A MOVE IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION.
It is with great regret that we have learnt, from the best authority, that the Maharajah of Jyepoor, hitherto so honorably distinguished by the zeal he has shewn in promoting education and
"
progress" of every description within his dominion,
pro-
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
156
poses to abolish the Medical School at hi3
capital.
Who his
advisers in this matter are we know not, but we feel convinced that so barbarous
an
idea never
originated
with
a
prince who
of always taken the lead among the aristocracy In his India in whatever relates to the welfare of subjects. the " these days economy" is the ruling principle, and to justify Jie shabis considered enough of a few rupees saving vandalism. biest of chicanery, 'or the most wanton act of has hitherto
job
least, extremely doubt* School, so far from saving anything, will not involve increased expenditure. The plan now contemplated is that, instead of educating medical men But in the
present
case
it
is,
to say the
ful whether the abolition of the local Medical
in
Jyepoor,
a
certain number of students should be sent to
join
the Hindustani Class in the Calcutta Medical
College, and should be maintained there at the expense of the Jyepoor Raj, until they have obtained their diplomas. Considering how cheaply, and with what a small establishment, the duties of the Jyepoor Medical School have been carried on, we suspect that the maintenance of even half a dozen students in Calcutta, together with their travelling expenses to and from Jyepoor, will be found far more costly than the present system. This, of course, is the very lowest point from which the subject can be viewed. But, moreover, Jyepoor is upwards of 1,000 miles from Calcutta, and the climate, people, and diseases of the two places differ from each other essentially. Why should students be sent, at a great expense to the state, to an unhealthy climate, to study diseases which they will seldom see in their own country, in races whom they will but rarely meet there, when they can obtain as good instruction at home, and will have the advantage of learning to treat the peculiar diseases of their own country among the races of men with whom they are to spend their lives afterwards ? It may be said that a better course of instruction will be given in a large, well-organised institution like the Calcutta Medical College, than in a small local school. We doubt this, and are inclined to think that a small number of students who are individually known to the Superintendent of a local school, are likely to be as carefully trained as are the members of the overgrown vernacular classes in the Calcutta Medical College, where the staff of native teachers, though large compared with that of any minor school, is far too small for the duty required from them. No doubt the Jyepoor school admits of great improvements ; the wonder is that it has worked
so
well with such
a
small staff.
If the Maha-
rajah really wishes to promote medical education among his subjects, let him increase the number of teachers in the school. He has a good opportunity for doing this at present, as a European Medical
Missionary has settled at Jyepoor, and would no gladly devote some of his time to assisting the present buperintendent. In addition to these gentlemen, let His Highness appoint a sufficient number of native teachers, and there is no doubt that at least as good an education can be given at Jyepoor as the military class students of the Calcutta Medical College obtain. At the same time, many who would object to spend three or four years in Calcutta, will gladly avail themselves
doubt
of the means of education which has been
provided,
as
it were,
at their doors,
The
time
at which the
started the years
is a
Maharajah or nis peculiarly unfavourable
proposal there has dccidedly
number of Medical
been
advisers have one.
Of late
tendency to increase the Schools throughout the country. We undera
[Juke 1,
1867.
stand that steps are being taken now to open a school at Nagpoor ; and two years ago the heads of the native community in Jullundur urged the advisability of establishing one in that
city, and, we believe, only abandoned the scheme because they considered that the proximity of the Lahore School would interfere with one at Jullundur. In closing the Jyepoor school, therefore, the Maharajah will be running counter to the spirit day, and pursuing a retrogressive policy, utterly unlike that which has hitherto distinguished his Government. We trust that he will alter his plans, and that so far from abolishing the school, he will increase its establishment, and render it more worthy of that beautiful city of which it is even now the noblest of the
and most useful institution.
DIRECTION.
It is with great regret that we have learnt, from the best authority, that the Maharajah of Jyepoor, hitherto so honorably distinguished by the zeal he has shewn in promoting education and
"
progress" of every description within his dominion,
pro-
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
156
poses to abolish the Medical School at hi3
capital.
Who his
advisers in this matter are we know not, but we feel convinced that so barbarous
an
idea never
originated
with
a
prince who
of always taken the lead among the aristocracy In his India in whatever relates to the welfare of subjects. the " these days economy" is the ruling principle, and to justify Jie shabis considered enough of a few rupees saving vandalism. biest of chicanery, 'or the most wanton act of has hitherto
job
least, extremely doubt* School, so far from saving anything, will not involve increased expenditure. The plan now contemplated is that, instead of educating medical men But in the
present
case
it
is,
to say the
ful whether the abolition of the local Medical
in
Jyepoor,
a
certain number of students should be sent to
join
the Hindustani Class in the Calcutta Medical
College, and should be maintained there at the expense of the Jyepoor Raj, until they have obtained their diplomas. Considering how cheaply, and with what a small establishment, the duties of the Jyepoor Medical School have been carried on, we suspect that the maintenance of even half a dozen students in Calcutta, together with their travelling expenses to and from Jyepoor, will be found far more costly than the present system. This, of course, is the very lowest point from which the subject can be viewed. But, moreover, Jyepoor is upwards of 1,000 miles from Calcutta, and the climate, people, and diseases of the two places differ from each other essentially. Why should students be sent, at a great expense to the state, to an unhealthy climate, to study diseases which they will seldom see in their own country, in races whom they will but rarely meet there, when they can obtain as good instruction at home, and will have the advantage of learning to treat the peculiar diseases of their own country among the races of men with whom they are to spend their lives afterwards ? It may be said that a better course of instruction will be given in a large, well-organised institution like the Calcutta Medical College, than in a small local school. We doubt this, and are inclined to think that a small number of students who are individually known to the Superintendent of a local school, are likely to be as carefully trained as are the members of the overgrown vernacular classes in the Calcutta Medical College, where the staff of native teachers, though large compared with that of any minor school, is far too small for the duty required from them. No doubt the Jyepoor school admits of great improvements ; the wonder is that it has worked
so
well with such
a
small staff.
If the Maha-
rajah really wishes to promote medical education among his subjects, let him increase the number of teachers in the school. He has a good opportunity for doing this at present, as a European Medical
Missionary has settled at Jyepoor, and would no gladly devote some of his time to assisting the present buperintendent. In addition to these gentlemen, let His Highness appoint a sufficient number of native teachers, and there is no doubt that at least as good an education can be given at Jyepoor as the military class students of the Calcutta Medical College obtain. At the same time, many who would object to spend three or four years in Calcutta, will gladly avail themselves
doubt
of the means of education which has been
provided,
as
it were,
at their doors,
The
time
at which the
started the years
is a
Maharajah or nis peculiarly unfavourable
proposal there has dccidedly
number of Medical
been
advisers have one.
Of late
tendency to increase the Schools throughout the country. We undera
[Juke 1,
1867.
stand that steps are being taken now to open a school at Nagpoor ; and two years ago the heads of the native community in Jullundur urged the advisability of establishing one in that
city, and, we believe, only abandoned the scheme because they considered that the proximity of the Lahore School would interfere with one at Jullundur. In closing the Jyepoor school, therefore, the Maharajah will be running counter to the spirit day, and pursuing a retrogressive policy, utterly unlike that which has hitherto distinguished his Government. We trust that he will alter his plans, and that so far from abolishing the school, he will increase its establishment, and render it more worthy of that beautiful city of which it is even now the noblest of the
and most useful institution.
