University of Virginia Library

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45

SCHOOL OF ANATOMY AND MATERIA MEDICA.

Prof. Towles.

I. Anatomy.—The instruction in Descriptive, Surgical, and Topographical
Anatomy is given by didactic lectures combined with the course of
Practical Anatomy as taught in the Dissecting Hall. The endeavor throughout
is to render the teaching as completely practical as possible; scarcely a
statement is made that is not illustrated by its exhibition, either on actual
dissection or on the preparation of a dissection, the effort being to convey
knowledge in the so-called natural method, that is, by mental imagery
formed by repeated observations of nature. This is accomplished by exhibiting
to the student and requiring him to handle the dissected parts and
preparations made therefrom. The equipment of the School for this purpose
is most ample; and, in addition to the numerous preparations and dissections,
there are models and anatomical paintings representing the greater part of
the anatomy of the body.

For the course in Practical Anatomy, dissecting material obtained under
the permissive law of the State is abundantly supplied without cost to the
student. Each medical student, however many sessions he may have
attended, is required to dissect under the constant and careful supervision
of the Demonstrator. Attendance in the dissecting-room is compulsory, a
strict record being kept in the case of each student. Besides the oral examination,
which precedes each lecture, and the other examinations to be mentioned
hereafter, each student is required to stand seven practical examinations
on anatomy, one upon osteology, four upon different parts of the
muscular system, one on the viscera, and one on the vessels and nerves.
These examinations are oral and private, each student being examined alone.
They consist of the identification of the truths of anatomy on the bones,
the cadaver, and the dissected cadaver, and are thus a perfect test of the
student's acquaintance with the gross structure of the human body.

II. Materia Medica and Therapeutics.—The lectures on Materia
Medica occur in the latter half of the session, after the student has obtained
the knowledge of the primary branches prerequisite to the proper understanding
of the subject. Particular stress is laid upon the physiological action
and rational therapeutical applications of drugs. The physical properties of
drugs are taught by requiring the student to learn them from specimens,
a complete collection being provided, which contains specimens both of all
the crude drugs and of all their preparations, which have been dealt with in
the lectures.

Text-books.—Bruce's Materia Medica and Therapeutics; United States Pharmacopœia, or
Index of Materia Medica. The student should provide himself, if possible, with specimens
of all the bones.