Anatomy. Proceedings at the National Political Union, respecting legislative interference in the study of anatomy, and the supply of bodies for anatomical research.

  • National Political Union
Date:
1832
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Anatomy. Proceedings at the National Political Union, respecting legislative interference in the study of anatomy, and the supply of bodies for anatomical research. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    geons, and can it be taught by books, plates, models and dissections of animals? Till lately the surgeon and physician were distinct pro¬ fessions, and to some extent they are still so, but they are fast merging into one, as they ought always to have been. How is a man to become a surgeon and physician? The answer is easy—by learning his art just in the same way that a man becomes a carpenter or a shoemaker by learning his trade. What is it we expect from the surgeon or physician? What but these things. That he shall be able as accurately as possible to discri¬ minate between different diseases. That he shall know their causes. That he shall understand the best means of curing them. That he shall know why any function is deranged and be able to remove the cause. That he shall be qualified to perform any operation that may be necessary, with the least pain and suffering to his patient; that he shall be able to perform it in the shortest possible time, with the greatest certainty, and the utmost chance of a successful termination. All this is required of him, and there is nothing unrea¬ sonable in the request. Any man who does not possess all the necessary requisites, should be prevented, or at least prohibited from either prescribing for, or operating on, anv human being. Then comes the next question, how is a man to obtain the requisite knowledge ?—how, indeed ! The answers to these questions have been given by the opponents of Anatomy: they have said Let him consult books—let him examine plates. Let him study models—let him dissect animals. Let him attend operations—let him hear lectures, and he will thus acquire the requisite information. I have read almost all that has been said in favor of this mode of teaching, and I will venture to say that no man ever was or ever can be sufficiently instructed by these means. Every student should consult books. Every student should consult plates—every teacher not only tells his pupils to do so, but he tells him also which are the best books and plates for him to consult. In like manner is every other thing which has been enu¬ merated recommended to the student; but if the teacher did no more than this, his pupils would do no credit either to him or to themselves. Very different indeed is an actual operation on a living