1790 Latin Report on Medical Student’s Oral Examinations

Paris, France. Good with no dust jacket. 1890. Ephemera. On offer is a fascinating Latin language academic report dating from Paris, France immediately prior to the Revolution From context, it is a report on the success of a student named Guilbert and his work in medicine. An excerpt of the report follows: Guilbert filium audivimus interrogavimus de materia medicinali sese demonstravit de hac parte magna cum sagacitate [] principies informatum prasertim de rebus chemicis. [Translation: Guilbert, the son we have heard, we asked about the matter, with a great keenness of the study of the arts of medicine and found expression [] Discourse deals with the principles and informed by the things of chemical matters]. The document is dated in Paris and bears five signatures suggesting that this may have been an oral examination. From the earliest days, and continuing up until the present, it is understood that it is not universities that determine whether or not a person earns a doctorate (PhD) but rather the group of doctors that examine them and who then determine among themselves that the candidate is fit to join their ranks. For an academic or a teacher/educator, this is an excellent example of an aspect of the education system that was flourishing in Europe at the end of the 18th century. The document measures 8.5 inches by 6.75 inches. It is a four page document created by simply folding a sheet in half. The contents occupy the front page. The paper is in very good condition. The handwriting is reasonably legible. ; Manuscripts; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 4 pages; Signed by Author .