Medicinska fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani 1919–1945 - Univerza v ...

We can say that there was a medical-surgical school at the Lyceum
in Ljubljana that was organised as a special vocational school
that was supposed to educate medical staff of the lower order
after a quick study course, which was especially true of the first
Pre-March Period�
The number of doctors in Austria at the time was extremely
low� Doctors with PhD degrees were only available in cities�
Even though medical-surgical studies were not aiming to train
for scientific work, the example of the study in Ljubljana shows
that it was here that these studies “achieved a high level of
scientific endeavour”� The opinion supported by the Carniolan
Protomedicus (chief physician in the country), Dr� Anton Jožef
Haymann as well as van Swieten and assistant Dr� Anton von
Stoerck, that lyceum teachers were not appointed for scientific
work, but rather for practical medical work (training useful
obstetrics assistants and candidates for graduation, and teaching
medical treatment skills), was not heeded by the teachers
of medicine and surgery in Ljubljana� A number of teachers
teaching medical-surgical studies in Ljubljana began their professional
career at the lyceum, e�g� Baltazar Hacquet, Dr� Vincenc
Kern, Dr� Joseph Wattmann, Dr� Franz Fikelscherer, Dr� Kristjan
August Voigt and Dr� Bernard Pachner Freiherr Eggenstorf� After
this, they went on to pursue academic careers at various universities�
While faculties were awarding doctoral titles to Doctor
of Medicine and Master of Surgery and Obstetrics candidates,
graduation candidates of medical-surgical studies were graduating
only as Patrons of Surgery who performed their duties as civilian
or rural barber surgeons (Civil- und Landwundärzte)�
Just as apprentices in other professions, surgeons had to learn
their trade at their master’s during the times of Joseph II, while a
future Patron of Surgery was now required to complete medicalsurgical
studies� Acceptance to the school was, of course, available
to students who completed three years of apprenticeship with a
surgeon, the model elementary school or the general elementary
school (type of lower-level gymnasium), while it was only from
1833 onwards that enrolment required four years of grammar
school or gymnasium or three years of the model elementary
school� Throughout the entire Austrian Pre-March Period,
enrolment to medical-surgical study did not require a gymnasium-level
education, which was required for the other studies at
the lyceum�
In the beginnings of surgery studies at lyceums, academic
performance was poor� “It was especially Ljubljana that was
reputed for having a very small number of students finish the
school there and many such who were sitting in the same class for
several years� This is, of course, a reflection of the fact that access
to the school was also available to students, of whom not much
else could be expected?”
In accordance with the generally valid regulations governing
examinations, learners of the medical-surgical studies at the
Ljubljana Lyceum had to pass semestrial and annual examinations,
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while they had to undergo an examination before a commission
after they completed their second year of study� The commission
was composed of both the teachers of medical-surgical studies
and two randomly selected city surgeons� After the examinations,
commission members signed the diploma (school leaving
certificate) and the candidates took an oath� Prior to the
examination, candidates also had to state the place they would
undergo internship� In 1807, a reform of medical examinations
was implemented that also applied to the medical-surgical studies
at lyceums: semestrial examinations were abolished, candidates
had to pass a rigorous examination in surgery and obstetrics as well
as a final examination� Grades (grading classes) received for the
rigorous examination in surgery and obstetrics had to be indicated
in the school leaving certificate (diploma)� Learners of medicalsurgical
studies who did not pass the rigorous examination in
surgery were forbidden from practicing any medicine� Medicalsurgical
schools experienced new development with the abovementioned
curriculum from 1810� According to that curriculum,
instruction in the first year encompassed the following courses:
Brief Introduction to the Study of Surgery (Encyclopaedic
Overview and Methodology), Anatomy, Theoretical Surgery,
Physiology, General Pathology and Therapy for Internal Diseases,
Materiam Medicam Et Chirurgicam, Dietetics and the Science
of Prescription Compounding, Science of Wound Dressing and
Instruments� In the second year, it encompassed the following
courses: Instruction on Surgical Operations (demonstrated on
a cadaver), Practical Bedside Surgery Instruction and Exercises,
Forensic Medicine, Special Therapy for Internal Diseases And
Practical Bedside Exercises, Surgical Special Therapy, Practical
Instruction in Surgery and Bedside Exercises, Obstetrics and
Veterinary Science�
This reform of the study of medicine in Ljubljana was only
implemented after the departure of the French and after Austrian
authority was reinstituted� It was then that five professors were
appointed: an anatomist, an internist, a surgeon, an obstetrician
and a veterinarian� Because competitions for the tendered
positions were not always successful, other teachers had to teach
additional courses� In 1813, the course Resuscitation of the
Clinically Dead and First Aid was reintroduced� These lectures
were intended for the broader audience and were provided freeof-charge
in the afternoons on Sundays� The course was taught by
a forensic medicine teacher�
As already mentioned, medical-surgical studies were again
reformed in 1833; conditions for enrolment became stricter and
studies for all candidates lasted three years� The reform prescribed
the following curriculum:
First year
a) Introduction to the Study of Surgery
b) Anatomy
c) Dissection Exercises