II. Madras. apprehend such an influx of non-medical students as would cause any material inconvenience. 11. On the score of discipline, I am altogether unable to share in the apprehensions of the Council. It appears most improbable that any students will voluntarily attend the lectures with any other object than that of profiting by the instruction given, but if it should be otherwise the Council will have the remedy in their own hands, inasmuch as they will of course be at liberty to dismiss from the lectures any persons whose conduct may be found to interfere with the discipline of the other students. Some of the professors represent that the mere presence of strangers will be likely to embarrass them in enforcing discipline among the medical students, and that it will lead to the course of instruction being made more popular but less scientific, and will consequently impair the efficiency of the college as a school of medicine. To this I would answer that I see no necessity for making a distinction between medical and non-medical students while in the lecture room, and that there is no intention of making the instruction less scientific or less thorough than it is at present. 12. With these remarks, I beg to recommend that I may be authorised to throw open the lectures at the Medical College in the subjects above adverted to, to the students of the Senior Department of the Presidency College, and of any other institutions which may be affiliated to the University, as well as to such a limited number of other candidates for admission, as it may be possible to accommodate in the lecture room, all non-medical students not actually prosecuting their studies in another Government institution, being required to pay an entrance fee of 10 rupees for each session. The admission to the lectures on medical jurisprudence, I propose to confine to medical students and to students in the legal branch of the Presidency College or others who may be able to afford satisfactory evidence that they are bona fide prosecuting the study of law with a view to being admitted into the legal profession, or that they are already engaged in it. (signed) A. J. Arbuthnot, Director of Public Instruction. MINUTE. 1. THE Madras Medical School was established about 23 years ago, for the purpose of imparting professional knowledge to the subordinate branch of the medical service, and during that period it has fulfilled, with great success, the object for which it was instituted, in having trained up for the Medical department a highly intelligent and most useful class of public servants. But while this institution has been undergoing a variety of changes, and the humble school with its two teachers, has now expanded into the liberally endowed college, presided over by seven professors, all eminent in their respective departments of science, we do not observe any corresponding effort to extend its sphere of usefulness. It continues still a mere school for medical subordinates, and the annual results of its labours, amounting to 13 assistant apothecaries and 13 dressers (vide Appendix 2), seems not only meagre, but altogether incommensurate with the magnitude and importance of the means employed. 2. While admitting therefore, to its fullest extent, the benefits which the medical service has derived from the college, it seems to me a matter of regret that the advantage of such a scientific institution should be confined to a small section of the community, while many individuals in other departments of the public service, holding appointments of equal importance to the state, are desirous of obtaining that very description of knowledge, which No. 1. in youth they had no opportunity of acquiring, and which the Medical College now is alone capable of affording. 3. The experience of past years,† the general poverty of the inhabitants, and the inferior position which a "Native doctor" holds in their estimation, entirely forbid the hope of the Medical College drawing to it, for many years to come, a body of independent medical students, so unless a change is made in the object of that institution, and the doors opened as freely to the non-professional as to the professional student, its power of usefulness will continue to be very circumscribed, and the community generally will derive no direct advantage from an institution capable of effecting much good, without any additional expense to Govern + During the last five years only five private students have attended the College. ment, Vide Appendix, II. Madras. * Proposed as an evening class. ment, and without in any way trenching upon the main object of the college, the education of medical subordinates. 4. Amongst the political changes which are almost daily taking place in this country, we may confidently reckon on the steady advancement of the Eurasians to offices of greater emolument and importance than they have hitherto held, and no one can witness the growing intelligence of this large portion of the community, their anxiety for improvement, and their peculiar aptitude for official business, without taking a deep interest in them as a class, and feeling an anxiety to assist them individually, in qualifying themselves for the higher duties which they may expect to devolve upon them. 5. As education alone will accomplish the above important object, I beg most respectfully to suggest that Government should take a more active part in placing within the reach of all Eurasians, already in the public service, the means of obtaining a liberal and more scientific education, an education adapted to all the necessities of the State, that would expand the mind, improve and strengthen the judgment. 