University of Virginia Library

DISEASES OF THE EYE, EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT.

Professor Hedges.

Professor Compton

Diseases of the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat.—Two lectures weekly
from the beginning of the session to the first of March, supplemented by
regular clinics twice weekly throughout the fourth year and clinical lectures
to sections of the class as suitable cases occur.

No attempt is made to train specialists, but every effort is made
to render the class familiar with such common diseases of the eye,
ear, nose, and throat as the general practitioner meets in his daily
work. To this end the class is divided into small sections and each
student is taught the methods of examination and the use of the
ophthalmoscope, head-mirror, and of the laryngeal and post-nasal
mirrors. In the clinics each patient is assigned to a student who
must take the history and keep the record of that patient; the case is

then demonstrated by the professor in charge, and, if possible, each
student makes his own examination under the personal supervision of
the attending physician. Clinical cases are abundant, and during the
year the student sees and handles practically all the common diseases
of the eye, ear, and upper respiratory tract.

At the operations in the Hospital only as many students are allowed
to be present as can really see and appreciate what is being
done.

Valuable work is also given in the dissecting room, where the
technic of operative work is shown in a way that cannot be employed
with the living patient. Students do this work as far as
possible for themselves, especially in tracheotomy and intubation of
the larynx.

Finally the attempt is made so to ground the student in the
anatomy, physiology, general pathology, and in methods of examination
and treatment that he may diagnose and treat intelligently many
of the cases that cannot afford to go to a perhaps distant specialist;
that he may treat successfully that large class of emergency cases
that first come to the general practitioner and in which immediate
treatment is imperative; and, lastly, that he may recognize and intelligently
refer those cases that need the services of one specially
trained to this branch of work.