Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/285
If the student be successful in these four examinations, he is further examined in some five subjects selected from among the subjects for lectures in the respective courses. Those who succeed in this graduation examination are granted the title of Hogakushi. Ho means law, and, although gakushi is sometimes translated ‘doctor,’ ‘licentiate’ is probably more proper, so that the Hogakushi may be rendered ‘the licentiate of law.’ The Hogakushi who has taken the course of Law is admitted to the membership of the Bar, and can practise without undergoing any State examinations; and, further, he is eligible to the probationership of law officers. No Hogakushi is exempt from the State examinations for the higher civil and diplomatic service, except the preliminary one for the former. It is thought by many that this is manifestly unjust to the Hogakushi, since he has already passed a much more difficult State examination at the University, as nearly all the subjects for the State service examinations are contained in the examination list of the University. On the other hand, it is argued that it is not every Hogakushi that is able to pass successfully the ordeal of the State examinations, and therefore if the privilege of exemption from the examination for the State service be granted to all the graduates of the Law College, the service will suffer from the low standard of attainment among the candidates for the position of higher responsibility. But in reply it may be said that the attainments of the licentiate are certainly high enough to insure the efficient civil and diplomatic service, and that the only effect of the severity of the State examination is to lessen the number of those from whom men of practical ability (which can never be ascertained by an examination) are to be selected for the State service. It is evident that the system needs a radical reform.
The courses established in the Medical College are the course of Medicine and that of Pharmacy. The course of Medicine extends over four years.
At the end of each academic year the student is examined in all the subjects pursued during the year, and when he has passed successfully the examination at the end of the fourth year he is ready to receive the graduation examination, which takes place during the next academic year. The subjects are divided into the following three sections:
- Anatomical and Physiological.
- Surgical and Ophthalmological.
- Medical and Obstetrical.
A change of the system of examination is said to be under consideration, and therefore further particulars are omitted.