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man who used fivo years well may have more experience than an old one who has misused fifty , it is undeniable that experience is the foundation of physic , and as undeniable that of it the present examinations are no measure , but only of what may be rapidly collected and ' adroitly applied from * ' Outlines , " " Manuals , " and " Vade Mecuras /* How rapidly collected is seen from the fact that there are gentlemen who , for the trifling honorarium often guineas will pass any man of moderate capacity and very moderate diligence , through both examinations in six months . How
adroitly applied may be seen from the fact that men who have scarcely entered a ward or handled a scalpel survive the terrors of inquisition , and are let loose upon the world to try experiments on the " living subject , " fortified only by a system of Mnemonics , in those everrecurring emergencies which demand the amplest resources—the most suggestive ingenuity . Fancy on one side of a table an elderly gentleman , austere from a sense of public duty , and the conviction that nobody can inquire what he knows , perhaps playfully avenging on another his own well-remembered agitation ; fancy , on the other side , a palpitating
student perplexed between the fear of not knowing enough , which carries disgrace , and the danger of knowing " too much , " which is obvious impertinence . "Well , sir , how about the position of the vessels on the lung ? " The respondent ransacks memory in vain for a reply ; for some time ransacks memory in vain for the cabalistic word which is to revivify his knowledge . At length perhaps it comes . By a strange association of domestic royalty with visceral anatomy , he thinks of Victoria , Albert , and the Baby—V . A . B . —Vein , fcrtery , and bronchial tube . He breathes again ; he id safe .
These things justify the popular mistrust of diplomas , and excuse the feeling of most of us , that we would as soon have been the first to descend in a parachute as be the " first patient ; " that such things are so almost universal shows vast absurdity inherent in the system , or contingent on its mal-administration . The latter there is no reason to impute , but so long as the system is in vogue , " cramming" can neither be frustrated nor suppressed . The circuit of knowledge
to be embraced is limited , so also must be the range of questions ; and every ingenious novelty , every variety in the mode of interrogation , is conveyed to his " grinder" next morning by the candidate , whether triumphant or rejected . This blemish is ineffaceable from every book-examination , and therefore would not have been alluded to , were such the only practical test ; but we believe that , if unimpeachable , it would be insufficient . It is insufficient , because there is no assurance that the student has seen what he may so volubly describe .
It will be said , " if a man paint well enough to convince an experienced examiner that he has seen what he talks about , will he not surel y recognise it when it comes before him ? " 'Ihere is no certainty that he will . There are few who do not trust their judgment in numberless cases , where the processes are so subtle as to bo unconscious ; we may be quite unable to expound a method , which may nevertheless guide us to legitimate conclusions ; different people receive impressions in different manners—no two individuals describe the
same thing in the same way ; delivering another person's experience i . s very different from turning your own ; and the student ' s notions of any phase of any disease—though of course they should respectfully accord with those of tho admitted authorit y—may posnibly bo altogether dissimilar , though quite as accurate . But suppose this difliculty overcome , and another starts up which wo have never scon mentioned , Imfc which is incimtestably of tho first magnitude . Jt appears to bo forgotten that you never have symptoms collected and compendiously arranged : you havo to
elicit thorn ; and this , however simple it may seem , is really a delicate and intricate- task . You havo to contend with tho class who magnify " trillcH light as air " into matters of " pith and moment ; " secondly , with thoHO who never had , have not , mid never mean to havo , any aihnont whatever ; arul lastly , with tho ignorance which obstructs tho full exposition of tho case which tho modicnl nmii requires . . Patients don't know what to answer , they don't know how to answer ; with tho best infeenfiolifl in tho world , they pour forth a in-cut ;
deal with which ho in acquainted , as woll na a groaf ; deal with which ho doesn't want to bo ucquaintnri , but omit some unobtrusive point which might remove all cnuso for ombarrafismont . That thin in no exaggeration will bo granted , when we say , that mini , tho men tho , . Bg" «< - eminent in their profension , who from cxperiene . o ^ /'" k ^ - ^" - AwW » uo 8 * ' appreciate tho kind of information required , Ij 3 f /< 0 ^^" ^^ 4 ^< Joii ' * * 'h ° abkftft of their brethren , tluwe ^ jf ^^ a / W ^^^^ i' ^ * ' ''" Hl " ircn ^ '' ' lmvo < lie < 1 > *' (! cllu « ° f Ji ^ A ?^ f u ^ 9 & ? & ^^ Jl * nd () tccted or mistaken . We believe wo do ^ y ^ ^ ^^^^^ ydS enumerating tho caae » of fc > ir Atftley Cooper , r Hul // * & *« Jt 2 . <* aV- VluiW ¦* W / t * i' ¦ ' ? I tfi' Jr « x tijyi
Tyrrell , Callaway , and the late regretted Mr . Bransby Cooper . To propagate mistrust , where mistrust is inevitable , were a thankless task ; but not to do so when the cause is clear and removable were a crime . This seems an instance in point . We have shown that the present routine examinations are inadequate : we have striven to show they never can be otherwise ; . because sagacity
and tact , shrewdness and observation , senses well trained to perceive , and intellect well schooled in using their perceptions , are necessary as well as the scientific acquirement which no one under-rates , but whose sole sufficiency every one , who thinks , will deny . The question then is , how are these superior qualities to be tried ? Certainly not by any of the appliances afforded at the Chamber of Horrors in Lincoln ' s-inn , or the sign of the Pestle and Mortar in Water-lane . But it seems
to us , that if one of the London hospitals , or each hospital in turn , were compelled to offer its selection of cases , and if a portion of the examination were conducted within their walls , meritorious students would be better satisfied , the public more secure , and the proverbial mischances of such inquiries as far as possible diminished . We now deferentially commend the suggestion to those in whose province the matter lies ; and if in these remarks we seem to have stepped out of our way , it is only because the subject is one of great and general importance , one which is entirely neglected , and one which , therefore , cries out for remark . V .
