An introductory lecture to the course of lectures on diseases of infancy and childhood, delivered on May 1st, 1890 / by J.W. Ballantyne.

Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introductory lecture to the course of lectures on diseases of infancy and childhood, delivered on May 1st, 1890 / by J.W. Ballantyne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    AN INTRODUCTORY LECTURE TO THE COURSE OF LECTURES ON DISEASES OF INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. Delivered on May ist, 1890. By J. W. BALLANTYNE, M.D., F.R.C.P.E. LECTURER ON DISEASES OF CHILDREN, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, EDINBURGH. The Health Aspects of School Life. Gentlemen,—Students of medicine, as a general rule neglect to acquaint themselves with a knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of infantile diseases whilst they are pursuing their course of study at College or in the University, and as a result young graduates spend many anxious hours during the first few years of their profes- sional life in endeavouring to treat successfully the maladies which are peculiar to infants and young children. It must not hastily be concluded that medical students are alto- gether to blame in this matter : for the fault lies rather with the examining bodies, who require no special evidence of the study of pediatrics from the candidates who apply for their degrees, and who do not make compulsory the examination of undergraduates in this branch of medical study. The fact that the examining bodies are wrong will not, however, shield the graduate from the indignation of parents whose children he has unsuccessfully treated, and the fact that pediatrics is not a compulsory subject of medical study docs not in the slightest degree lessen the load of responsibility which falls upon the shoulders of the