What was the state of medical knowledge in Canada when CMAJ published its first issue 90 years ago? The following unedited excerpts are from the Medical Council of Canada examination written in September 1910, 4 months before the first issue of CMAJ appeared. Staff at the D.B. Weldon Library at the University of Western Ontario did the digging that has allowed us to reprint them.
Materia medica
Time 2 1/2 hours
Value, 0 to 100
All questions of equal value.
1. (a) Name the essential parts of a prescription. (b) Adult dose of Morphine is one-quarter grain. Estimate the dose for a child nine months old.
2. Define, giving example: — Mydriatic, Cataplasm, Emulsion, Anodyne.
3. Give physiological actions of Adrenaline, also Physiological action of Aconite.
4. Tell source and dose of: — Acidum Salicylicum, Apomorphinae, Hydrochloridum, Oleum Tiglii and Pilocarpinae Nitras.
5. Name a salt derived from Argentum and a salt derived from Cuprum. Give local actions of each salt.
W.A. Gray, M.D.,
Examiner
Intermediate and final
Pathology
Time, 2 1/2 hours
Value, 0 to 100
All questions of equal value.
1. Ascites. Give an account of the various pathological causes.
2. Give a description of healing as found in the healing of a fracture.
3. Contrast Carcinoma and Sarcoma: and draw or describe the microscopical findings in an Epitheleoma and Myeloid Sarcoma.
4. Give an account of the changes found in the kidney from a case of Acute Nephritis.
Bacteriology
1. How would you determine whether the Bac. Diphtheriae existed in or was infecting the throat?
2. Describe the means which you would employ to identify the bacteria in the pus from an abscess.
Wm. Goldie, M.D.,
Examiner
Intermediate and final
Medical jurisprudence and mental disease
Value, 0 to 100
Time, 2 1/2 hours
Value
(10) 1. State five important questions which present themselves for solution in every inquest over a dead body.
(15) 2. (a) What are the important points to be noticed in the examination of wounds in a dead body? (b) Distinguish between a wound made before and after death.
(15) 3. Impotence and Sterility. Explain and give their legal relations.
(15) 4. Cause of Death in the Newborn Child. Enumerate (a) causes acting during birth. (b) Causes acting after birth.
(10) 5. Define, Expert witness, Post-mortem Caloricity, Cadaveric Spasm, Post-mortem Stain, Superfoetation.
Mental diseases
(15) 6. Give causes, symptoms and treatment of Puerperal Insanity.
(10) 7. Give the forms of Insanity in which baths are useful.
(10) 8. Explain the following terms: Lucid Interval, Criminal Responsibility, Delusion, Illusion, Hallucination.
Robert W. Schnarr, M.B.,
Examiner
Midwifery
Value, 0 to 100
Time, 2 1/2 hours
Value
(33) 1. Write full explanatory notes on each of the following terms, used in Obstetric Practice: (a) hyperemesis gravidarum; (b) gavage; (c) polarity; (d) ballotment; (e) hydrorrhoea gravidarum; (f) atelectasis (g) decidua serotina; (h) show; (I) spurious labor; (j) insertio velamentosa; (k) cephalhematoma; (l) ductus venosus.
(34) 2. Face Presentation. Give causes and varieties; and discuss fully the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this solution.
(33) 3. What do you understand by ectopic gestation? Describe the varieties. Mention the conditions for which it might be mistaken, and give the differential diagnosis between it and normal pregnancy at the end of fourth month.
(33) 4. Mention and discuss the operative methods of assisting delivery in deformed pelves. What pelvic measurements (conjugate only) would determine your choice of operation in (a) flat pelvis; (b) justo minor pelvis.
(34) 5. Describe minutely three recognized methods of inducing premature labor. Mention the conditions under which the operation is justifiable.
(33) 6. Describe in order of election the various means you would adopt to control (a) primary post-partum hemorrhage; (b) concealed hemorrhage.
NOTE.—Candidates writing on the whole subject matter must answer four, and only four, questions — any two of the first three, and any two of the last three. Those writing on Non-Operative must answer questions 1, 2, and 3. Those writing on Operative must answer questions 4, 5, and 6. For candidates writing on the whole subject each question shall have the value of 25 marks.
Intermediate
Diseases of children
Value, 0 to 100
Time, 2 1/2 hours
All questions of equal value.
