shall produce the certificate of his preceptor, to prove when he commenced his studies.

4th. That the certificate of no preceptor shall be received who is avowedly and notoriously an irregular practitioner, whether he shall possess the degree of M. D. or not.

5th. That the several branches of medical education already named in the body of this report, be taught in all the colleges; and that the number of Professors be increased to seven,

6th. That it be required of candidates that they shall have steadily devoted three months to dissections.

7th. That it is incumbent upon Preceptors to avail themselves of every opportunity to impart clinical instruction to their pupils; and upon Medical Colleges to require candidates for graduation to show that they have attended upon Hospital practice for one Session, whenever it can be accomplished, for the advancement of the same end.

8th. That it be suggested to the Faculties of the various Medical Institutions of the country to adopt some efficient means for ascertaining that their students are actually in attendance upon their lectures. 9th. That it is incumbent upon all schools and colleges granting Diplomas, fully to carry out the above requisitions.

10th. That it be considered the duty of Preceptors, to advise their students to attend only such institutions as shall rigidly adhere to the recommendations herein contained.

All which is most respectfully submitted.
May, 1847.

Ro. W. HAXALL, Chairman.

NOTE A.-After finishing this report, a communication was received from H. L. Heiskill, acting surgeon-general, in answer to the letter addressed to the surgeon-general late in May, 1846.

The absence of this officer from the seat of government prevented an earlier reply. Such portions of said communication as have refer ence to the subject matter of this report, your committee have thought proper to embody in this note. Many of the duties required of army surgeons are of course not performed by practitioners in civil life.

"Under the regulations the medical officer is required to investigate the physical agents that may affect the health of the troops, to make reports upon the medical topography of his station, to aid in the selection of military positions, and, as a question of military hygiene, to express his views in respect to the diet, clothing, watering and exercises of the troops. He is from the necessity of the case a general practitioner in the most extended sense of the term, and from location he is often thrown entirely upon his own resources, and deprived of the advantage of calling to his aid the friendly counsel of professional brethren."

"Nor have the army medical officers been regardless of the high claims of medicine in itself as one of the liberal professions. Them selves medical men, they feel a deep interest in the character of the

profession, and rejoice in any measure that would tend to promote its honour and efficiency."

Next follows a table showing the number of applicants examined from the year 1841 to 1845, both inclusive, being a period of five years. It here appears that 51 were examined, while only 17 were approved.

The most striking cause of failure on the part of the candidates are, insufficient preparatory education; a hurried course of professional pupilage; want of proficiency in practical anatomy, in pathology, and in clinical medicine."

The candidates are examined on the branches usually taught in our medical schools, also on their literary and scientific attainments. embracing a grammatical knowledge of the English language, Latin. and natural philosophy (or physics,) which are deemed important branches of education to those entering on the study of a liberal profession. Each candidate is required, as introductory to his examination, to prepare in writing a brief extemporaneous description of the causes, symptoms, pathology, treatment, &c., of such diseases as may be assigned by the Board, together with one or more prescriptions proper in the case, written out in form for the apothecary,"

A merit roli accompanies the communication, which shows the branches upon which the applicants are examined. These are as follows: "Literary and Scientific qualifications, Anatomy and Physiology, Principles and Practice of Surgery, Principles and Practice of Medicine. Obstetrics, Materia Medica, Chemistry and Medical Jurisprudence."

In the several branches herein enumerated, the candidate is required to be well grounded. The examinations are conducted with the view of ascertaining the measure of his natural endowments, his general professional intelligence, as well as his exact knowledge, his practical ability and strength of judgment."

NOTE B.-The Chairman received the reply of the Indiana Medical College, located at Laporte, on the Thursday before leaving home;too late to be inserted in the table which had then been completed. In 1845-6, it had 81 students, 18 graduates and 6 Professors.

ary.

ber. Last day of Febru- private reading.
character.

2d Monday in Novem- 2 full courses of lectures. Usual

Thesis. Good

Yes

No

Yes

1st Monday in Nov.
21 years. 3 years study.
About middle of March. courses of lectures. Thesis, &c.

2 Tickets are always examined

Yes

No

Cases of Organic Diseases of the Womb and its Appendages. By WALTER CHANNING, M. D.-Chronic organic affections of the womb and of its appendages have long been the reproach of medicine. They, many of them, tend to death, are malignant, and, having a bad name, little more is done for them than to make them as tolerable to the sufferer as well may be. Dr. Wm. Hunter, in a manuscript lecture of his on cancer of the womb, in my possession, makes many sensible remarks on the best mode of retarding those processes which always end in death. Thus he advises abstinence from animal food, except fish now and then, and of these recommends such only as are of white flesh, and have the least flavor-are the least stimulating, in other words. He is particular in his rules about dress, and especially directs that women with functional or organic disease of the womb or its appendages, and those, too, who would escape these, should wear flannel drawers. Rest, also, is among his prescriptions, and sarsaparilla his principal medicine. But Dr. H. says nothing about cure. His means have in view only to retard the advance of destructive processes, as ulceration in cancer, and so to prolong life. He does not look to cure, as among the purposes of treatment in such diseases. He would mainly labour to make a life of daily suffering more tolerable than without his agency it might be.

Osiander, of Gottingen, labored to cure, to remove radically, malignant diseases of the womb. He cut away diseased portions, and with a bravery which was always tempered with wisdom, and guided by the best knowledge of what he meant to do, and how it should be best done. He was often successful. McDowell, a physician in our western wilds, determined to do something to prevent the fatal issue of diseased ovaries, and in pursuing this purpose extirpated them, with a success, and in numbers, and under circumstances, which made an epoch in that department of surgery. Dupuytren and others followed Osiander in excising the mouth, the neck, or larger portions of the womb, but they were not very successful. Lizars, and quite lately Gray, have followed McDowell in his operations, but with less success.

Occasionally a case is referred to, of removal, either spontaneously, or by, or after the employment of medicine, of these diseases. I have thus known a cauliflower excrescence removed by ligature, without return of the disease. I have known very striking effects follow the internal and external use of medicine for tumors which for the most part are regarded as incurable, and which are passed by without exciting any remedial regard. Sir Astley Cooper somewhere speaks of the professional negligence of these diseases. Is it right to abandon their subjects, simply because such diseases have got a bad name? I have always treated them as I would other diseases. My attendance on them has been regular, and means have been put into use. The attendance has ceased, because at length it has appeared obvious that no benefit was coming of treatment, or the patient, or more frequently her friends, have thought farther care, or farther expense,

unnecessary.