The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-11
The American Medical Convention In
Boston.
THuRspAY-MourING SESSION.

members. Prof LOUIS AoAssIz NJ D., the eminent ma
turaist was elected permanent member Of the Asso-
citation
An invitation to the members to visit the Boston Lo-
connective Works. read and accepted. The report
of the committee to nominate suitable persons for the
various standing commtteeswas received and adopted
DIR. STEVENS, of New York. moved the appointment OF
special committee Forensic Medicine; another on
Indigenous Botany and Maeria Medica; anda third on
Hygiene Dr. BELL, Of the Mclean Asylum, onered, Us
amendment the following
Resolved That the consideration of that part of TO-
rensic medicine touching unacy in all its relations be
referred 10 special committee of three members.
The amendment failed and the original resolution
The report of the Committee on Medical Education
DR. F. CAMPBELL STEWART, of New York, Chairman was
next called for Prof J. NJ Smith stated that DR. s.
had recently been appointed to high and responsible
werner the State of New York. that he had just en-
tered upon the discharge of his duties and that it
impossible for him to be present His report had how
ever been prepared and at the request IF the commit
tee, would now be read by Dr. NJ. l.. TAFT, Delegate
was then formally introduced to the president, and
read the report which embraced complete account of
the medical institutions of Europe and of this country
with the requirements for admission and graduation;
the number of students graduates professors branches
taught terms of study &c &c the regulations of the
army and navy boards of examiners in Great Britain
and this country the legal requirements exacted of
medical practitioners in the States of the Union;
together with remarks the general condition of
dical education in the United States compared with
other countries, and suggestions for its improvement
Appended this report we're certain resolutions Ito
given hereafter) which were made the special matter
for consideration at the afternoon session The report
was accepted and eferred to the publishing committee
Dr. JOHN WARE. of Boston. then read communica-
ton from the medical faculty Of Harvard University
being objections to the former action of the association
in recommending that the of lectures to medical
students should be increased to six months instead Of
four as formerly The faculty of Harvard prefer to 20
formerly, with four months course, which they
believe to be more beneficial to the students than
longer tenn
IT.
the New York Academy of Medicine, the subject Of
separating the teaching and licensing powers.
A. communication on the subject of medical educa-
tion from DR.. John Watson, of the New York City
Hospital was also presented and laid upon the table
The nominating committee reported the following
names:--
For Committee on Forensic Medicne-Drs Stevens,
n II L. Bell, Mass Pliny Earle, N Y; Rockwell,
Conn
For Committee on Indigenous Botany, &c.--Drs Ives,
CT; Corbin Va; Frost, N. s. Davis, N. Y. Lenoir,
For Committee on Hygiene-Drs. J. NJ. Smith, N Y;
Mass; Emerson Pa Symonds Ives, ct.
The nominating committee also recommended that
natl. The nominations and recommendation
nimously adopted
The report on Hygiene, prepared by Dr. James
Wynne. of Baltimore, was in his absence. presented
and read by Dr. Isaac Parrish, of Philadelphia
Dr. SAMUEL JACKSON, of Philadelphia followed with
paper the influence Of tea and coffee upon children
and the laboring classes
DR.. CuRTIs, of Mass, also read paper the n.y.
These two papers were portions of the report n.y.
giene.
The association then adjourned until afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
DR.. N S. DAVIS, of New York, Chairman of the Com
mittee Indigenous Medical Botany presented re-
port Of the contents Of which he brief synopsis
instead of reading the whole Dr. Davis stated that
our acquaintance with the medicinal properties of
indigenous plants very slight and unsatisfactory
careful investigations both by analysis expert
ment to discover the actual value and precise action
Of number of substances admitted into the matera
medica, concerning which the books gave sasfac-
tory account AS illustrative of this he stated that of
$50 slightly known. OF $50 native and natu.
rallied plants mentioned in of our best works
%st we are .o,a concerning 100 OF them merely
and such purposes. This kind Of information not
such the Mt state demanded
Very little known Of the real virtues and of
native plants but il is hoped that the investigations
which have been commenced under the auspices of
the Association, will be continued and perfected
The report was referred to the Committee on Pub
LEGATION
The Association then resolved itself into Commit
tee of the Whole Dr. JONATHAN KNIGHT, of New Haven
in the chair for the purpose Of considering the resou
lions appended to the report of the Committee on Me-
dical Education The first resolution then read,
and is as follows
Resolved That the attention Of medical colleges be
again directed to the resolutions of the Committee
Preliminary Education, adopted by the convention Of
1s47 and that they be advised to require from their
students that they shall in all instances possess
tfcates OF primary requirement prior to graduation
DR.. HAnRIsos of Ohio, moved as amendment, to
the West to carry out the endation proposed
by the committee Students there came from the
forest forest and the plough Where are they to procure
these certificates! The reform desired must
mence with private preceptors and not with the schools
The students cannot procure such testimonials, and
must we refuse them admission to colleges because
they do not possess what cannot be had From the
doctors remarks the reporter infers that the general
education of medical students in Western States
in deplorable condition and that they aspire and are
allowed, to be practitioners of medicine before they
have acquired even the rudmcns Of good English
education.
DR.. STEVENS, of N. Y, opposed the amendment He
wished to know whether the colleges in Ohio looked to
preliminary education at all, whether il matter
of no account. The arguments of the gentleman from
ONO he considered utterly futile. Education was
elder matter Of consequence whether the stu
dent Of medicine was prepared not by proper pre-.
hminary enducation to enter upon the study of the
most difficult and intricate subjects-the study of a
science which embraces every department Of human
and tributary
Dr. J. {. WARRrH, of Mass, argued that it was i'm
possible 1or seed to produce proper crop unless the
ground had been carefully prepared its reception
1t is the same with the student of medicine His mind
must be prepared before he understandngly
upon the study OF SO difficult science. lie wished the
resolution to pass without amendment and that the
rigid attention to the subject of preliminary quail
ications.
DR.. G. B. wooD, of Philadelphia admitted that all
agreed on the Importance of preliminary education,
and that the profession should be to the con-
sideraon of the subject But he agreed with Professor
Harrison, that it would be impossible at the present
time to exact such certificates from applicants for gra
duation AS professor however he was not unwilling
to be advised by the Association, and would support
the resolution.
DR.. N. s. DAVIS Of ~ Y. thought the Association
had already made good beginning and that IL ought
to progress rather than recede. Much good had al
ready been accomplished The New York State Society
had recommended the creation of preliminary Boards
Of Examiners by the county societies He hoped the
example would be followed by other State societies
He opposed the amen dment
Dr. CALKINs, Of New York thought that the colleges
ought not to object to receiving good advice. The
solutions offered by the committee were not compu-
sorry, but merely recommendatory. The colleges were
the creatures OF the profession They could not obtain
their charters without the consent and of
the medical faculty could they survive without
their support The colleges must be improved They
must advance in their acquisitions to keep pace with
the progress of science and literature the profess
sion must cast them aside, and disown them
The venerable DR.. NEs, of Connecticut related An
anecdote Of the late DR. Nathan Smith. who when ne
applied for admission to The Office of his prccepor was
told TO stay at home year, and complete his premi-
nary studies, before he ventured upon medicine He
followed that advice and very thankful for it in