Speculum - University of Melbourne

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MEDICINE
CU M
TO BE OR NOT TO BE ?
Well gentlemen, you have just read
"Speculum", 1958. Just like every other
year, from well before you were born, at
the end of some lecture someone came in
with copies of "Speculum" and started distributing
them.
Perhaps you think that they just arrive
out of nowhere? They do not. Months of
writing, discussions with printers, hundreds
of phone calls, hours of potential study time
go into this magazine. And do you give a
damn? It doesn't look like it.
Each magazine costs at least twice as
much to produce as you pay for it, and remember
the staff (three in all) are honorary.
Thanks to the work and organisation of Mr.
Wright-Smith our business manager, the
advertisements pay the other five shillings
for each copy. Hundreds of circulars and
hours of interviews must be organised
before we can get our advertisements. The
least you can do is to support your magazine.
"Speculum", on exchange goes to medical
student groups all over the world; we also
obtain their magazines. You can examine
some of these if you wish. The front page
is quite impressive, it usually lists the names
of about a dozen staff members — not three!
Actually only two people produced this
magazine, for I gave no assistance after July,
because of a sudden illness in my family.
To make a comparison it is interesting
to note that most assistance came from nonmembers
of the M.S.S. Graduates who were
asked for articles and assistance, were
only too willing to help. Others such as
typistes gave up their spare time to type out
illegible mis-spelt articles, and Mr. Foo,
(M.S.S.) gave up valuable time for photography.
Medical students had a different attitude.
Obtaining year notes from year-reps. was
one of the most formidable tasks we had.
Glance at the year notes — on the whole
they are not impressive are they? Admittedly
some are good, others were written
almost at gun-point. After all, your rep.
doesen't have much to do, the least he can
manage is to spend one night writing
reasonable year notes, and getting them
typed. Is this asking too much? I do not
think so, but you be the judge for it is your
magazine.
"Team Spirit" is not only a sportsman's
approach, it is necessary in all walks of life
but the present day medical student lacks it.
There are no excuses for the other nine
hundred odd members of the M.S.S. — the
editorial staff have to pass exams just like
the rest of you.
The greatest thing that ever happened in
my life was that I was given the chance to
study medicine. I appreciate this. I respect
those who gave of their time to teach me for
most of them could obtain twice the financial
gain for half their trouble in other walks
of medicine, yet they lecture and teach year
after year to a dumb pack of lethargic
students. It is our teaching staff who remember
their Hippocratic Oath —
"To consider dear to me as my parents
him who taught me this art; . . . to look upon
his children as my own brothers, to teach
them this art; . . . to impart to my sons and
the sons of the master who taught me and
the disciples who have enrolled themselves
and have agreed to the rules of the profession,
but to these alone, the precepts and
the instruction . . ."
Someday, we too must make this oath.
Are any of us unselfish enough to carry it
out? I wonder?
All that is asked is a very small display of
unselfishness on your part towards your
fellow students. It is not often in the present
day world that people do "something for
nothing", yet, in our hearts we know that
all our teachers do far more than they
should for us. I do not think it is too much
to ask the student to do a little extra work
for his fellows in assisting to present an
annual magazine.
No return is offered for this small sacrifice,
except personal satisfaction, so most
of you will not understand.
— George Santoro
It has been interesting to note, that in both
the above article and the secretary's report
which were received from entirely separate
sources, the lack of interest shown by the
members of the M.S.S. for their faculty
should not go unnoticed.
I heartily endorse their views.
— Editor