1. What are the varieties of Scarlet Fever? Describe fully a typical case of the most common kind.
2. Mention the various Talipes, with their causes and treatments.
3. Tuberculous Meningitis. Give etiology, symptoms (a) in infants, (b) In older children; and diagnosis
4. Distinguish between Marasmus, Rickets and Infantile Scurvy.
5. Give etiology, symptoms, physical signs, and treatment of Pleurisy with Effusion.
W.I. Bradley,
B.A., M.D., M.R.C.S., Eng.,
Examiner
Theory and practice of medicine
Value, 0 to 100
Time, 2 ½ hours
All questions of equal value.
1. Scarlet Fever. Etiology, symptoms, varieties, complications, sequelae. Differentiate from measles, rotheln, diphtheria, drug rashes, acute exfoliative dermatitis.
2. What is Syphilis? Describe the various rashes which may appear in the second and third stages of the disease. How do you treat the disease? Write a prescription.
3. With what pathological conditions may dyspnoea be associated? Under what circumstance may cyanosis occur?
4. (a) What is uraemia (b) What are the various types of acute uraemia? (c) With what may uraemia be confounded? (d) What are the urinary findings in acute uraemia?
W.H.B. Aikins, M.D., C.M., L.R.C.P. (Lond.)
Examiner
Intermediate
Diseases of women
Value, 0 to 100
Time, 2 1/2 hours
All questions of equal value.
1. (a) Classify chronic Endometritis from a historical stand-point. (b) Give the symptoms, etiology, and treatment of Senile Endometritis.
2. (a) Classify Cysts of the Ovary. (b) Differentiate between a small Ovarian Cyst, a Pyosalpinx, and a small Fibroid in the Wall of the Uterus.
3. (a) What general disorders are often associated with Dysmenorrhoea? (b) What local conditions would cause Dysmenorrhoea? (c) Treat a cause of Dysmenorrhoea in a young unmarried woman, due to acute antefluxion of the Uterus.
4. (a) Name one case in which you would use a dull Curette. (b) Name one case in which you would use a sharp Curette. (c) Describe the technique of a Curettage. (d) What dangers are attendant upon the use of the Curette?
J.D. Balfour, M.D.,
Examiner
Final and intermediate
Materia medica and pharmacology
Value, 0 to 100
Time, 2 1/2 hours
All questions of equal value.
1. Define and exemplify: Diaphoretic, Stimulant, Counter- irritant, Narcotic.
2. Compare actions on heart of (a) Aconite and Digitalis. (b) Atropine and Strychnine.
3. Tell methods of administering Hydrargyrum (Mercury), for systemic effect, (internal effect).
4. Give source and doses of the following: Amyl Nitrite, Caffeina, Oleum Eucalypti, Oleum Morrhuae.
5. Explain physiological action on nerves of agents: (a) To increase volume of urine. (b) to diminish body heat, (temperature).
W.A. Gray, M.D.,
Examiner
Final and intermediate
Medical jurisprudence
Value, 0 to 100
Time, 21/2 hours
Value
(15) 1. (a) Describe the duties of a Coroner. (b) Distinguish between the testimony of an ordinary and an expert witness.
(20) 2. (a) Enumerate the various signs by which the elapsed time since death may be estimated. (b) What signs of putrefaction are likely to be present in a body found two weeks after death, exposed to the outside summer air.
(20) 3. (a) Name the occasion in which pregnancy becomes the subject of a medico-legal inquiry. (b) Give the certain or positive signs of pregnancy.
(10) 4. Describe briefly the various methods used to produce abortion.
Mental diseases
(10) 5. Describe the procedure to secure admission of patients to Ontario Hospitals for the Insane.
(10) 6. Enumerate the varieties of Mental exaltation.
(15) 7. Describe a case of acute mania, and give general indications for treatment.
Robert W. Schnarr, M.B.,
Examiner
Final and intermediate
Theory and practice of medicine
Value, 0 to 100
Time, 2 1/2 hours
All equations of equal value. Tabulate all answers as far as possible.
1. (a) Specify the various portals of infection in Endocarditis. (b) Give symptoms, diagnosis and prognosis.
2. Exophalmic Goitre. (a) Etiology, symptoms and diagnosis (b) Treatment. Write a prescription.
3. Give briefly — (a) The history of a case of Tubercular Meningitis. (b) Describe the various simple asphasies.
4. Etiology and differential diagnosis of Impetigo Contagiosa. (b) Mention the various parasitic diseases of the skin, and the causative agent of each affection.
5. Give the differential diagnosis of the various conditions of which Jaundice may be a symptom.
W.H. B. Aikins, M.D.C.M.,L.R.C.P., Lond.,
Examiner