University of Virginia Library

CLINICAL INSTRUCTION.

           

Dr. Barringer,	Mr. Baker,
Dr. Buckmaster,	Mr. Hunt,
Dr. Nelson,	Mr. Morrison,
Dr. Magruder,	Mr. Sperow,
Dr. Randolph,	Mr. Sutherland,
	Mr. Tappan.

The opportunities for clinical instruction at the University have within the last
few years been very greatly increased. The erection and equipment of the University
Dispensary and the careful consideration of the needs of the community
in this respect have built up an out-patient department vastly in excess of the apparent
possibilities of the city; moreover, this material is utilized for purposes of
instruction to a much greater extent than is usually done in clinical teaching. The
amphitheatre is so arranged that no student is over fifteen feet from the clinical
chair or operating table (as the case may be), and each can thus understand and
appreciate all that is shown him. For the purpose of still more definite instruction,
the whole class is called up in successive small sections to examine special
cases and conditions, the students being questioned later on the knowledge so obtained.
There is a daily clinic at the Dispensary, in each case occupying the
entire afternoon, distributed through the week as follows:

           

Monday,	Dr. Buckmaster,	Medical.
Tuesday,	Dr. Nelson,	Surgical.
Wednesday,	Dr. Buckmaster,	Medical.
Thursday,	Dr. Magruder,	Physical Diagnosis.
Friday,	Dr. Barringer,	Ophthalmic.
Saturday,	Dr. Randolph,	Genito-urinary.

During the past year nearly three thousand distinct cases were treated before
the students at the clinical lectures. Of these, about six hundred each were
medical, surgical or eye and ear cases, some five hundred were gynecological cases,
and over four hundred were cases of genito-urinary disease. In addition to the
work at the Dispensary, the class have seen in sections numerous important surgical

operations outside under the care of the clinical teachers, and a large number
of the class have been in a similar manner brought into intimate contact with
cases of serious illness of various kinds. In obstetrical work, about fifty per cent.
of the class have been able to see at least one case each, while some members
have had as many as eight or nine cases; it is believed that more systematic arrangements
can now be made, and that in the future each member of the class can
have one or more cases during the session.

There are appointed each year from among the best students of the senior class
in medicine a limited number of young men to serve as clinical assistants at the
Dispensary. While there is no pecuniary emolument connected with these positions,
they afford exceptional opportunities for the acquisition of valuable practical
knowledge.