SECOND INTRODUCTORY LECTURE 
TO THE STUDENTS OF 
l 
The Manitoba Medical College 
Sessjoist 1884-85. 
Dean op the Faculty. 
The utility of the introductory lecture has, I think, fairly 
been called in question. One lecturer recently informed his au- 
dience that he considered the time devoted to introductory lec- 
tures could be more profitably occupied in a day’s shooting; with 
that I can hardly agree, as it gives a favorable opportunity for 
the lecturer to offer some sound advice to the students as to how 
they should occupy their time at college. The present occasion, 
at any rate, now that we have regularly inaugurated medical 
teaching in this country, justifies, I think, a few general remarks 
on medical education. 
I had the opportunity last year, on behalf of the Faculty, of 
welcoming some of you to the classes of this college. To those 
of you who appear here for the first time, I wish to repeat that 
cced mela falike, and to assure you that in speaking for my fellow 
teachers we wish to extend the same cordial greeting again. 
While our position towards you must necessarily place us at a 
certain distance from you, yet we desire you to consider that we 
are not only anxious to impart that amount of medical knowledge 
necessary for the future successful exercise of your art, but also 
desirous for you:- general welfare; and always ready to afford any 
advice or assistance that you may require during your continu- 
ance as members of our classes. In saying this I know I speak 
the sincere sentiment of the Faculty, who can so thoroughly 
sympathize with all your aspirations and hopes, and to whom you 
can at all times come with the confidence that they are only too 
anxious to help you in all your troubles and difficulties. To the 
good student who occupies his time in earnest work, the study of 2 
medicine is attractive, as it is absorbing and inspiring, and apart 
from the awards of degrees and prizes, well repay every moment 
devoted to its faithful study. 
Whatever have been the influences that have decided you in 
adopting the career of medicine, it is beat you should thus early 
comprehend what you assume in entering the profession. I hope 
none of you have started with the idea of becoming rich ; if you 
have, I am afraid I must tell you that you may be mistaken. For 
the acquisition of wealth there are other and more prolific paths 
where riches can be gathered with much less effort and more 
productive results. If ambitious of social or political eminence, 
you must know that the life of even the most successful of us 
offers few inducements; or do you aspire to those positions of 
prominence that are sometimes awarded by a country or 
a generous Sovereign, j'ou must thus early understand that it is 
seldom such royal favors are bestowed on tin! membei s of our 
profession. These are reserved for those who distinguish them- 
selves in the pci haps more enobling pursuit of commerce or poli- 
tics, where such titular distinctions may do more honor to the 
Regal or Viceregal donors. No, it must lie admitted that, com- 
pared with the other professions, or with commercial life, in the 
matter of substantial recompense for life-long lal>or, we cannot 
anticipate those rewards that usually follow success in these latter 
pursuits. Yet while we rarely acquire more than a comjietence 
of this world’s goods, and still rarer that we may l»e honored by 
social oi titular distinction, yet can we not claim other rewards 
equally desirable ? Ours is not only an art—it is a science; and 
as cultivated practitioners you take rank and merit not only the 
distinction of belonging to the scientific world, but it also offers 
opportunities of acquiring honors and fame in the pursuit of ori- 
ginal research. 
The study of the first year’s student lays bare to him the 
great problems of life and death, and leads him at once to that 
mysterious bourne that limits the material world. It is to the 
student of medicine that is reserved the exclusive privilege among 
men of studying the structure and functions of the human 
economy, that complex organism a knowledge of which alone 
implies a large amount of scientific attainments. 
Let me say something now of that fitness that the medical 
student should possess to be enabled profitably to pursue his 
studies. The necessary knowledge of anatomy, physiology, ma- 
teria tnedica, botany and chemistry require that he should be 
provided with a good sound preliminary education, not only that 3 
he may comprehend fully his lectures and text books to which he 
must apply for a knowledge of even these elementary subjects, 
but also that his mind may be trained to habits of study. 
