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pharmacology, who has followed the demonstration of normal phenomena by experiments to illustrate the variations which can be produced by the various standard medicaments and drugs. The effectiveness of the course has thus, I feel, been noticeably increased.

The department of anatomy has continued its work with diligence and success and the "material" at its disposal, contrary to the expectation at the beginning of the year, has proved to be abundant enough not only to provide instruction for our own students but for the New York Dental College as well. Like all other departments in the school, there is a constant demand for more hours which may be devoted to dissection and demonstration, and on this subject I shall have more to say before closing.

In the department of materia medica and therapeutics, perhaps the most important from the standpoint of the layman, the ordinary routine of memorizing drugs, their dosage and application, is being steadily broadened and made more interesting and of greater value by the assistance of the sub-department of pharmacology. A great deal of the instruction is here given by the writing and compounding of prescriptions by the students themselves. Subsequently, as I mentioned in speaking of the department of physiology, Professor Hatcher and his assistants conduct a laboratory and demonstration course to illustrate the usage and effect of all the more important drugs. In the coming year Professor Loomis has arranged for a class which shall work in the dispensary in conjunction with Professor Thompson's class in diagnosis, and thus learn, after ascertaining the nature of a patient's illness, the necessary details in its treatment. As much of the modern therapeutics involves the mechanical and climatological adjuvants included in general hygiene, this department has been enlarging its instruction in these directions. Professor Loomis has given several illustrated lectures upon the different health resorts, and at the same time much practical training in hydrotherapy and massage has been conducted in the establishment devoted to this work in Bellevue Hospital. The course in this department is probably one of the most thorough and practical in the University.

The department of chemistry is extremely important, as it is, with anatomy and physiology, one of the basic tripod upon which the whole art depends, and I am pleased to report that its work is eminently satisfactory. The recitation exercises have had to be increased in number in the second year to provide for the growth of this science which has been particularly marked on the physical side. Many applications for special instruction by postgraduates and others in

this branch have had to be denied owing to lack of room and time, but this perhaps, better than anything else, testifies to the value of the work. It is hoped in the near future that even more can be accomplished. This department has cooperated with several others in much valuable original investigation, and Dr. Wolf is greatly to be commended for the researches in metabolism with which he has been more or less constantly engaged, in addition to his class room work, for the past four years.

In the department of obstetrics the instruction has been very satisfactory. The new Maternity Hospital, with which Professor Edgar is connected, has supplied abundant material for his clinics and the practical training required of each student before he can receive his degree. It is gratifying to note that the text book written by Professor Edgar has proved one of the standard works of its kind in this country.

The department of pathology under Professor Ewing, with its sub-department for experimental researches, has attracted wide attention and commendation. The course in bacteriology is the earliest step the students take in their progress in this, or rather these, branches under Professor Ewing's control and has given great satisfaction. It has acquired what is known as the Vaughan incubator for growing bacteria in enormous quantities in order that their chemical and physical peculiarities may be studied. It is thus possible to produce these micro-organisms literally by the pound and Dr. Elser, who has charge of both the instruction and the experimental work, deserves great credit. It is the idea in the future that the University should maintain a body of men devoted entirely to the advancement of medicine as a true science, and contribute its full share of the benefits mankind has reason to expect from an institution of this kind. Eleven persons are actually engaged in this work solely in the department of pathology, and the value of it is attested in the serum recently introduced for the cure of a certain specific infection known as gonorrhoeal rheumatism, and another serum which has attracted world wide attention for the cure of a disorder known as Graves' disease or exophthalmic goitre, in which the nomenclature, owing to the teaching of this laboratory, is now being changed to thyroidism. Mr. Beebe and Mr. Torrey are especially to be commended to your attention for their share in these valuable productions. It is suggested that in the future we import the numerous chemicals needed in this department and in that of chemistry in bulk and effect many economies, as the financial burdens are consid

able. Ether, methyl, alcohol and other similar reagents have to be used in great quantities.

In the specialized departments the instruction has been excellent and our students have proved themselves capable of managing the ordinary ailments of the eye, ear, nose and throat, etc., which are usually encountered by the general practitioner.

