University of Virginia annual announcements, with a catalogue of the officers and students of the University of Virginia

The session of the Medical Department continues through the full
nine months of the University session. This arrangement enables five
professors to do thoroughly the work which is often allotted to a larger
number in institutions whose session is much shorter.

The importance of a knowledge of Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology,
before commencing the study of the more practical branches, is
fully recognized; and the course of study is so arranged, that during
the first half session the instruction is in these important elementary
branches. During the same time the subjects of Medical Jurisprudence
and Obstetrics, especially the mechanical features of the latter
branch, are studied by the class.

The courses and methods of instruction in the several Schools of the
Department are as follows:

SCHOOL OF GENERAL CHEMISTRY.

Prof. Mallet.

In this School the students are taught thoroughly Chemical Physics
and the principles of Chemistry; and their attention is directed, when
ever an occasion presents itself, to the application of chemical principles
to the practice of Medicine, Therapeutics, Toxicology and Sanitary
Science. (See p. 32.)

Text-book.—Fownes's Chemistry. For reference.—Charles's Physiological and Pathological
Chemistry; Wormley's Micro-Chemistry of Poisons.

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 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; 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 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 dissectingroom
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 structure of the human body.

II. Materia Medica and Therapeutics.—The lectures on Materia
Medica occur in the latter half 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

4 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; Index of Materia Medica. The
student should provide himself, if possible, with specimens of all the bones.

SCHOOL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND SURGERY.

Prof. Cabell.

I. In Physiology the lectures are illustrated by plates, and the students
are instructed in Histology as well as in Physiology proper.
Much attention is given throughout the course to the practical bearings
of physiological and histological facts on pathology, and their relations
to the nature and treatment of disease. Extra lectures are given, commencing
about the middle of December, at which the students are questioned
on all that part of Physiology which they have studied previously.
It has been found that these "review lectures" are very useful
to the students as a preparation for the final examinations.

II. In Surgery especial attention is given to the causation and pathology
of the various surgical affections, and the lectures are illustrated
by excellent paintings and by morbid specimens. The applications of
splints and apparatus for the different fractures and the details of minor
surgery are practically exhibited to the class.

Text-books.—Yeo's Manual of Physiology; Power's Human Physiology, (American edition);
Wilson's Manual of Hygiene and Sanitary Science (fifth edition, 1884); Ashurst's
Surgery; Klein's Histology. For occasional reference: Foster's Physiology; Landois's
Physiology; and a few monographs on special subjects.

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, OBSTETRICS, AND MEDICAL
JURISPRUDENCE.

Prof. Dabney.

I. In Medical Jurisprudence the student is instructed in the principles
of the science, and is taught how to apply these principles when
he is summoned as a witness in a court of law.

II. In Obstetrics instruction is given by lectures, and the mechanical
principles involved in the study are explained and illustrated by the

use of suitable preparations and models. The student is drilled in this
part of the subject during the early part of the course, and attention is
subsequently called to the diseases and accidents incident to pregnancy
and the puerperal state. Each student is also taught practically the
various manipulations, both manual and instrumental.

III. In Practice of Medicine especial attention is given to the principles
of the subject, the aim of the teacher being to instruct the students
as thoroughly as possible in the causation of diseases and the
morbid changes which occur in the different tissues. The lectures are
illustrated by morbid specimens, both coarse and microscopic, and each
student has the opportunity of examining these specimens for himself
Each student furthermore is taught the method of making a physical
examination of a patient, and is required to learn by actual examination;
under the supervision of the Professor, the normal appearances
and sounds in the different regions of the body and over the different
organs.

IV. Classes have also been established in Practical Microscopy
Attendance in these classes is optional, but the desire to make good
use of the opportunity thus offered seems to be general. Each student
is taught practically how to use the microscope, to cut and stain sections
of tissues, to examine urine and blood, etc. In addition to a
knowledge of microscopic manipulation thus obtained, it is found that
students can get a far clearer idea of morbid anatomy and pathology in
this way.

