University of Dr. Alison agrees, by this letter, to receive me for examination next summer, if I have attended all the necessary classes. I would not be required to have attended any more classes if Dr. Skene's class had been regular, and if I had had his certificate for that, and Marischal College. if the Materia Medica were a six months' class. Students. Shall you be of the age that is required at that time?-I want a month of the age; but, from having so many London tickets, and Edinburgh tickets for private lectures, thy 20 September 1827. agreed to pass that month. I was scarcely fifteen when I began. Dr. P. Blaikie. Have all of you attended the Literary and Philosophy classes, either in this or the neighbouring College?-Mr. Morgan. Yes, I was a graduate of this College. What is the destination generally of the medical students in Aberdeen; is it for practice in the country, or for the army and navy?-Mr. Davidson. It is very various; a great many go abroad, and into the army; I have not known many go into the navy from this. Do many settle in the country, as general practitioners ?-A considerable number. Is it necessary for the students, who go to Greenland during the summer, to receive any certificate of qualification?—I believe, in general, there is some slight form gone through; but, in general, they are only the youngest apprentices that go there, and those that have the least means of supporting themselves. The Commissioners understand you distinctly to state, that, with that exception, most of the medical students are not out of Aberdeen during the summer?-Most of them are not; and several, who study in Edinburgh and in London during the winter, attend the hospital and the clinical lectures here during the summer. What proportion may, generally speaking, serve a medical apprenticeship in Aberdeen? -Almost the whole of them are apprentices in Aberdeen. Dr. Ewing has, I believe, about 20 apprentices himself. He has had, for these two or three last years, about 60 attending his Anatomical class. Is there any practical chemist in this town, or is there any laboratory, where young men are allowed to work?-No. Can you state what fees are paid by the Doctor's apprentices?-The doctors of the Infirmary receive a fee of 30 guineas generally. There are others that take them at less in town; Mr. Frazer, I believe, takes them as low as five guineas. Does that apprentice-fee entitle you to attend the Infirmary, or is the Infirmary ticket separate?-The Infirmary ticket is separate. Is it a perpetual ticket?—It is. Has the circumstance of there being only one sort of ticket given been found a drawback to the students, or is it considered an advantage?-I never heard anything mentioned about it. The fee is much smaller here than at any other Infirmary. From whom do the students receive their certificate of attendance at the Infirmary?—It is drawn out by the house-surgeon, and the three physicians sign it, if they are satisfied with the attendance. Do the gentlemen that have apprentices superintend their medical instruction ?-Some of them do. But not invariably?—Not invariably; some of them scarcely at all. What were the numbers attending the clinical lectures?—I believe there were about 30 tickets taken out. What was the duration of that course?-Three months' course, twice a week. The students presented a petition to the managers some time ago, to get the course lengthened, which, it is believed, will be attended to. It has not yet been settled. There is a medical society in Aberdeen, is there not?-There is. To which a library is attached ?—There is. Have the medical apprentices the use of that library?—They have, if they are members of the society. I am not one of the members. Can you state whether it is an adequate collection of medical books?—Mr. Morgan. There is a very fair collection of medical works. Of modern works?-Yes: the library is not extensive, but it is very select. Is French generally learned by medical students in Aberdeen, for the purpose of reading French medical works?-Mr. Davidson. Yes, I think it is pretty generally learned. [The Witness withdrew.] Patrick Blaikie, Esq., M.D., called in and examined. You have been appointed lecturer on Surgery by the Colleges?—I have. Three times a week?-Three times a week is the regular course; but I lecture more frequently when I can procure subjects. Does that depend upon your procuring those means of lecturing, or have you constantly extra meetings?-Not constantly; it depends upon that. Do you think it would be possible to lecture daily?—It would be possible, certainly. Have you ever attempted it ?-When we have the means, we lecture regularly every day. This is a statement of the outlines of the lectures.-(The Witness delivered in the same. See end of Evidence.) Do you give certificates ?—Yes. It is understood, that, from the shortness of the course, those certificates render additional attendance necessary at some other University, before a student can be received?-Not at the Royal College of Surgeons, in London; our course given here is quite sufficient. The gene How many subjects may you require for going through a course of Surgery?—I rally may require two or three; sometimes we have more, because I not only lecture upon Surgery, but the room is kept open as a dissecting-room for the students, without any additional fee. I had two for my own course, last session, and there were other three dissected by the students. Is it not the fact, that a course of Surgery does not require so many subjects as a course of Anatomy?