THE OTAGO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17502, 19 December 1918, Page 4

THE OTAGO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

The steps which have been taken by the University of Otago to fill the position held by Dγ Colquhoun on its teaching staff for a period of 35 years mark a fresh development of importance in the history of the Medical School. Dr Colquhouu has been one of many local practitioners who, at a distinct sacrifice of leisure and of personal gain, have, throughout the whole period of the existence of the Medical School, placed the benefit of their knowledge and experience at the service of the institution in the capacity of lecturers on various subjects that are included in the course of medical study.. His record in this direction is greater than that of any other practitioner. He joined the teaching staff of the School in 1883 and, we believo wo are correct in saying, maintained an mibroken connection with it from that time until his retirement, which now takes effect. . The service wliich he rendered in all this long period was as valuable to the School as it was honourable to himself. In the imposing roll of members of the teaching staff of the institution who have contributed signally to the establishment of the reputation which the School now enjoys, and which is steadily growing and extending, the name of Daniel Colquhoun must always hold a distinguished place. It is worth recalling that when he became lecturer on tho Practice of Medicine the staff of the School comprised, on the purely medical side, one professor only and three lecturers besides himself. Dr Scott was professor of Anatomy, Dr William Brown lecturer on Surgery, Dr John Macdonald lecturer on Materia Medica, and Dr F. C. Batchelor lecturer on Midwifery. Of the staff of that time Dr Colquhoun is the sole survivor. At the present tvno

tho staff comprises four full-time professors, oxclusive of the professors of subjects which form part of the course in Science as well as in. Medicine, and somo twelve or thirteen lecturers. And it is now proposed to add what will be in effect a full-timo professorship of tho Practice of Medicine to tho other chairs in tho School. It is thus that wo interpret the decision at which tho University Council has arrived in making the appointment—temporary in the meantime—of a successor to Dr Colquhoun. The step is one upon which the University and the community are alike to be congratulated, and it is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when, possibly through the generosity of some citizen who realises the value of the existence of the Medical School in our midst, tho Council will bo enabled to add another full-time professorship to the number—that of Surgery, it may bo suggested—and also to provide assistance for the profesgors who are already in s its service. The Medical School has never perhaps justified itself so completely as it has done during the influenza epidemic, which, fortunately, is now vanishing from the dominion. Its students have been scattered far and wide throughout New Zealand, performing a service of incalculable value to the public as a whole and incidentally illustrating the wisdom of the policy which recalled from active service those among them who were permitted to leave the dominion in the Main Body and the earlier reinforcements and which required the senior students jn tho past two or three years to remain at their studies in order that they might qualify as speedily as possible to practise their profession and thus to mitigate the disadvantages arising from a shortage of medical men in the country.