University of Virginia Library

SCHOOL OF ANATOMY AND MATERIA MEDICA.

Prof. Towles.

I. Anatomy.—The instruction in Descriptive, Surgical, and Topographical
Anatomy is given both by didactic lectures and in the
course of Practical Anatomy as taught in the Dissecting Hall. The endeavor
is, throughout, to render the teaching as completely practical as
possible; scarcely is there a statement 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; i. e.,
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 a 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 class-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
the 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 body.

II. Materia Medica and Therapeutics.—The lectures on Materia
Medica occur in the latter half of the session, after the student has obtained
a knowledge of the primary branches, a 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-book:—Wilson's or Gray's or Weisse's Anatomy; Bruce's Materia Medica and
Therapeutics.