University of Virginia Library

MEDICINE.

Professor Howard.—This school is composed of two classes;
one of the Theory and Practice of Medicine and Obstetrics; the
other of Medical Jurisprudence. To allow the student to attain proficiency
in Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Materia Medica and
Therapeutics, before he is required to apply these branches in the
study of Pathology and the practice of Medicine, the course is opened
with Medical Jurisprudence and Obstetrics, both of which are completed
before the lectures on the Theory and Practice of Medicine
commence.

The lectures on Medical Jurisprudence include a full consideration
of the various topics on which medicine is called upon to aid in
the administration of the laws, and the detection of crime, and are
as well adapted to the Law Class as to that of Medicine.

The lectures on Obstetrics comprehend an account of natural and
other labours, and the professional assistance to be afforded in each;
the treatment of the female before and after delivery, and the diseases
of infancy. These lectures are amply illustrated by specimens
and plates; and the application of instruments is exemplified on the
improved phantome of the ingenious Hebermehl, upon which are
taught the management of all cases of labour, natural or preternatural;
a species of instruction which qualifies the student, when he
enters on the practice of his profession, to rank, in this department,
with practitioners of many years experience.

The course on the Theory and Practice of Medicine is commenced
with a description of the Ætiology, Semeiology and Diagnosis of
disease; then an exposition of the principles of Pathology and Therapeutics
is given; after which, the functional and organic lesions of
the various tissues and organs are successively considered, and their
sympathetic relations and influences carefully explained: the subject
of fevers is next treated on in much detail. By the adoption of this
plan, the student becomes familiar with the local and general phenomena
attendant on particular lesions, before he is called on to investigate
the nature and treatment of the complicated groups of symptoms
included in febrile diseases.

Text Books.—On Medical Jurisprudence—Beck, and the Professor's
Outlines of Med. Juris. On Obstetrics—Meigs's Velpeau.
On the Theory and Practice of Medicine—Dunglison's Practice, and
Bell's and Stokes's Lectures.