When was it deleted?
Q:There are 4 prac manuals/guideline booklets, are those something we go through in class or its something that you must read in your own time and expected to know before pracs?
Either deleted by you or a mod.
They should/will explain this to you this week. Read the corresponding practical to see whether there are pre-lab questions. If so, obviously do them. If you read what the prac's on before going in you can speed things up a little.
For PHS there should sometimes be a "before attending the session..." as a header. It pretty much clearly explains what you have to do. If you want, attempt the exercises. We usually finished it before so we could leave early. No one wants to stay back. With the prescriptions, I usually pre-filled in everything at the back (handwritten batch and pres. records) - and sometimes looked up the drug to see what it's for (don't do this until you're sick of doing the records since you have to know the process for the exam). Keep your PHS book neat with notes so it's good to go for your practical exams (in both 1st and 2nd year).
I think physicochem or organic chem had online pre-labs you have to do on Blackboard before the prac. All I remember from physiology is the exercise practical and the rat dissection. That should require not much preparation at all.
But seriously, just read the manual - it should tell you straightforward what you have to do.
Also, 3 hours pracs are nothing. In second year you get certain 6 hours ones (oh god they were painful).