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584 MODERN TIMES.
taking part in disputations, and finally the doctor's degree,
which carried with it the right to practise.
In those German States which did not possess medical
schools, such as Oldenburg, Brunswick, Hamburg, Liibeck,
etc., there were boards of examiners made up of officials in
the sanitary service and doctors of position, and the right
to practise was granted by them.
PRUSSIA AND THE PRESENT GERMAN
EMPIRE.
THE Brandenburg-Preussen monarchy during the course of
the 18th century gained a prominent position as a political
and military power. The idea of a strong ruling authority
in the State which should be paramount in all departments
of administration, and should conduct affairs with a view
to the common weal broke upon men's minds at an early
date in this country, and was diffused throughout all classes
of the population. The system of medical education was
not uninfluenced by this tendency.
As early as the year 1725 a State-examination was introduced,
and was no doubt necessary on account of the
inconsiderate manner in which medical diplomas were at
that time granted in many places.* It was, however,
limited to anatomy and the description of a case of disease
which had been observed by the candidate. To this was
afterwards added an oral examination upon the most important
parts of medical science. In 1798 the regulation
was made that instead of writing out a case two patients
should be examined in the presence of the examiner and
treated by the candidate for four weeks. The period of
studentship was fixed at a minimum of three years.
A complete organization of medical studies and examinations
was effected in the year 1825. According to this
* L. v. RONNE und H. SIMON : Das Medicinalwesen des Preussischen Staates,
Breslau 1844, i, 344 et seq.