ΤΟ

NATHAN R. SMITH, M. D.,

PROFESSOR OF SURGERY

IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND,

THIS VOLUME,

AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT DUE TO HIS EMINENT TALENTS

AND ADMIRABLE PROFESSIONAL SKILL,

AND IN TESTIMONY OF THE LONG AND UNINTERRUPTED AFFECTION

INSPIRED BY HIS VIRTUES AND WORTH,

IS INSCRIBED

BY HIS FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE,

THE AUTHOR.

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CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.—Introduction-Power of Industry—Whether

Special Talents for Medicine are Necessary-What Ta-

lents are Requisite-Good Senses-Good Sense-Means

for the Study of Medicine,.....

LECTURE II.-READING as a Means of Study-Errors in its

Use. 1. Improper Selection of Books-Why injurious—

General Character of Books-Select and Study the

Best. 2. Too Much Reading-Its Evils-How many

Hours Daily?-Example of the Members of the Bar-

Wonderful Students-The Effects of undue Study-

Danger to Health-Be not too Cautious......

LECTURE III.-Errors in Reading Continued. 3. Reading

without Thinking. Popular Errors on this Subject-

How to Read to Advantage-Ill Effects of not Think-

ing-Servile submission to Authority-Freedom of

Mind not properly Valued-Love the Truth-Proper

Hours for Reading. LECTURES as a Help in the Study

of Medicine-Their Utility-On what Departments of

Study to be Attended-Regular Attendance-Proper

Attention-Inquire of the Lecturers-Taking Notes-

Read before and after each Lecture-Anatomical Dis-

sections. EXAMINATIONS after Lectures-Caution.......

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LECTURE IV.-CLINICAL EXPERIENCE-Necessity of a Hos-

pital to every Medical School-In What Manner Use-

ful-Observation alone not Sufficient-Which the more

Useful, Reading or Observation?-Examination of Pa-

tients-Examine for Yourselves-Conduct of the Un-

derstanding. Auscultation-Best Way of Learning It-

Rare Cases-Notes of Cases-Humanity-Results of

Clinical Experience. CONVERSATION as a Means of

acquiring Knowledge-Its Utility to Students-Dan-

gers to be Avoided........

LECTURE V.-MEDICAL SCHOOLS. Controversy respecting

Them-Difference between American and European

Medical Schools-Causes of that Difference-Equal

Difference in the case of other Schools-Education of

our Physicians not Inferior to that of our Lawyers and

Clergy-Charges against the Medical Schools-Insuf-

ficient Preliminary Education of their Pupils-Higher

Education for all not yet Attainable-But the Case not

worse at present than it has always been-Undue bre-

vity of Professional Study-Sessions too Short-Trivi-

al Examination before Graduating-Prospect of Im-

provement-What the Schools have Done-No sudden

and great Improvement to be Expected-Students not

to depend principally upon the Schools, but upon

Themselves.......

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