101 ASSESSORS’ REPORT.

“We have been honoured by the invitation of the Government of the Sudan to act as assessors at the Final Examination in Medicine at Khartoum, 1929, and now beg to report as follows :— 1. The Range of the final examination is extensive embracing as it does pathology, medicine, surgery (including opthalmology) midwifery, gynaecology, public health and forensic medicine. The group of subjects in which the candidate is expected to pass, at one and the same time, is thus larger than that required in many of the older schools in the United Kingdom. This implies considerable concentration of attention and of effort on the part of the candidates.

2. The Method of examination is thorough. The examination includes written papers, viva-voce, and ample practical tests. We, ourselves, severally set written papers in medicine and surgery; and pitched the questions, advisedly, on ttea standard similar to that of the leading Examining Boards in Great Britain.

3. The Candidates. Seven in number impressed us most favourably. Their appearance and deportment seemed to us comparable to those of the English public schoolboy. It is difficult to realise that eight or ten years ago these candidates were completely illiterate children. Their response to the various tests, both written and practical, was strikingly good. Their method of handling the patients entrusted to them was careful, kind and considerate.

As observed by one of us, in the subjects of surgery the method of approach in the examination of a sick person shewed a considerable improvement on that displayed by the candidates at last year’s examination.

4. Results of the examination. Four of the seven candidates made an admirable appearance; the remainder attained a sufficient standard to justify their admission to the Diploma. We believe that, allowing for the difficulties of the language and the relatively short course of instruction available, they would have been favourably considered by examiners attached to corresponding Boards in Great Britain.

5. Our Impressions. From the evidence before us if is safe, in our opinion, to anticipate, in the case of each of the successful candidates, a useful career in the practice of medicine in the Sudan. We believe that these young doctors will be found qualified to realise the purposes for which the Kitchener School of Medicine was founded.

“it seems to us that the close relationship between teacher and student which is made possible by the limited number of students at the school has played an important part in the production of so capable, practical and adaptable young doctors. This close touch should be maintained and developed in the future. Granted a further obligatory year of practical experience in a well equipped hospital under the eye of a senior officer, the Government of the Sudan may justly expect to create and establish a Medical Corps amply equipped and well adapted to the growing needs of the country and, at the same time not unworthy of the high traditions of medicine.”