AN AUCKLAND MEDICAL SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15504, 10 January 1914, Page 4

AN AUCKLAND MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Sir,— time has arrived and is opportune for making an organised and serious effort by the local medical profession and others interested in medical education and medical and social progress to have a medical school established in the city of Auckland, affiliated with the Otago University. The population of Auckland is larger than that of any other centre in the Dominion, and therefore the available clinical material is more abundant and better. At present, as far as the formal teaching of medical science is concerned, this valuable material is practically wasted. The magnificent situation and charming climate of Auckland are unsurpassed anywhere, and make it most desirable as a residence for students. The hospital is large, well equipped, and quite modern in its methods, appointments, and environments. The cost of erecting lecturerooms and some laboratories woula not be great, and I believe there is ample available room for such additions in the hospital grounds. With the exception of physiology, perhaps, all the usual branches of the medical curriculum could be taught with economy and efficiency; and no one will deny that there are capable and competent doctors in Auckland who could act with distinction as teachers. The advantages to the Auckland Hospital in having a medical school attached to it are many and obvious. The tees of students for hospital privileges would be a source of income of very considerable value. It is common knowledge that the medical and surgical work of every hospital is improved with the attendance of medical students. There would be an economy and decided efficiency in having the students to act as dressers, and recent graduates of the school could act as house surgeons for merely nominal salaries. At Home no salaries are paid as a rule to these young house-doctors. The prestige of the hospital would be enhanced; and to parents in the North Island wishing to have their soii3 (and ultimately their daughters) educated and trained for the profession of medicine a medical school at Auckland would be a boon. I hope, sir, you will appreciate the importance of what I have endeavoured to express briefly, and advocate the founding" of a medical school in the queen city. M.D.