ÀҾ˹éÒ˹ѧÊ×Í
PDF
ePub

the resignations to accept more lucrative positions, it required considerable trouble to obtain a suitable number of the right kind. The two Cornell graduates who were practicing in Ithaca and who had served as assistants in the department of anatomy during the first term were secured to aid in the instruction in histology and embryology during the second term, one for each course given to medical students. This year, as in previous years, it has been possible to secure the assistance of some excellent advanced students for the elementary work. The material equipment and the laboratory space at the service of the department of histology and embryology are excellent. The course offered to medical students has covered in a most excellent way the subject matter of the various subjects, but it has been necessary, owing to limits of time, to eliminate the instruction in technique which had always been one of the essentials of the course offered by the department before the establishment of the Veterinary and Medical Colleges at Cornell, and which is an important part of a course now offered to students in arts and sciences. This elementary course has also been taken advantage of by some medical students in addition to their medical work and especially by arts students who expect to take up the study of medicine. Professor Gage says, "I greatly deplore the lack of sufficient time to give all medical students the opportunity to ground themselves in the technique of the subject and thus open the road for unlimited progress in the subjects by independent work. The power to work independently through the ability to produce one's own material for study and investigation is of such transcendent importance and is so urgently needed by medical men that I trust some way will be found to give the technical training to our medical students."

In the department of physiology and pharmacology Dr. Kingsbury reports that the total attendance in the various courses and of individual students is greater than last year, or ever before in the four years that the department has been in operation. While there has been a small gain in the enrollment of medical students, the increase has been due to an increased attendance of students other than medical, 47 as against 18 of last year. The instructors and assistants in the department have been most efficient, and have carried on the work carefully and faithfully. Three of them will be available for next year, but as yet it has not been possible to find assistants for the other places. Professor Kingsbury urgently requests that more time be given to the second year course in the

physiology of metabolism, digestion, absorption and excretion. As this side of physiology is especially important in medicine, it is sincerely hoped that the extra time may be found in the schedule. It is felt that the arrangement of the courses in physiology and pharmacology is far from ideal and it is hoped that there will soon be a re-organization of the medical curriculum so as to make it possible to re-adjust the courses within the department. This is especially true of the courses in pharmacology where closer correlation with one another is needed. The equipment of the department has been somewhat increased this year, both in the direction of special apparatus and general equipment. The deficiencies in research, demonstration, and student apparatus should be filled up as soon as possible. A mechanic remains one of the greatest needs of the departmeut. The janitors in anatomy and physiology have been called upon to do some mechanical work, but these men can do only the coarser work, and more delicate apparatus requires a skilled mechanic. The animal house is too small to quarter all the animals needed at certain times of the year. The dogs especially are crowded and much of the disturbance complained of by neighboring residents could be obviated by better quarters. An increase in the department staff is needed, especially a man to give the courses in pharmacology. Dr. Kingsbury states, "I canvassed the country thoroughly last Spring for such a man and found no one who could be obtained for a beginning salary of less than one thousand dollars and then only with the distinct promise of increase the second year. For the work in physiology also more assistants are necessary. I now must often spend time in the laboratory needed for lecture preparation. Many demonstrations have been omitted or postponed merely because of lack of time to get them ready. The department needs also higher salaried men. It is almost impossible to get men or keep them in physiology and pharmacology at the salaries at present paid."

The courses in pathology and bacteriology have been given as heretofore with no special changes in the method of teaching. Dr. Moore has given several especially important general lectures before the University and Medical College.

During the year many valuable specimens have been added to the teaching collection of pathological material. The museum now contains over 900 pathological specimens. The material for pathological histology comprises over 350 sets of slides containing from 30 to 50 duplicates of each. These are all catalogued convenient

for use.

Dr. Wilder's work in neurology was last year, at his own request, made an optional course for medical students. The course is largely a preparation for the work as given in the Medical College, and it is strongly urged that all students preparing for medicine will make this one of the courses which they take in the College of Arts and Sciences.

It has been frequently reported that the work of medical students in physics has been less satisfactory since the special lecture course for them has been abandoned. As it is not at present feasible to give a special lecture course for a small number of students, it has been decided that the medical students shall attend lectures and shall take rough notes as heretofore, but, instead of writing up final notes, they are to meet an instructor in groups of six to ten two hours per week for a combined quiz and demonstration on those parts of the subject which apply mostly to medicine. They will be expected to handle and discuss apparatus, especially such physical instruments as are used by the medical profession. While no greater amount of time will be required, it will be better employed.