The department of otology encounters in the dispensary many cases needing surgical attention of the major order which can only be treated properly in a hospital, and it is hoped ere long to obtain for its use a few beds in Bellevue Hospital. Great advantages would thus accrue to our students who would first see the case in the outpatient department, and then follow it to the operating room, and in this way appreciate many grave conditions which might otherwise be dismissed and lost to sight.

The departments of ophthalmology and dermatology have given entire satisfaction, although the latter has been handicapped by a lack of material. In the teaching of skin diseases the living subject is employed almost exclusively, as obviously such lesions have to be seen to be appreciated and this year the attendance of patients had decreased quite perceptibly. The cause appears to have been the charge for medicine and the competition with adjoining free dispensaries and, as our own dispensary is so necessary a part in the curriculum, we have been compelled to forego all compensation.

The departments of laryngology, orthopedics and pediatrics have rendered their usual efficient service and are worthy of commendation.

The department of psychopathology has done excellent work. The establishment of a dispensary class in this specialty has proved very successful and the need of treating patients in the first stages of mental disorders in a dispensary is thus supplied. This is the only dispensary which opens a clinic to this class of patients.

The department of radiography under Dr. Geyser has been giving systematic instruction to our students in the use of the X-Ray and its manifold and curious dangers have been well pointed out. It is being recognized more and more as a dangerous specialty for the one who constantly practices it, and I take pleasure in making this acknowledgment to the chief in that department.

In conclusion permit me to add that it is our hope to have the fundamental subjects of chemistry and biology more widely introduced into our preparatory courses. For each year the growth of knowledge imposes burdens upon the present curriculum which are

becoming almost physically impossible for both the student and the instructor. Before the lapse of many years it will be absolutely necessary either to lengthen the medical course or to compel our students to come to us prepared in the fundamental natural sciences. There are growing signs of the recognition of these facts by the public educators in the primary branches, but it is the duty of those interested in the teaching of medicine to constantly urge a better preparation upon those who intend to make this great humanitarian calling their life work.

Respectfully submitted,

W. M. POLK,

Director of the Medical College

APPENDIX VI

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ITHACA DIVISION OF THE MEDICAL COLLEGE

To the President of Cornell University:

SIR-I have the honor to present the following report of the Ithaca Division of the Medical College for the college year 1906-1907. The attendance this year has been four greater than last year. There were in all five students registered in arts and medicine, whereas there was but one last year. There were thirty seven first year medical students as against thirty last year.

There have been no material changes in the curriculum during the year. The changes which became effective last year have been continued and have proved most satisfactory. The curriculum is greatly overcrowded and nearly every department is asking for more time for its work. It seems imperative that physics and elementary chemistry should soon be made required subjects for entrance. If we could obtain our students with better preparation than graduation

from a high school implies, it would be possible to materially strengthen our medical course,

The lecture and recitation rooms in Stimson Hall have been used by other departments less this year than heretofore, since the completion of the new buildings has made it possible for many depart ments to find suitable rooms in them.

I wish again to call your attention to the great difficulty which we have in obtaining properly qualified assistants and instructors, and the still greater difficulty of retaining them for any length of time in the positions and at the compensation we are able to offer. This difficulty is experienced by other colleges of the country and is being met by them by an increase in the number of professors and assistant professors with a corresponding increase in the compensation. These same difficulties I know are met with in other departments of the University, but, with the great advances which are being made in the teaching in the medical colleges of the country, the demand for trained men is, I believe, greater than elsewhere. In any scientific department the real life of the work depends to a large extent upon the amount of research work which is being done, and with this constant change, as I have already pointed out, the energies of the staff are so absorbed in preparing the younger men for their work as teachers that the amount of research work is materially decreased.

The work in the department of anatomy has been given as heretofore. Two of the assistants were obtained as in preceding years by appointing recent graduates of our own Medical College who were glad to avail themselves of this opportunity to obtain additional experience in the dissecting room between the time of their graduation, and the time when their term of hospital work began. For two positions in anatomy properly qualified assistants could not be found at the salary available and it was necessary to obtain the required additional help from physicians who were practicing in Ithaca. We were fortunate, however, in securing two of our own graduates to fill these positions, but they could devote to the work in the Medical College only a few hours each week. Dr. Hathaway has divided his time between the work in anatomy and that as medical examiner at the gymnasium.

In regard to the department of histology and embryology Proffessor Gage reports that the assistants this year have been unusually efficient. From the difficulty in obtaining proper men and owing to

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