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FINAL CONSIDERATIONS. 63 I
impoverished modern form of this idiom, confused ideas and
barren thoughts find safe concealment; commonplaces
intolerable in a German dress appear quite respectable
when seen through a veil of Latin."
If the title of Doctor of Medicine is a distinction, con­
ferred for scientific merit and characteristic of the ilite of
the medical profession, it should also be looked upon as an
indispensable prerequisite for everyone who aspires to
occupy a position of importance in the public sanitary ser­
vice, in the medical department of the army, or on the staff
of a hospital, or who desires to be a teacher at any medical
faculty or school. The last-mentioned position should, for
the rest, be open to anyone who is able to point to meri­
torious services in any sphere of knowledge, and who, in
virtue of these and of his personal character, gives a
guarantee that he will prove to the advantage and honour
of the institution at which he desires to labour.
The necessary requirements of a medical school having
been satisfied by appointing and paying a staff of teachers,
it can prove nothing but desirable and advantageous if men
of training and ability come forward to increase its teaching-
power of their own free will and without claiming remunera­
tion. The private teacher (Privat-Docent) is merely given
the right, but must by no means be under an obligation, to
teach, so long as he is not specially commissioned to do so
and to fill up a gap in the curriculum. His work is a pre­
paration for the professoriate, to which he may be after­
wards called if he distinguishes himself as a teacher and
investigator. But only a few reach this goal: for intellect,
patience, and money are all wanted : and whoever is not
provided with these three things had better renounce the
idea of undertaking a calling which treacherously entices
him with hopes, the fulfilment of which he awaits in vain.
It is quite right that in appointments to vacant professor­
ships the claims of the private teachers should be con­
sidered in the first place : for thus the danger of appointing
men unsuited or unqualified for the position is avoided. It