The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-11


person was sent to the colleges.
DR. - thought that about nine tcnths OF tho
doctors themselves were unqualified TO decide whether
students pGrsessed the requisite knowledge to COM
mence the study Of medicine. He considered both the
resolution and amendment absurd Suppose the county
Societies give certificates who will answer for the oua
Gcalons of their boards of examiners? [The gentle
mans Argument am cunts to thisThcre are some I'M
qualified and ignorant persons now in the profession
Ego attempt should be made to prevent their
crease.
DIR, - thought there hut way to reach
this subject his Association adopt standard Of
preliminary requirements and then the colleges should
announce that pupil will be admitted to attend lee
lures unless nc can pass an examination such may be
agreed upon by this body. The should be
pursued as In our literary colleges In all Of them,
certain preliminary education is requisite before ad
DIR. BOND. of Baltimore said 1t far better to do
nothing, than to make laws recommendations which
could not be enforced The association by such an
mprac ticabe course would bring itself into contempt
and render all its action nugatory resolution SINH
lar to the one now proposed was passed two years
What good has it done? What can it do! The county
societies not very likely to be much better than
individual prccepors The great difficulty u.s. that the
standard of medical education is higher than the
public requires and the higher go the greater will
bethe danger Of overrunning the country with rregu
lar practitioners How much respect does the public
entertain Tor your diplomas and all testimonials
Of thorough medical education. None. The regular
professions unpopular 1t not respected Quackcry
is far esteemed than education and medical skill
For my part sir. would rather have certificate Of
professional ability signed by fashionable clergyman,
than diploma backed up by all the colleges in the
country. In Maryland, those who regularly edu-
Gated ten dollars for license to practse but any
quack can practise without The laws do not pro-
tect The newspapers hold up to ridicule we are
buresqucd on the stage; the public, the legislatures
and all strive to pjure rather than protect us We
position
Dir. j. C. WARREN, of Massachusetts, could not con-
ceal his astonisment at the gentlenan's remarks He
felt indignant that such assertions should be made
They were untrue. The profession was not ular
but far more highly esteemed than any other that
exists-that did exstor that ever will In proof
OF the respect which entertained for them as
body he referred to their reception in Boston. The
treated them with the highest consideration and had
shown the strongest demonstrations of respect every
quarter Would the highest legislative body of this
State have invited you to meet in this hall nay would
they have permitted it, if the members of this asso-
citation were individually collectively, unworthy of
circumstances by which are surrounded are in
themselves, sufficient answer to the remarks of the
gentleman from Baltimore. 1t is unnecessary to do
more than refer to them.
DR. BoSp replied, that no entertained for himself the
highest opinion OF the character and merits of pro-
fession But the public in Baltimore entertained diff
ferent opinions from those in Boston OF the gentleman
from Massachusetts, he might say His lines have
fallen in pleasant places and he has goody heritage
The profession in different parts of the country are
SO pleasantly situated. They had trials oppostion
Boston knew nothing He was willing to be rebuked by
and high professional talent and not forget
act differently when charged witt presen Ion
Of facts.
DR.. Q. B. wooD. of Philadclrhia, had seen the pro-
fesson abroad and at home. Nowhere i'm the world do
its members maintain higher I..n' AN in America
They are found foremost in all .ntorprzes lite
rary. scientific or humane. IT,. Guide and direct
public sentiment. Their infuence .. where felt
and appreciated
DR.. AUSTIN FLINT, of Buffalo, NY-The plan of pre-
liminary examination recommended by the committee
is good one 1t has already been accedcd to upon the
accommodation Of the State Society of New York by
the physicians of Yates county, and found to work
well.
DR.. RAMSEY, of Tennessee said the plan might do in
New York but could not be carried into operation MT
nska turaa
there Shall attend of lectures or go to
practising at once without lectures?'
The question then put upon the amendment
which was adopted.
The next resolution was as follows -
Resolved that this Association does not sanction or
recognise college cnques' substitutes for hospi-
tai clinical instructions and that the medical colleges
be again advised to insist In all instances where ii is
practicable, the regular attendance of their pupils
during period Of at least six months upon the treat
ment OF patients In properly conducted hospital
other suitable institution devoted to the reception and
of the sick
Dr.. WATTS, of New York, moved to strike out the
first clause, as useless. No had claimed that the
college cliniques should be recognised as substitutes
for hospital instruction.
DIR. STILLE, Of Philadelphia, objected to the amend
ment of DR.. Watts 1t well known that in schools
where cniques were conducted, hospital attendance
DR.. JAMES r. Woop Of New York objected to Wcol
lege clniques' where hospital attendance could be
attained Clinical teaching in our hospitals is compa-
outstanding been well conducted and productive of
great benefit The college clinque a very different
m iona
TO the junior members Of the profession The cases
presented at the colleges mostly surgical or chronic
The student has no opportunity to watch the progress
OF dsease from day to day. to witness the effects of
remedies or to see the results Of operations ms he
would have at q hospital young practitioner in
large city where there is college rarely has an oppor
tunity to perform surgical operation The cases
which would naturally fall to him, resort to the proes,
by them exhibited to their classes He considered the
whole system of college cnques wrong in principle
and injurious in its operation So long there were
wei Ifa1 Mill
Tor clinical instruction. college cinqucs were entirely
unnecessary.
The amendment was lost and the original resolution
adopted.
Resolved, That it would conduce both to the con.
venence and advantage of students, il the subjects
taught In the colleges were divided into two series the
one of (which should be studied during the first wears
attendance on lectures and the other during the Sc
cond session. and that examinations should he insti
tuted at the close Of the first course of on Tho
subjects taught during that course ccrtiGcates of
when should be required prior to the final examna-
DR.; Gro b. Woop. of Philadelphia admitted that
the plan here proposed the true one but it could
merely an expression Of opinion the part of the
ASSOCIATION, he had no objection to its adoption
the practitioner at the sonb nd large proportion Of
one course OF lectures and this the case even in
states where license to practise is required His idea
was that the whole object of the resolution was 70
strike at the medical colleges and destroy them T
sibe 1t behooved the Association to lay the axe ut
the root OF the evil and not waste their time in
topping OIL the branches. Here the gentleman wan
dered entirely from the subject under discussion and
we omit the remainder of his remarks ' "
Or SAMUEL JACKSON, of Philadelphia approved OF tho
resolutions as one that expressed the views of medical
men this subject but thought the desired reta,
could not be introduced. The law requires an attend
ance on two of lectures but the two series on
different studies, proposed woud in cfect for,n
but one complete course If we could get students Ia
attend Tor three years and subject themselves to in
creased expense the proposition might be adopted by
the colleges. F'" "
DR. n: D. DAVIS, OF New York, thought there was too
much OF tendency to me ddc with the details az tbc
schools me schools had their rights and the profes
slon should nave theirs Let the schools manage their
instruction but allow the profession TO decide who
shai be admitted into its ranks The power which th
schools possess Of turning whom they please int o
ranks is the great evil which should be rcneded et
the schools tcach-that is their business-bu thc now
er to examine their pupils and grant licenses should
be vested in other hands. "
The resolution rejected
Resolved That II Is the deliberate opinion of ibis
ASSOCIATION that the plan Of examining students for
medical degrees in private and before one professor
only at time, is highly detective and should be at
N Of nr