Page:The Medical School of the Melbourne University - an address delivered on the twenty fifth anniversary of the opening of the Medical School, in the Wilson Hall, March 23, 1887 (IA b22293346).pdf/14

14 might be pronounced to be too exacting, by others too exhausting. The object of the framers was to provide a mode of testing, but not of perplexing the candidate. It is said to be too technical, but it is hard to see how such a course of study can be too technical. One special requirement, however, is now insisted upon, namely, clinical knowledge. The candidate must have learnt in a hospital how to recognise and how to treat disease, and, therefore, there is now more adequate provision made for bedside instruction. For many years the reproach has been flung at the School that it did not include instruction of this kind, and that the student only learnt the art of diagnosis in a desultory manner. This is true to some extent. The University has no control over the Hospital, and even the Hospital Committee has shown no disposition to further the interest of the University, but has manifested a positive antagonism and dislike to it. The medical staff for the most part have not been unwilling to teach students, but the clinical teaching has been given as it suited their convenience, and it is only by giving himself up to that part of his instruction, that a student can hope to secure it. Now, however, this is to be altered; but the system can never be complete till the University has the power, not only to appoint its own clinical teachers, but also of electing them to the medical staff of the Hospital. No doubt the absolute separateness of the Hospital and the University has helped, not a little, to promote the antagonism between the two institutions. When, thirty years ago, the scheme of the Medical School was first mooted, it was urged by some that it ought to be a part of the Hospital, that, in fact, like the schools in the old country, it should grow out of the Hospital, and be identified with it. This plan not being adopted, it was then hoped that as the School was not blended with the Hospital, a Hospital might be added to the School; and when the Alfred Hospital was first contemplated, it was proposed to build it on the ten acres south of the School, facing Madeline-street. In my opinion, there is no reason why this should not have been done, and despite the opposition of the City Council, a section of the Hospital Committee, and the Government, I am satisfied that this would be a suitable site for the new Melbourne Hospital.

It will be expected, and very properly, that I should say something about the admission of young women to the medical