Whatever may be iny individual opinion of the character of 
the entrance examination which the Univers’ty of Manitoba re- 
quires of the students of medicine to whom it proposes to grant 
its degree of M. I)., I am convinced at any rate that if the standard 
is too high it is an error in the right direction, and I know that 
those of you who take the time to prepare for and pass it, will never 
regret having done so, but will live to thank those who compelled 
you to acquire such a good general education as that matriculation 
demands. In the respect of general education, the medical profes- 
sion is somewhat different from the other learned professions— 
and you must not forget that you now aspire to a learned pro- 
fession—in that there is but very limited opportunities afterwards 
that you will be able to spare from your ordinary professional 
duties, to improve your mind or extend your scientific knowledge 
beyond what time you must devote to current medical literature, 
which latter is necessary in order that you may keep abreast of 
your times and occupy a proper position among your confreres in 
the medical world. To be sure a number of our members have 
accomplished brilliant resluts in the collateral sciences, besides 
keeping up in the other requirements of the cultivated practi- 
tioner, but it is rarely that we find the medical man shining in 
any other sphere outside of his own. 
We must remember that the science of medicine is eminently 
progressive—none other more so. In order, therefore, that those 
who propose to join its ranks may hope to take a respectable 
stand among their fellows, and be able to guard well its interests 
with the outside world, there should be no doubt of their posses- 
sing a sound and liberal education. Let me assure you then, that 
to be an educated gentleman, as well as a well qualified medical 
man, is a sine qua non of success. In all the higher branches of 
practice, believe me, there is no possibility of permanent success 
in any branch of regular practice without the practioner possesses 
a certain educational accomplishment. It is therefore essential 
that students of medicine should be well prepared, not only for 
after practice, but for that mental wrestle they are undertaking 
in studying medicine. This mental training that such a course 
of studies can only give, makes your career through college cor- 
respondingly easy. In this as in other matters where the advice 
of your teachers can be of value, it is manifestly their duty to 
inculcate the lessons resulting from that experience, and in this 4 
particular 1 know I .speak the experience of every one of your 
teachers who have already lieen over the ground you are now 
traversing, and who Ireing actuated hy the warmest interests for 
your success in your career, desire that you should come prepared 
with a good stock of general information; not only that you may 
be able successfully to cope with the business of life, but especially 
that your minds by this preliminary culture may be trained to 
correct habits of thought and obseivation. Ordinary intelligence 
will not suffice without mental training. The medical student, as 
well as the practitioner, requires to generalize from a series of 
observations mentally recorded in order to be able to come to 
correct conclusions. This is only possible to the educated mind. 
From the lack of that jiower of generalization the uneducated 
man must rely only on isolated facts, and this mistake wo see 
constantly being committed by members of the profession who 
have not had those advantages that I am now urging. Nor can 
any faculty of memory, no matter how well it can store facts, 
compensate for this power of generalization, which is the key to 
the successful study and observation of disease as it is in its ap- 
plication to the relief of afflicted humanity, which is the ultimate 
aim of our art. 
Having said this much on the general educational qualifica- 
tions of the student before he enters, I now wish to give you 
some hints as to how you should direct your energies alter you 
have entered. 
The object you have in becoming students of medicine is not 
merely to pass examinations— you have to become legally quali- 
fied. The law requires of you that you should lie legally couq>e- 
tent to take charge of the lives of your fellow-citizens, and con- 
sidering the very extended curriculums that these qualifications 
embrace, it behoves you now on the very threshold of your 
studies, to take into serious contemplation how they can best 
arrange to occupy that short s|>ace of time alloted to you to ac- 
complish this object. Above all, do not attempt too much in your 
first year. You must understand that there is littie to be gained 
by merely listening to lectures. To profit by your lectures you 
must keep abreast of them by your studies at home, and to do 
moderate justice to the four preliminary subjects of your first 
year—anatomy, physiology, materia inedica and chemistry—will 
require diligent work and a systematic arrangement of the hours 
of study. 
