In Spain, the education for the liberal professions is tedious and strict, but not expensive. The course of study required of a barrister includes no fewer than thirteen years, besides a previous knowledge of Latin, in which the student is examined before entering any of the law universities. The branches of study which occupy these thirteen years, are, three years of philosophy, which consists of logic, physics, metaphysics, and ethics; and in the first of these years, the outlines of mathematics are taught; but this branch of study is never pursued farther: after this course of philosophy, the theory of Roman law is entered upon, which occupies two years; one year of Spanish law then follows; next, Ecclesiastical law, which occupies two years; and this is all that is required to take the degree of bachelor: but rhetoric, theology, digest of law, and medicine, are required for a higher degree. At the end of each year, examinations are gone through, before granting certificates; and the whole of the instructions are in Latin, excepting rhetoric and Spanish law. The philosophy used, is that of Guebarra. The expense of instruction varies according to the university; at Toledo it is all gratis; at Alcala it costs about 50l. per annum; but many are admitted into the colegios, in which case the student is put to no expense. These colegios are particular foundations, under the patronage of certain great families. The education of an attorney requires only an apprenticeship, and that the candidate should be twenty-five years of age, and have a certificate of good morals; he has also to pass one examination in law. Before any barrister, attorney, or notary, be admitted to practice, he is obliged to swear that he will defend the poor gratis. Thirty are appointed each year from each society to defend the poor in civil cases; and every one is entitled to be put upon the poor list who chooses to swear that he is not worth 4000 reals (40l.); and it is a curious fact, that, in criminal cases, the prisoner is entitled to make choice of any barrister in Madrid to defend him. In Spain they do not understand that celebrated legal fiction, so implicitly believed by some sound heads in England, that the judge is counsel for the prisoner. I learned that the course of justice, or in plainer terms a legal process, is very expensive in Madrid; two-third parts, at least, of every account being absorbed in court dues and stamps.
The Spanish government is not unmindful of the lives and health of its subjects; for medical is even more strict and tedious than legal education.
There are three kinds of medical professors in Spain:—physicians, medico-surgeons, and cirujanos romancistos.
The first of these, after a course of the usual regular scholastic studies, go to the University, where they study anatomy, physiology, pathology, and the different branches of medical education; in which four years are employed. They then go through the hospitals, with professors appointed for the purpose—note down the diseases and their treatment, and submit their notes for revision, to the instructors; this occupies two years: after which they undergo examinations upon the theory and practice of medicine, before being admitted to practice.
The medico-surgeons profess both physic and surgery: they go through the same studies as the physician, adding chirurgical pathology, midwifery, clinica medica, and surgical practice; and are subject to examination upon all these branches.
The third class, the cirujanos romancistos, are literally surgeons who have not studied Latin, and are an inferior class. They are not required to have the same classical education as the others; but must study, and pass examinations in anatomy, physiology, chirurgical pathology, operative surgery, and midwifery. Those belonging to this class of medical practitioners, are forbidden, by a royal edict, from prescribing for inward complaints.
Madrid does not want institutions for the alleviation of bodily infirmity; there being no fewer than thirteen hospitals in the capital. The principal of these are, the General Hospital, which is chiefly supported by the receipts of the bull-fights; and the Hospicio real de San Fernando, which is also a workhouse, and is supported by imposts upon the entry of goods into the city. There is also an Hospital for Illegitimate Children, which receives about 1200 yearly, nearly one-third of the number being foundlings, and which is supported by the lottery; an Orphan Hospital, which supports about 800 orphans; several smaller orphan hospitals; and two lying-in hospitals.
There are also in Madrid, ten different institutions for philanthropic purposes—the succour of the wretched, and the relief of the poor; among these, El Monte de Piedad deserves mention. It is a public establishment, which lends money upon goods, which may be reclaimed at any time during a year, or even longer, in particular cases, upon repayment of the loan without any interest.
Madrid, I have mentioned in the former chapter, is supposed to contain 170,000 inhabitants; but this is partly conjecture,—no census having been lately made. In the year 1790, there died in Madrid 5915 persons; and 4897 were born: and in the year 1810, 3786 persons died; and 5282 were born. The following was the consumption of Madrid, in the year 1825: 230,000 sheep; 12,500 oxen; 70,000 hogs; 2,417,357 arrobas[A] of charcoal; 13,245 arrobas of soap; 40,809 arrobas of oil; 800,000 bushels of corn; 500,000 arrobas of wine; 50,000 arrobas of snow; 30,000 arrobas of candles; and 18,000 bushels of salt: and supposing, as there is reason to believe, that since that time the population of Madrid has increased 5000, the addition of a thirty-fifth part to these sums, will give nearly the present consumption of Madrid.
[A] An arroba is 25lbs. weight.