physiology, and pharmacology; the provision for bacteriology, pathology, and anatomy is less satisfactory. In physiology alone is there internal evidence of progressive activity. The instructors in other branches are overworked, being called on to carry the routine work of extensive subjects in all their parts without adequate assistance. Under such circumstances, the work, however conscientious, is bound to be limited.
Clinical facilities: The New Haven Hospital, in which the school controls a small number of beds, is very intelligently employed. The obstetrical and gynecological wards, however, are not used for teaching; nor is there a contagious disease pavilion. Post-mortems are scarce. Clinical laboratories and teaching-rooms have been improvised close by the hospital; students are thereby enabled to do the clinical laboratory work in connection with assigned cases. Provision is also made there for the independent work of the professors of medicine and surgery.
The dispensary occupies a new and excellent building, but lacks systematic organization as a teaching adjunct. The attendance is adequate; but as the staff service is gratis, it varies greatly in quality in various departments.
Date of visit: January, 1910.
General Considerations
As the school now stands, it would, in point of facilities, still have to be classed with the better type of those on the high school basis; for, though it has advanced to a two-year college basis, there has been as yet no corresponding improvement of facilities. In order to deserve the higher grade student body which it invites, a more liberal policy ought to be pursued. The laboratory branches ought to be better manned, so that the instructors may create within them a more active spirit. A university department of medicine cannot largely confine itself to routine instruction,—certainly not after requiring two years of college work for admission to its opportunities. For the same reason the clinical facilities should be extended, probably through a more intimate connection with the present hospital. Its wards should be more generally used; more beds should be made accessible within them; and the missing pavilion for contagious diseases be provided. Enough money ought to be spent on the dispensary to ensure in every department systematic and thorough discipline, in examining patients, keeping records, etc.
To make these improvements, larger permanent endowment is required. As the school is one of a very few in New England so circumstanced as to have a clear duty and opportunity, it behooves the university to make a vigorous campaign in behalf of its medical department.
[For general discursion 66 "New England," p. 261.]