I certainly recommend to every first year man also to take 
out his perpetual ticket at the hospital, so that he can thus early 5 
familiarize himself with disease, and acquire encouragement for 
his studies, by observing their application either at the bedside or 
in the extern. You can at any rate cultivate the faculty of ob- 
servation and become familiar with many of the manifestations 
of disease and accident. In your study of anatomy, I would 
recommend you to confine your efforts at first to the bones, mus- 
cles and ligaments, before proceeding to the more advanced 
branches of the subject, and above all be your own demonstrators. 
It is only by dissections, and dissections of a certain character, that 
anatomy can be learned. Whatever you dissect, do it carefully, 
minutely and well. One part well dissected is of more value to 
you than the whole subject hurriedly and imperfectly studied. 
In physiology you must first acquire a knowledge of the structure 
of the different tissues, the nature and property of food, and all 
about the complex process of digestion; the blood, its component 
parts, its functions and maintenance. In chemistry, attempt only 
the non-metalic elements—heat, light and electricity. In materia 
medica, familiarize yourself with the appearance, composition 
and modes of administration of drugs only. The application of 
these drugs to the cure of disease, you will with more profit ac- 
quire a knowledge of later on. 
Now, I wish to say a word in reference to the number of 
classes you should take. For the first year’s students these four 
subjects are sufficient, with perhaps botany for those who have 
not already passed it in their matriculation. I am quite satisfied 
that no good can come of crowding more lectures into this year, 
certainly none of the final subjects. These subjects form the 
framework on which you will build your medical knowledge, and 
the success of the structure too much depends on this framework 
to jeopardize its stability by hurried or imperfect workmanship, 
or by trying to finish the edifice by putting on the roof before the 
walls are up. You cannot have the importance of the thorough- 
ness with which you should study these subjects too much im- 
pressed on your minds now. Without a perfect knowledge of 
these subjects—and, if I may particularize, I would emphasize 
especially anatomy and physiology—you can neither be successful 
competitors for degrees at college or skillful practitioners after 
you leave college. 
To the second year men, let me warn you also against taking 
too many classes. Four or five of them at the utmost is as many 
as you can faithfully attend. Do not be in too great a hurry to 
get through your classes. Remember that the day will come 
when these facilities for study and observation will not be avail- 6 
able, and you will regret not having taken more time and paid 
more attention to the classes and clinies. 
Now, as to the method of studies. Successful study must 
have a method. I took occasion to warn you last year against 
spasmodic and irregular habits in study, lie methodical, of all 
things. Never allow a day to pass without its alloted quota of 
work. As 1 said before, you can piofit but little by listening to 
lectures if you do not read up the subject at your lodgings, and 
allow no single day to pass without at least two or three hours’ 
careful perusal of the subject lectured on through the day. What- 
ever amount of time you devote to reading, let it be regular and 
systematized, and if 1 may give my own experience in the matter 
of home studies, you will accomplish much more and with less 
effort if you select the early hours of the morning in preference 
to late hours at night for this work. Not only is the receptivity 
of the mind for fresh facts at its l*jst after the refreshing effects 
of a night’s sleep, but the mental exercise in.the morning bright- 
ens and strengthens the intellectual faculties for the rest of the 
day. 
