0"T' LAERT> "! - USP

6l6 MODERN TIMES.
previously taught. With a view to this the Realschulen
were founded in Germany, some of which have by the
extension of their fields of instruction, taken the new
form of Realgymnasien, and are distinguished from their
classical sister-schools chiefly by the fact that in them the
Greek language has ceased to be taught and the time thus
gained is devoted to the natural sciences, etc.
There is no doubt whatever that the German Realgymna-
sium in its present form affords a better preliminary educa­
tion for the study of medicine than does the classical
gymnasium; and yet the students of the former are at
present refused admission to medical study, this privilege
being exclusively reserved for those who have satisfactorily
finished their course at the classical gymnasium.
There have not been wanting attempts to enable students
leaving the Realgymnasien to enter forthwith upon the study
of medicine. The Prussian Government consulted both the
medical faculties and the medical practitioners upon this
subject but the answers received proved by a large majority
to be unfavourable to the Realschulen. Of the nine medical
faculties of Prussia which expressed opinions in i86g on
the desirability of admitting students leaving the Real­
schulen to medical study, only four (Gottingen, Greifswald,
Kiel and Konigsberg) voted in favour of the proposal, four
(Berlin, Breslau, Halle and Marburg) voted against it, and
one (Bonn) refrained from voting. Of the 163 medical
societies of Germany which "were requested to pronounce
opinions upon this matter in 1879, three only voted for the
proposal unconditionally, three with certain limitations,
seven others only on the condition that those who had
passed the Realschulen should have equal access to the
other faculties, while the remaining 150 voted against the
proposal, 98 of these, however, on the understanding that
the classical gymnasia should be reformed.
The cause lying at the root of this expression of opinion
was not prejudice in favour of education by means of the
ancient classics but regard for the preservation of the social
i:
ix".