—No. In case it should be necessary, in order to secure their reception in Edinburgh, that the attendance should be increased, do you think there would be any difficulty in obtaining the attendance of students here an additional month, or such time as might be necessary for the purpose?—I should think not. The great objection to increasing the number of lectures here, I apprehend, would be, that the lecturer would require an additional fee, and I am afraid it would be inconvenient to many of our students here to give that. You delivered a course of lectures upon Midwifery this summer?-I did; the young gentlemen came forward and requested I would do so, and I did so. For how long?-Four months. How often?-Four times a week. Did they attend regularly?-Very regularly. Was that after the College rose?-It was. Do you think that a class of Midwifery might safely be added to the College course of medical education ?—I believe it has been tried, and did not succeed; but I should think now, from the regulations of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, it would be likely to succeed. Do a considerable proportion of the medical students reside generally in Aberdeen?— Most of them reside here generally. What may be the number of them?-I think, last session, in the Anatomical class, there were about 60. What is the total number of persons intended for the medical profession, who attended the different classes as students ?-Probably 70 or 75 students attending the different classes and the Infirmary. What proportion of these were apprentices to the different physicians ?—I should think, at least 50. I should think, in some cases, they have a better opportunity here than at other places, because the numbers are fewer, and of couse they have an opportunity of doing more themselves, and of seeing more of the hospital. Do the apprentices receive medical instruction from the gentlemen they are with ?—That is generally the case. Is that in the way of private instruction, or by directing their attention to the different cases that occur in their own practice ?--In the way of both-in the way of private instruction; and many of them are connected with dispensaries, and of course there they have an opportunity of explaining the practice, and of giving them occasionally slight cases to treat under their own superintendence. What may be the greatest number of apprentices under the charge of any one medical gentleman?-Eighteen to twenty, I think. Do you know what fee is paid by the apprentices?-The fee that we exact for the three hospital physicians, as we conceive our students to have greater advantages, is 30 guineas. I believe 20 guineas is the common fee among the practitioners not connected with the hospital. By whom were the clinical lectures delivered last summer?-I delivered the clinical lectures last summer, and this summer. What was the attendance upon them?-About 25 last year, and about 32 or 33 this year. Are the studies of the medical students prosecuted with steadiness and ardour in Aberdeen? They appear to me to be so, as far as I am able to judge, from a good deal of intercourse with them. Do those that commence generally go forward to the medical profession?—They generally go forward. A good many of them study Divinity at the same time; and sometimes they follow one profession, and sometimes the other. Do you understand that the medical students are generally in better circumstances than the students of Divinity?-Generally they are, as far as my observation goes. There are many young gentlemen from England come down here to study Medicine; we have always four or five attending the Infirmary from England. Do the medical students generally reside here through the whole year?-They are generally apprenticed, as soon as they come here, to some of the physicians, and therefore they must reside here. Do a considerable proportion of the medical students come from a distance?-A good many of them come from a distance. More than are connected with the town of Aberdeen ?—Yes. Does the result of your experience lead you to think that the medical school will increase here, if properly established?-I have no doubt it will increase. It is in its infancy just University of Marischal College. Dr. P. Blaikie. 20 September 1827. University of Marischal College. 20 September 1827. now, and very poorly supported; but I have no doubt, that if it were established, and proper accommodation given, it would increase immediately. Where do you lecture at present?—It is just a private room. I have no class-room in the College; I have not even the protection of the College-court. Have you any accommodation for the disposal of your subjects?-No accommodation whatever. The lecture-room must be also the dissecting-room; and there is no place to put up preparations. What supply of medical books is there in Aberdeen accessible to the students?