It is the intention in this college not only to use as largely 
as possible demonstration* in every department of teaching, but 
also by this means to test at the examinations the student’s know- 
ledge of his subject in this practical way. Thus you see how ne- 
cessary it will be in your studies to grasp in an intelligible, prac- 
tical way facts as they are brought before you, by carefully 
noting them at the time, and assist your memory to record them 
for further reference. You as well as we enjoy the gr eat ad van- 
tage of the experience of our predecessors in medical teaching, and 
you will find the list of subjects taught, the text books and the 
general means of acquiring a practical as well as a theoretical 
knowledge, the same here as elsewhere. Successful teaching far 
less dejiends on the teacher than on the student. At the most your 
teachers are but your guides to the knowledge you must acquire 
by your own industry and steady application. I warn you now 
that the fullest requirements will be exacted of you at your exa- 
aminations. If we have assumed the responsibility of teaching 
it was not without due deliberation ana with the full determination 
to qualify well up to the standard. In this we your teachers and 
you our students are mutually concerned. The success mostly 
depends on you. The amount of proficiency you exhibit in your 
examinations and in practice afterwards, all de|>ends on how the 
next four years are spent. Those of you who come here for the 
hist time 1 am indeed glad to be able to refer you to the conduct 7 
of your predecessors last year, and can confidently predict both 
at the examining board and later among your brethern in practice 
the most satisfactory results, by pursuing throughout the full 
term of your studies those same regular, industrious and sober 
habits that characterized your seniors last year and which will, I 
feel confident, be characteristic of them throughout. Ever with 
the defects and imperfections that must accompany all new un- 
dertakings of this sort and especially when I know that we indi- 
vidually are determined to compensate further defects with a 
more than ordinary devotion, to your interest, I can have no 
hesitation in asserting, that with such a class as enjoyed the pri- 
vilege last year of the opening medical studies in Manitoba, that 
taken the full term of their studies as completed and continuing 
as they have begun they shall do credit indeed to our young col- 
lege. 
Our intention is of course to send our students before our 
own university and among the many eulogies paid to that insti- 
tution I hope that not the least will be the future character of 
her graduates in medicine and surgery. Do not let us forget fora 
moment that our very dearest interests depend on the standing of 
our examinations and the character of you our future graduates, 
not only as to your qualification as skillful and accomplished 
practitioners, but also in another particular to which I wish to 
allude before closing, and that is your character as gentlemen. 
From whatever social ranks you may have come and with whatever 
advantages you may possess or may lack, remember you have now 
joined the ranks of a profession, the members of which are always 
supposed to bear the stamp of gentlemen in their bearing and 
conduct before the world. Next to possessing a thorough and 
practical knowledge of medicine, there will be no other fact 
which will influence your success and prosperity more than this. 
Remember you are reaping the rich heritage of centuries of 
patience research left you by a long line of honored names who 
have devoted their lives to placing scientific medicine where it is 
to-day, and your responsibilities are correspondingly great. But 
I do not believe you require any great urging to work. I know 
sufficient of your earnestness to feel assured that you only require 
to know how to work to accomplish every result attainable by an 
industrious college training. It is only how you should work 
that I wish especially to speak. I have said you must be metho- 
dical, have a daily system, your own daily time table and do not 
depend too much on the mere act of memory for acquiring your 
subject. Depend upon it, if you have nothing to hang your me- 8 
mory on, yon will drop your facts almost as yon gather them ; 
whereas if yon have a method in your work, and seek illustrations 
that you may have clear perceptions at the time of what you are 
studying you cannot fail to record them permanently. Remem- 
ber ‘‘nothing is really learned that is not understood.” In this 
way you ean become careful observers ami l»e able to reason accu- 
rately, which I look upon as the ultimate object of successful stu- 
dy. I fear in speaking thus to you that I may impress you with 
the idea that your college course will la* one of "all work ami no 
play *—mere drudgery in fact. Far from it. With a systematic* 
method of employing your time, you will find your work any- 
thing but drudgery. 
1 have spoken of the fascinations of physiology, anatomy, 
and the ever-absorbing prospects as you progress in your discov- 
eries of the fresh attractions and allurements of your art, and 
then look at the reward. Is not youi profession honored al>ove 
all others ? Are you not to liecome the trusted and confi- 
dential friend of your fellowman, in such close ami inti- 
mate sympathy with him that your opportunities of gain- 
ing his affection and gratitude are constant and are often 
fully appreciated. Your calling will lie to relieve suffering, 
succouring with the potent agency of your art the helpless 
and afflicted; rescuing often lives threatened with prolonged 
suffering, perhaps death to comfort health and strength. In 
cheering words ami encouraging expressions, you will in your 
every day duties have opportunities of lightening the gloom that 
surrounds the sick and dying. There is no other |>osition in life 
where the gratitude and affection of the heart of his fellows is so 
often earned or more freely awarded. Gentlemen, I will now 
conclude by wishing, on behalf of the Faculty and myself, a suc- 
cessful and prosperous session.