0"T' LAERT> "! - USP

560 MODERN TIMES.
the administration of education. "A commission for the
arrangement of studies " was convoked, and was charged
with the task of. leading educational matters once more
back into the old familiar track. Party spirit asserted. ,
itself in medicine, and made an attempt to regain the
influence which it had once possessed in the educationof
doctors. A desire was shown to restore the former relations
between physicians and surgeons, to relegate the latter to a'
dependent and subordinate position and once more to sever
the bond of union between surgery and internal medicine,.
which had been accomplished by the curriculum of 1786.
It was asserted that these two branches of medical science
were too heterogeneous and too extensive for it to be
possible for one man to be master of both in an equal/*
degree. In regard to the Josefinum the objection was
raised that it was too expensive and was certainly not of
equal repute with the medical faculties of the universities.
But its total abolition was not ventured upon: for
the country could not afford to dispense with the only
institution which concerned itself with the supply of
military, doctors in the midst of the prolonged wars in
which Austria was involved at that period. Moreover,
daily experience showed how necessary and important a¥
knowledge of surgery is, and to degrade that science ap-':
peared to be an act by no means suited to the spirit of the _
age. The complaints directed against the Vienna General .
Hospital had more justification. The improvements whicly
were thus brought about proved to be to the advantage of\
that establishment. No alteration was made in the medical
curriculum, although it was in many respects in need of
reform* On the other hand the professors were given
strict instructions as to the way in which they should con^
duct their teaching and the text-books were mentioned^
which were to form the basis of their lectures. The directorate
of studies was abolished, but being reintroduced a
* Freimuthige Betrachtungen viber den medicinischen Unterricht an der
hohen Schule zu Wien, 1795.