-There is a very excellent medical library belonging to the Medical Society, who are almost all members, and they have free access to that; and besides, belonging to the same society, the senior members have a very good library of reference, which the students have also access to. There are a good many valuable works in this library of reference. We do not allow any member, whether senior or junior, to take them out of the hall. Do you know what sort of collection of medical works there is in the College Library? -We have no access to that but through the Professors; and, if we can do without it, we do not like to have recourse to it; but I believe that the King's College collection is very excellent. Do you mean the books furnished from Stationers' Hall?-Yes. What is the expence incurred in becoming a member of the Medical Society?—It is three guineas. Is there any annual payment?-No annual payment, except 5s. for the library of reference, the senior class paying 10s. 6d. Have the students attending the classes of the gentlemen who are named lecturers by the University, access to the medical books in King's College?-They have access through a Professor, upon making a deposit; but the distance is so great, and their time is so completely occupied, that very few of them can avail themselves of going to Old Aberdeen to get books in that way.-[The Witness withdrew.] [The following was ordered to be added, as supplementary to the Witness's Outline of the Lectures on Operative Surgery and Surgical Anatomy, delivered in the Surgical Class- **THE Lectures will be delivered three times a week, at six o'clock in the evening, during the session of the Colleges. The Principles of the Art will be taught and their application to Practice will be pointed out and explained by Cases.-The Operations, as performed by the best modern Surgeons in this country, on the Continent, and in America, will be shewn.-The Anatomy of the human body will be reviewed in a practical form.-The whole will be illustrated by Experiments, and a complete Surgical Apparatus. INTRODUCTORY.-Importance of Surgery.-Present Mode of Study. Its imperfections, and manner of obviating them. I. Structure and Organization of the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Kingdoms. Review of the anatomy and functions of the body in a state of health. Of the blood. The vascular system. Structure and action of arteries, veins, and absorbents. II. Inflammation considered as a healthy and as a diseased Action.-The changes it produces, as illustrated by the appearance of the blood; by experiments on animals; by the microscope; and by morbid anatomy. Its termination; in resolution. Its concomitants and effects; effusion, adhesion, diminished and increased secretion, suppuration, mortification. Its constitutional symptoms; synocha. Typhus, hectic. Its modifications; erythema, erysipelas, ulceration, sloughing ulcer, hospital sore. Effects of heat and cold. Its constitutional and local treatment. Of bleeding; general. By the fleam, lancet, and scalpel. Topical. By the scarificator. By leeches. Management and application of leeches. III. Inflammation as affecting Membranes.-1. Serous Membranes.-The pleura, peritoneum tunica vaginalis. V. Review of the Anatomy and Functions of the different Canals and Ducts.-1. The Alimentary Canal.-Structure and VI. Diseases of the Vessels.-Aneurism, varix, active inflammation, ulceration. Principles of the operations performed on them. Effects of ligature on arteries and veins. Effects of laceration. VII. Of Wounds.-Incised, contused, lacerated, punctured, gunshot, poisoned. Of hæmorrhage. powers which restrain it. As restrained by art; cautery, compression, ligature. The natural VIII. Wounds of the Head.-Anatomy of the head, and pathology of the brain. Its different states. Direct injury; concussion. Through the circulation; compression; the apoplectic state. From irritation, or local injury; the con vulsive or epileptic state. From general inflammation; the phrenitic state. From morbid action, in consequence of violence or operation. Hernia and fungus cerebri. Treatment. IX. Wounds of the Face, Neck, and Throat.-Anatomy and functions of the parts. Their peculiarities. Their treatment. X. Wounds of the Shoulders and Thorax.-Anatomy of the parts. Principles of the diagnosis, when affecting the pleura. Pathology of wounded lungs. Errors usually fallen into pointed out, and proved by cases and experiment. Probing; its inutility. Emphysema. Empyema. Intercostal artery: manner of securing it. Treatment; consti tutional and local. XI. Wounds of the Abdomen and Pelvis.-Anatomy of the parts. Seat of the viscera, and inflections of the peritoneum, and their influence on the symptoms. Sympathy between the serous and mucous membranes, and muscular texture of the intestines. Wounded intestine. Wounded viscera. Treatment. XII. Practical Review of Osteology.-Fracture; diagnosis; pathology and principles of treatment, effects of position. clavicle, ribs, humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpal bones, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, metatarsal bones. Effects of bandages. Causes of obliquity and prevention. Treatment of simple, compound, and gunshot fracture. XIII. Anatomy and Demonstration of Joints and Ligaments.-Dislocation; subluxation; head, spine, clavicle, ribs, humerus, ulna, radius, metacarpal bone of the thumb; femur on the dorsum ilii, in the sciatic notch, in the foramen thyroideum, on the pubis; knee, ancle. Phalanges of the toes and fingers. Of false joints. Uses and effects of the radiated ligaments of the ancle joint. Compound dislocation. Rupture of the tendo Achillis. Displacement of the peronei tendons. Of sprain. Treatment. XIV. Operations.