University of Virginia Library

SCHOOL OF ANATOMY AND MATERIA MEDICA.

Professor Towles.

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,
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.

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 physiological action
and rational therapeutical application 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.