University of Virginia Library

ANATOMY.

Acting Professor Christian.

Descriptive Anatomy.—The instruction 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; no statement is made that is not illustrated by its exhibition,
either on the 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.

Practical Anatomy.—For this course dissecting material, obtained under
the permissive law of the State, is abundantly supplied without cost to the student.
Attendance in the dissecting-room is compulsory, a strict record being
kept in the case of each student. Besides the ordinary oral and written examinations,
each student is required to stand eight practical examinations—one
upon osteology, four upon different parts of the muscular system, one on the
viscera, one on the ligaments, and one on the vessels and nerves. These
examinations are oral and private, each student being questioned alone. They
consist in 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.

Regional Anatomy.—This subject is taught to second-course students by
the same practical methods as are described above.