University of Virginia Library

VII.—MEDICINE.

PROFESSOR HOWARD.

In this school are taught Medical Jurisprudence, Obstetrics,
the Principles and Practice of Medicine. It is composed of two
classes. One of Medical Jurisprudence, and consisting of law,
academical, and medical students. The other of Obstetrics, the
Principles and the Practice of Medicine, and consisting wholly
of medical students. To allow the medical student time to attain
proficiency in Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry and Materia
Medica, before he is required to apply these branches in the study
of the Principles and the Practice of Medicine, the course is
opened with Medical Jurisprudence, which is followed by Obstetrics,
and both are completed before the Principles or the Practice
of Medicine are taken up.

MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE.

The lectures on this branch show the aid which legislation and
the administration of the laws derive from medicine, and consist
chiefly of the application of the principles of medical science to
the elucidation and administration of the laws, and the legal decisions
in cases of insanity, every variety of mental impairment,
crime, &c., &c. Text-books—the Professor's Outlines, and Beck
or Taylor.

OBSTETRICS.

The lectures on this branch comprehend an account of all
labours, natural, preternatural, and instrumental, the professional
assistance to be afforded in each, the treatment of the female before,
during, and after delivery, and the diseases of infancy.
The lectures are amply illustrated by specimens and plates, and
all manual evolutions, and the application of instruments, are
demonstrated on the improved phantoms of Hebermehl. The
students also practise manual and instrumental delivery on the
mannikin. Text-book—the last edition of Meigs.

THE PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE.

The Principles of Medicine, as taught in this school, comprise
General Pathology, and a brief view of General Therapeutics;
also Etiology, Nosology, Semeiology, Diagnosis, and Prognosis.
The nature and division of causes are first considered, which introduces
the student to their effects—diseases. Pathology proper
is next considered under the two forms, Functional and Structural
diseases. Functional diseases, being composed of elements, ultimate
and proximate, are analyzed into their constituent parts,
and the elements considered separately before they are contemplated
in combination. Structural diseases being rarely confined
to one anatomical element, cannot be strictly distinguished into
ultimate and proximate elements, and are therefore arranged
under the three heads, increased, diminished, and perverted
nutrition. After the student thoroughly understands the nature
of the causes of diseases, their divisions, modes of operation, and
the resulting effects upon function and structure in the ultimate
and proximate elements of disease, a general view is given of the
influences that can be brought to remove or counteract their elements.
And the course on the Principles is then concluded by
the consideration of nosology, semeiology, diagnosis, prognosis,
and the different modes of death. Text-books—Williams's Principles,
by Clymer.

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE, OR SPECIAL PATHOLOGY AND SPECIAL
THERAPEUTICS.

As the most natural and practically useful arrangement, all
local diseases are classified and treated of according to their
locality, or the organ or set of organs which they affect, whilst
general diseases are arranged altogether pathologically. Much
attention is given to Physical Diagnosis. Pathological Anatomy
occupies a conspicuous place in the course, and is illustrated by
Carswell's large and splendid coloured plates, and when practicable,
by specimens. Text-books—second edition of Dunglison's
Practice, and Clymer's Williams.