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MEDICAL EDUCATION

institution confirms our contention that the conscientious and intelligent use of fees would alone greatly improve existing conditions in most schools.

A new building is in process of erection.

Clinical facilities: The school has access to several hospitals in which an abundance of material is available, subject, however, to the usual limitations. The clinical instruction is therefore here, as generally elsewhere, put together of disconnected parts. This does not, however, apply to obstetrics; for the school controls a maternity hospital of 2 beds, which, quite slovenly a year ago, has also been transformed in the last few months. It is neat, clean, well managed, and has been improved by the addition of a new delivery-room, sterilizing outfit, etc. It is in charge of a resident obstetrician of modern training.

The dispensary has been similarly reorganized. A permanent nurse has been installed. Records are now in order; the rooms and equipment are attractive and, in the main, adequate.

Date of visit: February, 1910.


(9) The Philadelphia Polyclinic. A postgraduate independent school.
Entrance requirement: The M.D. degree.
Attendance: Short courses, ranging from six weeks to six months in length, are given, the attendance varying from time to time. The annual attendance is perhaps 150.
Teaching staff: 129, of whom 29 are professors, 100 of other grade.
Resources available for maintenance: Fees and donations.
Laboratory facilities: The school has what no other postgraduate school in the country possesses,—a laboratory building in which its classes in clinical microscopy, operative surgery, etc., are conducted. The instruction is of a practical character, aiming to meet the needs of physicians whose training has been defective. No animals are used and no active research is in progress. There are few books and periodicals in reach.
Clinical facilities: The Polyclinic Hospital, an excellently conducted institution, contains 81 beds available for teaching purposes. Ward classes receive demonstrative instruction.

The present dispensary consists of a suite of rooms quite inadequate to the amount of material to be handled. A new building is in process of erection.

Date of visit: Febuary, 1910.


General Considerations

Medical education in the state of Pennsylvania presents no unusual problems from the standpoint of theory. It is easy enough to decide what ought to happen. From a practical point of view, however, the situation is exceedingly difficult. The medical schools