University of Virginia Library

VII.—MEDICINE.

PROFESSOR HOWARD.

In this school are taught Medical Jurisprudence, Obstetrics, the
Principles and the 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 entered upon.

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
labors, natural, preternatural, and instrumental, the professional
assistance to be afforded in each, the treatment of a 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 phantom of Hebermehl. The students also
practice manual and instrumental delivery on the mannikin.
Text Books—the last edition of Meigs' Midwifery.

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-book—Wood's Pathology.

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 colored plates, and, when practicable, by specimens.
Text-book—Wood's Practice of Medicine.