First medical curriculum
From Faculty of Medicine Online Museum and Archive
Initially the medical curriculum was of five years' duration, the first year being spent in the Faculty of Arts, followed by four years of medical study. Even the first curriculum was a rigorous and daunting programme. The 1884 Calendar outlines the curriculum as follows. Second year studies comprised: Chemistry (including Practical Chemistry), Botany, Zoology, Comparative Anatomy (with demonstrations) and Human Anatomy (with dissection sessions of two hours per day in Lent and Trinity Terms). In Michaelmas Term, students reported to the Prince Alfred Hospital at 2pm each day for afternoon clinical work. In the third year, the subjects studied were Anatomy, Physiology (including Practical Physiology), Surgery and Practical Pharmacy. Hospital practice was included in all three terms.
Fourth year studies comprised Anatomy (without dissection), Physiology (with practical work), Pathology (with practical work) and Materia Medica. Hospital work continued in the afternoon in all terms. The fifth (final) year was devoted entirely to theoretical and practical clinical studies (including Medical Jurisprudence).[1],[1] At that time, Dr William Haswell was Demonstrator in Histology, Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, (Sir) Dr Alexander MacCormick was Demonstrator in Anatomy and Physiology, Dr Frederick Milford was lecturer in the Principles and Practice of Surgery, Dr Thomas Chambers lectured in Midwifery and the Diseases of Women, Dr Thomas Storie Dixson lectured in Materia Medica and Therapeutics, Dr William Henry Goode lectured in Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Medical Jurisprudence, and Dr William Camac Wilkinson lectured in Pathology.[1]
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