6. Courses of lectures are delivered at the medical college on five subjects of a nonprofessional character, viz.: chemistry, natural philosophy,* botany, medical jurisprudence and physiology, a knowledge of which would aid, in no slight degree, the important objects we have in view. 7. It is unnecessary, and might seem presumptuous on my part, to particularise the advantages which would follow from the study of any of the above sciences, but I may be permitted to remark, that the study of chemistry and natural philosophy are not only considered in Europe a part of a liberal education, but are recommended as a discipline for the mind, as well as the basis of much useful and practical knowledge, and in regard to medical jurisprudence, an acquaintance with it is deemed essential to a complete legal education. In India especially, this branch of study might be pursued with great advantage by those Eurasians who belong to the magistracy, or who are desirous of employment in the judicial department of the public service. Physiology, having especial reference to the preservation of health, is a subject which every one must take an interest in, and is one of much practical value. 8. Keeping in view, therefore, the main objects of this minute, viz., to extract from the Medical College a greater amount of good than it at present confers upon the State, and to affort to the Eurasians and natives employed in the public service an opportunity of acquiring a liberal and scientific education, I beg respectfully to suggest for the consideration of Government, the expediency of allowing their uncovenanted servants the privilege of attending the non-professional lectures delivered at the Medical College. 9. From the vicinity of the college to the public offices in the Fort and Black Town, the proposed attendance on the lectures referred to, need not interfere injuriously with regular attendance at office. 10. The hours of lectures might be arranged thus: 11. Comparatively few students would attend the botanical class, and if necessary, it might be limited to two or three from each office, and if an hour and a half was allowed them, instead of one hour as at present for tiffin, those students who were anxious to acquire a knowledge of botany might easily arrange for their attendance at this class. 12. Should the above scheme be approved of, I would suggest that a matriculation fee of five rupees be exacted from each non-professional student, with the view of imparting due value and importance to the lectures, as well as for meeting the charges for lights and other incidental expenses. Madras, 2 August 1856. (signed) J. Kellie, II. APPENDIX No. 1. NUMBER of Students who attended Lectures on Chemistry, Botany, and Medical Jurisprudence during the Session 1855-56. Eurasians. Natives. Eurasians. Natives. Eurasians. Natives. Eurasians. Natives. Eurasians. Natives. Madras. ORDER THEREON, No. 1336; dated 21st September 1857. MR. ARBUTHNOT submits, with his own observations, a Minute recorded by Surgeon Kellie, the President of the Medical College Council, on the subject of admitting certain non-professional classes to an attendance on the readings of those professors who lecture on subjects not altogether professional, and thus enlarging the scope of an institution, which, while turning out annually its dozen apothecaries and dressers for the service of Government, is still unappreciated by the general public. 2. Similar propositions have been previously broached, but the subject requires now final decision. Chemistry, botany, physiology, medical jurisprudence and natural history are most of them subjects laid down in the course to be read for the degrees of B.A. and M.A. in the University. Some of them, it may also be added, are entered in the list of studies in which candidates for public employment under the new rules may present themselves for examination. Consequently the necessity of affording students for the University and the general public an opportunity of acquiring competent instruction in these branches of a liberal education, is a matter for immediate consideration. 3. After much debate and minuting, the majority of the Council, it appears, have been led to dissent from the president's proposal. They object that with a mixed audience their lectures will insensibly lose much of the professional tone that should in justice to the medical students be observed; and, secondly, that the discipline of the lecture room is likely to be endangered. 4. The Governor in Council is unable to attach weight to these arguments. In both cases the remedy, as justly remarked by Mr. Arbuthnot, lies in the No. 37. II. Madras. 396 CORRESPONDENCE:-EDUCATION DESPATCH OF 19 JULY 1854. hands of the professor. The contingency contemplated in the second of the objections, appears particularly remote. 5. The definite proposal made by the director is, that sanction may be given to his throwing open to the students of the Presidency College, those of all seminaries affiliated with the University, and to such limited number of the general public as may be accommodated in the space available, the lecture rooms of the professors in the undermentioned subjects: Chemistry, Botany, and Physiology. Natural Philosophy, he shows, will form one of the studies of the Presidency College; and to the lectures in medical jurisprudence he would admit only medical and legal students, or those certifying that they are reading law with a view to enter the legal profession. 6. The Government do not approve of the lectures on medical jurisprudence being confined to the classes alluded to. They would admit the general public under the same rules as in the other cases. A knowledge of this particular science, they observe, is eminently useful to those employed in civil and judicial duties in the interior of the country, and one the cultivation of which should be in every way encouraged. 7. The director is permitted to prepare a notification to students, of the nature issued in the case of the lectures of the professor at law, and to transmit it for publication in the official Gazette. The fee, 10 rupees in each subject every session, appears a proper one to levy. (signed) E. Maltby, Acting Chief Secretary. INSTITU |