Sir William Turner : a chapter in medical history / by A. Logan Turner.

  • Arthur Logan Turner
Date:
1919
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Sir William Turner : a chapter in medical history / by A. Logan Turner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    319/558 (page 283)
    existing institutions, provided that the system of inspection by visitors appointed by the Medical Council was more fully carried out. They regarded the existence of a number of independent examining bodies as an advantage, in that they promoted an honourable rivalry, while a common portal of entry would of necessity imply a minimum in the examina¬ tion and in the degree of attainment demanded. They could not agree with the opinion frequently expressed by those who had no experience of the Scottish system, that the examination of students by their own teachers was wrong in principle, and they regarded the presence of their non - professorial examiners, who had been appointed under the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1858, as a safeguard against any possible partiality or prejudice on the part of the teachers. Very little progress was made towards a final solu¬ tion of the difficulty. Although the Conjoint Scheme proposed by the English medical authorities had re¬ ceived the approval of the Medical Council, it had not been put into operation by the spring of 1878. No attempt was made to bring it voluntarily into force, as it was felt by some that it would be incom¬ plete if confined to England alone. Indeed, it seemed doubtful whether any working arrangement could be effected, unless it was made compulsory by legislation for the three divisions of the Kingdom, and opinion in the profession, even in England, was beginning to undergo some modification with regard to the value of the scheme. Some criticism was levelled against the Medical Council on account of its apparent inac¬ tion, but it must be clearly understood that the powers of that body under the Medical Act of 1858 were very limited. They could ask for information, and to a certain extent pass judgment, but they had no legal powers to enforce any of their proposals upon the licensing bodies. Had it been possible for the Council to do more than issue recommendations and sanction