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[ IN THIS DEPARTMENT , AS ALL OPINIONS , nOTVETEE EXTREME ARE ALLOWED AN EXPEHHSION , THE JiDITOE NI 5 CESSABI 1 X HOLDS HIMSELF RESPONSIBLE POR NONE . ]
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SPANISH FILIBUSTERISM . { To the Editor of the Leader . ) SIR , —One of the strong points made by Mr . Pierre Soule " , in a remarkable speech in the American Senate , was the fact , that Spain was engaged , only hulf-a-dozon years ago , in tho most flagrant of filibustering . Tho " Flores expedition" was organized under the patronage of Queen Christina , during the administration of Isturiz , in 181 ( 5 , who brought his entire influence to bear upon the successful accomplishment of tho scheme . Tho Minister of War at that time , by similar collusion , granted general passports suul loavo of absence for ono year to all the officers whom Mores had especially selected for their efficiency , to take part in tho expedition . The sergeants , corporals , and picked privates , nelccted by Flores , wore also granted discharges from the regular service , on condition of their enlistment in the expedition . Tho point of departure was tho port of Kantander , where the forces wore concentrated to tho extent of 2000 men , and afterwards . joined by 100 more from Lisbon , under tho command of Captain Yribarren , mostly consisting of escaped criminals of tho very worst stamp , under sentence of ( loath , and political refugees , all of whom , and tho Dutch vessel transporting them , were allowed to cntor tho port , irrespective of all forms and customs , and in defiance of nil those laws of ontry always so strictly enforced .
Meanwhile-, tho- Spanish portion of tho expedition was wiiiUng thi > arrival of the allied British doliiehmont , consisting of 1000 Irish recruits to bo commanded )> y English officers , and which wuro to bo brought over to Santander in hohio transport whipa , escorted liy tho armed . steamers , Monarch mid Neptune , all under the command of British oflicolH , who , topjothcrwilh their immediate and ultimate destination , were well known l , o their ( loveininent .
Unfortunately for t \ M primping Chmthm , her intrillion in jeluiion i ; o the MontjieiiHier marriage were diHcloMxl to tho Eng | inh Court ; which , wanting any better meims of retaliation , revived to take mitisiiicliuit
by embarrassing the interest of Christina , invoW they were in this expedition to the extent of a ™ ,-ir * or more of dollars . The expedition was accoS ? discountenanced and dispersed ; Christina receiving the reward of her ambitious schemes , the sorrv corT promise of the two old steamers mentioned , which w rebaptised under the cognomens of the Cetro and T * dente , and sent to Havana to bd sold , under control * " * ? ' Don Juan Antonio Parejo , her agent . I annex , in confirmation of these charges , trans ] tions of two handbills , with which the Peninsula w . " flooded at the era of the expedition . They Wer posted at Madrid , at Cadiz , and . in all parts of th kingdom ; and , it is needless to add , that their ex ! istence was well known to Government . The first is a general invitation to military emigrants :
" Colonization of Ecuador . " Don Joaquin Acevedo y Mansi , appointed Commis sioner by his Excellency , Don Juan Jose" Flores , President of the United Republic ' s of Venezuela and Ecuador , hereby makes known to discharged soldiers of the army and S panish emigrants , that if any such choose to pass as colonists to that country , although under the ' provisional character of soldiers , they can advise with Don Antonio F . Prado resident at Lisbon , who will make known to them , as Charge ad interim of the province , the proposals of bounty and especial guarantees that are offered to all enlisting in this expedition .
