Bologna : the part which it has played in the history of anatomy, its octo-centenary celebration : a lecture delivered to the anatomy class of Trinity College on the 1st November, 1888 / by D.J. Cunningham.

  • Cunningham, D. J. (Daniel John), 1850-1909.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Bologna : the part which it has played in the history of anatomy, its octo-centenary celebration : a lecture delivered to the anatomy class of Trinity College on the 1st November, 1888 / by D.J. Cunningham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    delV Emilia), which will show how partial the information was: — Finally, Professor Brugnoli announced the new Doctors of Medi- cine. They are names well known to modern science—Koch, Ko'liker, Liebermeister, Weir-Mitchell, Schiff, Haughton, Schiess, and others, whose names could not be distinctly heard, on account of the great applause which greeted the new Doctors of the Bol'gnese Studium. This report was, so far, satisfactory, inas- much as it showed that we had not been mistaken in believinor that Dr. Haughton had been a recipient of this honour. We have not yet had an opportunity of inspecting the official list of the new graduates—indeed I am very doubtful if such a list has been published; but, if I am not mistaken, Sir Joseph Lister, Jonathan Hutchinson, and Sir Spencer Wells, also received the degree in medicine. Time will not permit of my entering into details regarding the degrees issued from the other faculties. So far as we could judge, from our very imperfect information, the names had been selected in every case with great care and judg- ment. The ceremony observed in conferring the Doctor's degree of the Bologna University is very interesting. When the graduate pre- sents himself, a massive signet ring is slipped over his forefinger by the D ean of the Faculty and then withdrawn.* The forefinger instinctively tends to close during the process; but the fact that the ring is a very ancient one, and still remains in the possession of the University, speaks well for the skill of the various Deans who have used it. At the same time a diploma, with a fine impression of the University seal, contained in a silver-plated box, is handed to the new graduate. A very spirited address by Professor Ceneri, the occupant of the The ancient School of Salerno, which is even older than the Studium of Bologna, practised the same custom. This School, I understand, is now amalgamated with the University of Naples. There is no graduation ceremony at all equivalent to this in Ireland, but in Scotland the new gi-aduates are what is termed capped. In other words, as the graduate comes forward his head is touched by a velvet cap held in the hand of the Chancellor. In St. Andrews, in former times, the graduate sat during this ceremonial upon an ancient stone seat, still preserved in the University The Pileus was the Eoman cap of Uberty-bestowed on the slave when he was enfran- chised. It afterwards became the mark of the University man. In Bologna, at one time, when a candidate was admitted as one of the Doctors, he wa. given a hat a book, a nng, and a kiss. In some of the Scotch Universities, it is stiU the custom'to present a book to every Professor when inducted into his office-the meaning is Obvious The nn^7 IB a symbol used on many solemn and binding ceremonials-c <7 the weddmg ring, the episcopal ring, &c. I am indebted to Professor MitcheU, of St Andrews, for this information.