568

dical man could be recompensed in pounds, shillings, andpence, there was a very great deal for which his only rewardlay in the triumph of his art, in the gratitude of his pa-tients, or in the consciousness of duty well done. And forthis the public were his debtors. If they could not recom-pense him in money let them help him in his education.Furthermore, while in the professions of divinity and lawany reformations that had occurred had really been pro-duced by pressure ab extra, by the voice of the public againand again reiterated, the case was different with the medicalprofession, for there the reforms in education had beenthe result of pressure put on the examining boards by thedoctors themselves. In conclusion, the lecturer addresseda few words to those beginning their studies, on the ne-cessity for a steady methodical application to work, and ’ishowed how the elevated position held by our great medical ’,authorities of this, a3 of every other period, was by no ’’,,means due to sudden inspirations of genius, but to the longand often unappreciated patient labour of years, which had ’,at first laid the foundation of those pinnacles of eminenceon which they now stood, and from which their most ordi-nary utterances were now received almost as words oflaw.

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NEWCASTLE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

Dr. ARNISON, after a few prefatory remarks, addressedthose students who were just commencing their studies, im-pressing upon them the importance of practical work in thedissecting-room and laboratory, and the necessity of steadyapplication from the beginning, in order to master the sub-jects of the first two years, and so be fitted for the im-portant subjects to follow. Addressing the senior students,’ ‘he urged the great importance of clinical study, that it wasonly in the hospital that they could train the senses to dis-tinguish differences of symptoms apparently minute buthaving an important bearing on the diagnosis of the cases,and sketched the bewildered condition of a man who hadneglected clinical study when confronted with a difficultcase. The lecturer especially insisted on the importance ofattending every post-mortem examination, for after enteringinto practice they would find very few opportunities. Dr.Arnison next addressed those about entering into practice,referring to the duty of kindness and sympathy to theirpatients as one too obvious to require further remark. Henext urged the duty of keeping family and professionalsecrets, of which the medical man was often necessarily the recipient. There could be no more dishonourable breach oftruat than to betray such confidence as this, and nothingwould do more harm to their prospects than a reputationfor idle gossip from house to house. He counselled them tobe simple in their language, and avoid technicalities intheir intercourse with the public, and especially in courts oflaw, stating that, as a rule, it was only inferior men whoused ponderous technicalities in place of equally expressive‘ plain English." While insisting on the careful preserva-tion of secrets from the outside world, Dr. Arnison said acertain amount of candour was due to the patient and hisimmediate friends, who had a right, in almost everyinstance, to know the nature of the case and its probableTermination, especially if it was likely to terminate fatally.He counselled them to look for their reward rather to thesatisfaction they would have in the skilful discharge oftheir professional duties than to wealth, which few in theprofession acquired; and concluded by an earnest appeal tothem to fit themselves, by honest and conscientious work,for the responsible duties of the life they had chosen.

SHEFFIELD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THE introductory address was delivered by Mr. T. H.

MORTON. After giving a history of some of the medical in-stitutions of the country, Mr. Morton proceeded to statethat on behalf of the lecturers he welcomed both the newand old students to the school. Although the pupils hadbeen hitherto somewhat limited, he could assure them thatthe opportunities of witnessing rare and interesting cases,surgical and medical, at the hospitals, and the facilitiesthey had of studying anatomy within those walls, were

equal to those of any similar establishment in the country.He then addressed a few words of advice to the new

stndents, giving a brief sketch of the nature of disease,alluding to the gigantic strides towards perfection as anexact science which the practice of medicine had made oflate years, and mentioning the connexion which the studyof anatomy, physiology, chemistry, botany, and other sub-jects had with the success of a medical man. He also dweltupon the importance of respectful conduct towards patients;and urged those who were entering the profession to be in-fluenced by higher motives than the acquiring of wealth. Amedical man had great influence and power for good, notonly on account of the possession of knowledge of whichmost people were wofully ignorant, but because his skillbrought him into contact with an immense number of per-sons whose lives were almost placed in his hands. Theiradvice respecting the preservation of health, cleanliness,habits of sloth, excessive indulgence, intemperance, hurtfulprejndices and conduct generally, struck at the very root ofimmorality and infidelity. A medical man was thecustodian of the innermost secrets of his patients’ hearts,and in the hour of death he was often the only earthly com-forter. Hence the obligations of their profession were great,and it behoved them on the threshold of their career to con-sider seriously whether they would sacrifice their time,health, and strength for the benefit of man-rich or poor,irrespective of creed. This, he said in conclusion, couldonly be done by a love of their fellow-creatures and of

their profession, and a veneration of the Great Authorof all.

FRESH ENTRIES AT THE PROVINCIAL SCHOOLSOF MEDICINE.

Newcastle-on-Tyne (University of Durham College of

Medicine), 57; Manchester School of Medicine and Surgery,40; Liverpool Royal Infirmary, 28; Leeds School of Me-dicine, 18. We should be glad to receive returns of newstudents from other country institutions.

New Inventions.THE "RHODA" BED-TABLE.

THIS is an ingenious contrivance for the use of invalids,consisting of a pedestal, the height of which admits of £

adjustment sufficiently weighted to support a table reach-ing over the bed of a sick person. It is fitted with reading-desk &c., which is reversible, so that it is equally availablefor either side of the bed, and, being made of mahogany, isa handsome piece of furniture, which may be convenientlyemployed for a standing reading or writing desk when notused for the bed. The manufacturers are Messrs. FrankSmith and Co., of Southampton-street, Strand, London ;and the price is moderate.

CAPTAIN REED’S STRETCHER-BEDSTEAD.

WE have had an opportunity of inspecting this ingeniousand simple contrivance, which, as its name implies, can beused for a stretcher or bedstead, and, when not so employed,is capable of being packed in a relatively small compass fortransport. The stretcher can be converted into a bedstead,or vice vers6. This bedstead can be manufactured at a costof from twenty-five to thirty shillings, having a weight (notincluding the air-bed) of thirty pounds. There is no doubtthat it possesses several advantages over anything of thekind that we have seen for camp and field hospital use. It

is not, however, adapted for the new pattern ambulancewaggons for the use of the military service, owing to thefact that the stretchers employed in these vehicles are of asize and shape specially adapted to the springs and tram-ways fitted on to the floor of the carriage for receiving thestretchers and running them home, without involving anymovement to the wounded men.