The work in chemistry has progressed as usual and most satisfactorily. Dr. Orndorff is particularly anxious that, as soon as possible, more time should be given to organic chemistry. He says, "In view of the use of so many organic compounds in the practice of medicine it seems to me unfortunate that so little time should be devoted to this subject by our medical students. Then, we are compelled to teach the subject without giving any laboratory work, which is undoubtedly a mistake which should be remedied at the first opportunity."

The courses in surgery, medicine and obstetrics have been given this year as heretofore. The work has been normal and satisfactory.

Altogether the progress in the Ithaca Division of the Medical College has this year been most satisfactory, but, as noted in various parts of this report, there is urgent need for many material improvements and especially urgent is the need for an increase in both the number and rank of the instructing staff. I sincerely hope that before long the Ithaca Division of the Medical College may receive a sufficient independent endowment so that there may be created a number of additional professorships and assistant professorships, as well as provision for additional instructors and assistants.

Respectfully submitted,

ABRAM T. KERR,

Secretary of the Ithaca Division of the Medical College

APPENDIX VII

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK
STATE VETERINARY COLLEGE

To the President of the University:

SIR-I have the honor to present the report of the New York State Veterinary College for the year ending June, 1907.

ATTENDANCE

The freshman class entering in 1905 and 1906 had to furnish twice the amount of entrance educational requirements that were demanded in 1904 and earlier. The number of matriculants in consequence fell from 58 in 1904-1905 to 19 in 1905-1906. This phenomenal fall was instantly seized upon by the opponents of a higher veterinary education to point their arrows for the destruction of the high standard adopted by this State and especially by this College. The subject was brought before the New York State Veterinary Medical Society at its meeting in Buffalo, and a concerted effort made to secure the vote of the Society in favor of a return to the lower requirements, but happily without success. The main argument was that candidates were being deterred from entering our New York State Veterinary Colleges, and that the State was not receiving the number of new graduates necessary to fill the ranks of practitioners when these were depleted in the natural way.

Our freshman class, entering in September, 1906, sufficiently vindicates our position and gives the assurance that in a year or two the supply of well-educated veterinarians will fully equal the demand. Our matriculants of the first year in 1906 were 32, being more by three-fifths than the class entering in 1905, and only less than the freshman classes entering in 1903 and 1904. The size of the two classes just named was largely influenced by the announcement that the matriculation requirements would be doubled in 1905; all pros.

pective candidates who could furnish the lower requirements having made haste to enter while they still could on the easier terms. Those who were unprepared to enter on two years of high school work in 1904 could not furnish the required four years of academic work until 1906 and in 1906 the entering freshman class exceeded that of 1902, the last year before the announcement of the higher matriculation demands. In place of a falling off, therefore, there has been an actual gain, and applications from candidates indicate very decidedly that the freshman class in September, 1907, will exceed that of last year sufficiently to silence the most pessimistic predictions of enemies and unsanguine friends. The freshman classes of the last five years have been as follows:

1902-03
31

1903-04
46

1904-05 1905-06 1906-07
58

19

32

If the present indications of the continuous increase are realized, the College may in one year more be warranted in extending the curriculum to four years. Thus our earnest hopes entertained and expressed from the date of our foundation, will, in this respect, be realized, and, so far as educational work is concerned, our College may be advanced to the position to which it is entitled, and may compare favorably with the best institutions of the kind in the world.

With freshman classes of forty-five to fifty and a course of four years, the number of undergraduates working for a veterinary degree would be from 180 to 200.

In addition we have to consider the students from the College of Agriculture and other departments of the University who elect short courses in the Veterinary College. In 1905-1906 these amounted to 166 and in 1906-1907 to 156. With the extraordinary increase of agricultural students it would not be surprising to find this number duplicated thus increasing our students to 400 or 500. This will necessitate larger class rooms and laboratories and a more extended equipment.

PRONOUNCED VALUE OF THE HIGHER REQUIREMENTS

From time immemorial medicine has been listed among the learned professions, and in nomenclature, nature of studies, accessory studies, and in the range of prophylactics and therapeutics veterinary medicine demands exactly the same kind and extent of knowledge as does the medicine of The twelve species of patients of the veterinarian really demand a more varied equipment than does the one species of

man.

« ¡è͹˹éÒ´Óà¹Ô¹¡ÒõèÍ
 »