-General observations on the manner of conducting them. Trepan-Cases requiring this operation-from fracture of the skull, from depression, from effused blood, from matter, from carious bone, from gunshot. Pathology of fracture, depression, counter fissure, extravasation. Consequences of the operation, and after-treatment. Morbid XV. Review of the Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye.-The cataract. Extraction, depression, dispersion. XVII. Lithotomy.-Symptoms and pathology of stone in the bladder. Chemical analysis of the different kinds. XVIII. Amputation.-Question of amputation. Of primary and secondary amputation. Of disease and accidents requiring the operation. Common amputation by the circular incision. Proper method of dividing the integuments, muscles, and bones. Flap operation. Amputation at the shoulder by the single and double flap. Amputation at the hip. Amputation of parts of the foot and hand. After-treatment. XIX.-Operations required in Midwifery.-Anatomy and dimensions of the pelvis and child. The catheter. Procidentia and retroversion of the uterus. Of turning the child. Of the fillet, vectis, forceps, long forceps, perforator, blunt hook, crotchet. Section of the symphysis. The Cæsarean operation. Of the use and abuse of instruments. SURGICAL ANATOMY. In this division of the course, the different important organs of the body will be considered in relation to each other, and more particularly as they regard the marks and prominences of the external surface under which they lie, or near which they take their course. Plain and simple directions will be given for bringing them into view, at the places where they are most likely to become the seat of disease, to be affected by accidents, to be the subject of operations, or to require to be avoided in performing them. The following parts will be exposed by small incisions, imitating, as far as possible, the operations required in the living body; showing the parts as they must be separated in real operations; describing their distances and relations; and pointing out the different marks to be attended to, as the knife is carried deeper to expose any of them. 1. Arteries-Common carotid; external carotid; lingual; facial; occipital; temporal; frontal; infra-orbitary; mental; subclavian, above and below the clavicle; suprascapular; transversalis colli; thoracic; axillary; brachial in the middle of the arm, and at its bifurcation in the fore-arm, ulnar; radial; interosseous; common iliac; external iliac ; internal iliac, or hypogastric; femoral at the crural arch, and in the middle of the thigh; epigastric; circumflexa ilii; popliteal; anterior tibial in the leg, and at the instep; posterior tibial; peroneal. II. Veins Internal and external jugular; subclavian; cephalic and basilic with their branches; common iliac external and internal iliac; femoral; popliteal; saphæna, major and minor, with their subdivisions. III. Nerves. Frontal; infra-orbitary; mental; occipital; auricular branches of the upper cervical; portio dura; trunk and branches; par vagum, and recurrent branch; motor linguæ, and descendens noni; three inferior cervical; axillary plexus; cubital, or ulnar; its cutaneous branch to the back of the hand; its distribution to the fingers; median, or radial in the arm, fore-arm, and at the wrist; muscular spiral; its cutaneous branches on the back of the arm, at the wrist, and to the back of the hand; external cutaneous at the elbow, in the middle of the fore-arm, and at the wrist and back of the hand; internal cutaneous; anterior and posterior cutaneous of the thigh; anterior crural, with its cutaneous branch, the nervus longus in the thigh, middle of the leg, and at the ancle; ischiatic; its division in the ham; trunk of the peroneal nerve; its deep-seated branches accompanying the anterior tibial and peroneal arteries; its superficial or cutaneous branches to the instep; nervus communicans tibiæ at the middle of the leg, and at the ancle; trunk of the tibial nerve. In bringing these parts into view, by incisions made at different points of the body (by which it is presumed that a knowledge of their situation and course will be more deeply impressed on the mind of the student), the following muscles will be partially exposed, or some of their fibres divided: IV. Muscles-Occipito-frontalis; orbicularis oculi; levator anguli oris; levator labii superioris proprius; depressor labii inferioris; buccinator; masseter; trapezius; platisma myoides; mastoideus; digastricus; mylo-hyoideus; stylohyoideus; omo-hyoideus; scaleni; pectoralis major; deltoides; biceps; triceps; pronator teres; flexor carpi radialis ; flexor carpi ulnaris; flexores digitorum manus; supinator longus; palmaris longus; extensor primus pollicis; extensor secundus pollicis; obliquus externus; obliquus internus; transversalis; sartorius; triceps; biceps; gastronemius; solæus; tibialis anticus; tibialis posticus; extensor longus pollicis pedis; extensor longus digitorum pedis; peroneus primus; peroneus secundus; flexor longus pollicis pedis; flexor longus digitorum pedis. University of Marischal College. Dr. P. Blaikie. 20 September 1827. William Henderson, Esq., M.D., called in and examined. You have been appointed lecturer on Materia Medica to the united Colleges ?—I have. Have you regularly delivered lectures?