Text-book.—Reese's Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology; Playfair's Midwifery last
edition); Strumpell's Practice of Medicine; Flint's or Loomis's Physical Diagnosis; Grees
Pathology; Friedlander's Practical Microscopy.

INSTRUCTION IN THE DISPENSARY.

A Free Dispensary is now in operation at the University, under the
charge of the Medical Professors. Here the students are taught the
methods of examining patients, and the changes which occur in the
normal functions of the body as a result of disease. In recognition of
the impossibility of giving practical instruction by the ordinary clinical
lectures, the class is divided into sections, so that each student may
have the opportunity of examining patients for himself, under the guidance
of the Professor. In addition to the patients who come to the

Dispensary, others who are too sick to attend there are visited at their
homes.

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY.

The attention of students of Medicine is called to the great value of
the course in Analytical Chemistry (p. 33) as a desirable enlargement
of their professional training. The Special Courses in Medical Chemistry
and Practical Pharmacy are designed particularly for students of
Medicine, and the latter is given without additional charge, except for
laboratory material, to such of them as engage to attend the entire
course.

EXAMINATIONS.

The examinations are of two sorts; oral examinations (daily), and
written examinations (Intermediate and Final.)

The value of the daily examination or recitation on the subject of the
preceding lecture is very great. On the one hand students who would
not otherwise take advantage of their opportunities for instruction are
thereby stimulated to increased exertion. On the other the recitation
gives the Professor an opportunity of finding out difficulties which the
student may have encountered in the previous lecture, and of correcting
erroneous impressions which he may have formed.

The intermediate written examinations stimulate the student to frequent
reviews, and familiarize him with the form of the examinations
for graduation, and the best methods of preparing for them.

The examinations for graduation are rigid written examinations, in
which the answers to the questions must be full and comprehensive.

Besides these examinations, there is a general oral review at the very
close of the session on all the different branches on which the student
has graduated during either that session or some preceding one; this
is intended to test the permanent acquisition of such general knowledge
as every practitioner of medicine should possess. The Faculty
have introduced these oral reviews partly to prepare students more
thoroughly for the State Examinations in Virginia, and the other States
which hold such examinations, as well as for entrance into the Medical
Corps of the Army and Navy and the Marine Hospital service.

REQUISITES FOR GRADUATION.

Graduation in Medicine, as in the other Departments and Schools of
the University of Virginia, does not depend upon the time which has
been spent in the study of medicine, but upon the preparation of the

student, as indicated by rigid examinations, which he is called upon
to stand. Hence it is possible for a diligent student to graduate in one
session.

But the severe and protracted labor necessary for this purpose is attended
with evils of which the medical faculty is fully conscious; and
it is considered far better for a student to attend lectures for two sessions,
giving his attention during the first session to the subjects of
Chemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology especially, and endeavoring to
obtain only such a general knowledge of the other branches, as will
better enable him to complete the course and to profit by the instruction
of the second year.

EXPENSES.

The necessary expenses of a student in the Medical Department are
for the session of nine months as follows:

University Fees—
Matriculation,	$ 25
Infirmary Fee,	7
Dormitory Rent [two in a room],	15
Tuition,	110
Total of Fees,	$157
Living Expenses—
Fuel, Lights and Washing,	25
Board at $12 a Month,	108
Total necessary expenses (board at $12),	$290
Payable on entrance,	$210

The sum payable on entrance includes a contingent deposit of $10
which is credited in final settlement and hence forms no part of the
necessary expenses. This deposit is assessed for damage to property,
violation of Library rules and so on.

To the above total must be added the cost of books, stationery and
dissecting instruments, about $45 for the entire course, and the cost of
a degree, which if taken is $15. The books purchased will be of permanent
value to the student as part of his professional library.

The board at $12 is plain, but wholesome and abundant. Better
board can be had at $14, $16, $18 a month. At $18 the total necessary
expenses will be $344 of which $228 is payable on entrance.

For the entire course if taken in one year the necessary expenses including
books will be $335 to $389 according to the price paid for
board; if taken in two years they will be $625 to $733.

University of Virginia Library

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

COURSES OF STUDY IN GENERAL.