nobody under any circumstances should be allowed to become a panel practitioner till he has been for at least three years on the Medical Register. These considerations, however, are apart from the special subject to which I wish to address myself at present. Ophthalmology in State Medicine: A Piece of Personal History. I have long recognised that ophthalmology in certain of its branches must be taken advantage of in the State services. About 30 years ago I wrote two letters. One letter was to the late Mr. William Graham, of North Erines, then a member of the Glasgow School Board, to say that in my opinion every child in the kingdom should have its eyes carefully examined. The other letter was to the late Dr,