-No; I have not regularly delivered lectures since the time of my appointment, because the students have been so much occupied during the winter that I have been unable to obtain a class. The appointment was in 1818; since that I have delivered four courses. Last session, in consequence of finding that the students were so much occupied in the winter, I attempted to obtain a summer class, which was much better attended than the winter ones had been. What number attended the summer course ?-Twenty-seven; during the winter courses there have been but seven or eight, or nine or ten, in consequence of attendance upon other classes. [On the Evidence being sent to the Witness for correction, he made the following addition to this Answer : "By a reference to my lists, I find that the first course I delivered was in 1818-19, and that seven students attended it; that the next was in 1822-1822, and was attended by 10; that the third, in 1825-26, was attended by 10, and that the summer course of the present year was attended by 27."] Will you state the nature and plan of your course?—I consider the subject as divided R Dr. Henderson. University of Marischal College. 20 September 1827. Alex. Frazer, Esq Messrs. Smith and into three parts; dietetics, or the action of various agents upon the body in a state of health; pharmacology, or the nature and properties of medicines; and pharmacy, or the art of preparing and compounding medicines. Do you exhibit many of the substances used in medicine in your class?-To the best of my remembrance I exhibited every article used in medicine, or inserted in the lists of any of the Colleges of Physicians, unless perhaps six or eight, of which I could not procure specimens. Do you exhibit the manner of preparing medicines?—No, the manner of preparing medicines I did not exhibit; the reason of my not doing so was partly the want of sufficient apparatus for the purpose, and partly want of time; the course was so long that if I had attempted to exhibit the processes it would have been going on now. Is there any Chemical Pharmacy introduced in your course?—I introduced and explained the principles of Chemical Pharmacy, and described the processes; and the products of all these processes were exhibited. Was it equally a course of Galenical and Chemical Pharmacy?-It was. Do you think that by a proper arrangement of hours a sufficiently numerous class might be found to attend the Materia Medica lectures?—I have no doubt, from the experience of last summer, that it would be so, if the students had time to attend it; but they are so much occupied with other studies that they have not time for it during the winter.-[The Witness withdrew.] [Addition.] 66 I may also add, that having been unable, from cold and damp, to deliver the lectures in the Chemical class-room, I was favoured by Mr. Cruickshank with the use of the Mathematical class-room, which of course is not fitted up in a suitable way for the performance of chemical experiments." Alexander Frazer, Esq., called in and examined. You have been appointed by the Colleges lecturer on Midwifery?—I have. Have you delivered lectures ?-I began lecturing in the beginning of May. Were they attended by any number of students?—I think seven. Do you imagine that the class is likely to increase in numbers ?-I do not know; there is another lecturer on the same subject. How often did you lecture?-Regularly thrice a week. Was that as often as the other lecturer on the same subject?—Yes; and according to the instructions that I received. Is it your intention to open a class next session ?—It is. Are there many female practitioners in Midwifery in this city, or the neighbouring district? There are a considerable number. How are they instructed in Midwifery?—I have a class for female practitioners in Midwifery. Is that distinct from your class in the College?—Yes. How many is it attended by ?-I had nine last year. Do they make as much proficiency as the male pupils ?-We do not go over such a large field with them. Do you lecture on the Institutes of Medicine also?-I lecture only on such parts as relate to Midwifery.-[The Witness withdrew.] [Addition on revising Evidence.] "The other lecturer on Midwifery, alluded to in one of my answers, is Dr. Blaikie, who is lecturer also on Surgery, by appointment of the Universities, and on clinical Surgery and Medicine in the hospital, by appointment of the managers of that institution. His course of lectures on Midwifery was begun about the same time with my own. I have reason to think that the attendance on my lectures would have been more numerous if Dr. Blaikie had not, as I am informed he did, allowed those who had perpetual tickets to his clinical lectures to attend his course of Midwifery gratis.' Mr. John Smith and Mr. Archibald Simpson, architects in Aberdeen, called in and examined. You were appointed by the Senatus Academicus, some time ago, to inspect and make a report on the state of the College building ?-Mr. Smith. Yes. When was that?-About three years ago. What was the nature of the report you presented, in consequence of that examination? -Principally stating our opinion that it was unfit to be repaired, and recommending a new that was the substance of it. one, In your opinion, would the expense of the necessary repairs nearly equal the building an entirely new edifice?-Yes. |