" For the guidance of those interested it is notified that admission will take place until the day of the present month , on presentation by each , of bis certificate of final discharge , or other document , proving the fact of his service in the army . " JoAQtriir Acevedo t Mansi , " Lisbon , Oct . 25 , 1846 . " Commissiouer . The second of these papers bears a similar caption , and announces the terms of enlistment : — " Conditions of Service .
"Don Joaquin Acevedo y Mansi , appointed Commissioner by his Excellency , Don Juan Jose Flores , President of the United Republics of Venezuela and Ecuador , findinghimself at this Court , charged with the recruiting of troops of the class of Spanish emigrants residing at the military . depot of exiles in this kingdom , hereby makes known to ail interested who may wish to enlist in this expedition , that the proposals of bounty are as follows : — " 1 st . Two hundred reals ( 21 . ) bounty , paid in the manner following : Five dollars ( 17 . ) the day prior to embarkation from the port of - for that of ; and the other five dollars the day before leaving the last-named point for the Republics , independent of the necessary provision for maintenance during the permanenco in tho province .
" 2 nd . One hundred and twenty reals ( 11 . 6 s . ) monthly allowance of pay during the period for which their servico as soldiers may be considered necessary , which allowance shall take effect from the day of leaving port . " 3 rd . On the day of expiration of service under arms , they will have ceded to them by the Republic twelvo yngadas ( about 120 acres of land ) , and four head of cattle for breed and labour—guaranteeing , and causing them to be guaranteed in all the privileges of good citizens , as fully as if natives of the country . fivo of
" 4-th . If any , after having completed the years military service , were not content to remain in the country , and 2 > rcferred to go to tho Peninsula , their country , tho Government , in addition to meeting the expenses ol thentransportation , will authorise them , with full powor , to dispose- of all property of which they may have becomo possessed for means with which to establish themselves wherovcr most to their convenience . ? " Note . —In easo of leaving Lisbon direct for tho Mpublic , tho bounty will bo distributed the day before- nailing ; also tho uniforms , and three reals («< f ) P «* . V ° ^ maintenance , till under Iho supervision of Cuptfti" o Manuel . Eehavarria y Yribnrren , of the Principt'fiii Jvogimont , residing at No .-7 , Condes-streot . " . 1 OA Q ( JIN ACUVKDO Y M AHHI , I ' rinci j ^ l ConiniiBbioiior of tho Kqmwic . " Lisbon , Oct . 2 G , 18 K 1 . " y
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There is no learned man but will confess he hath much profited by readingecmtroversies , his senses awakened , and nia judgment , sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for bis adversary to write . —Milton .
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Gjvk a Doo a Had Name . —There in , in < l « c < 1 > on 0 particular in the Lancastoriun controversy which i »« y kindle a feeling of pride in tho present generationhave learned to call nainos better . When Ai'd 1 " ^ Daubony proclaimed a man who insisted on u >< - 1 ( W of the liible an infidel imdudoiHfc , he mig ht witli n vo ^ jr mild expenditure of logic havo been turned _ r () "'"( , /(;_ his own words , and convicted of a contradict ' tn "'^^ J Uut the word " doisV used forfy years ago , won « l ^ . ^ have for if , H Hulwti < Aite the word " ^ odlesH , " vvlncli i * ^ more Huitable for its purjione . " ( Jodle . ss" han W ^ negative and a powitivo Hi gnifieation , and *'''" " '/ , „ . writer cin ( iaHily um it in ono nonse . hoiw < iO wl . fj jJh . « h < Mif , ) liirt own coiiKeience , while ho intcmlH > ' ^ rendei-H nhull " Kwallovv it in tho other . * , ]^ \ | '() that teaches writing and cip hering , without rei $ ^ any other bran <> . heH of learning , uumd or '" - ^ i ; ' iirf » may in a certain bouho be called " g « < 1 IeHS ' •' . ' | l (| , lifaivuru-bill may ho cailhwl " godh'Hs / ' becsiiwo , i ^ tiou to itu variouH iteniH , it docs not contain a < ^^ Bi-uco before or nlUr meat . jWisoty " > ^ ^ ^ which nv < 5 yH no re ]) n ! henrtion wliatovnv , n » ' * . Y ^ i >) il ( l . Hynttnu be called " godle » H ; " awl tlio H ( ' ' ^ () X | ;(! |) t , | j ; o ^ ue who omployH the word is , to ll ( 5 <' correct . — Westminster Itwuno for -July .
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880 THE LEADER . [ SattjRDAY ) I
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 10, 1853, page 880, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2003/page/16/
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