Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-04-23
A MEMORIAL,

Presented By Mr.. CREG The Senate, i l0lh and re-
ic'red TO Select committee Of i've
10 The General Assembly, Of l'irginia
Al meeting OF the Medical Society OF Virginia, the iol.
lowing resolution was alup,cd:
"kesoved That committee Of nine be appooic 10 pc
tlon me Legislature for the establishment OF Board o
Medca! Examiners, and that individual who Fopo.
scs 10 practice medicine within The limits of The State, shall
be required TO appear before said Board and submit 10 such
examination as may bc necessary 10 test his qualifications
una mat snch only be licensed practice as II may deem
entirely competent"
As committee appnniei under the foregoing resolution
we beg leave most respectfully submit the cOasidcIa
tion OF vnnr honorable body of the reasons that
induced the Society represent solicit cs!sln"c
enactment upon this most important subject. The o
general cducuon longer reeds the friendly aid Of special
advocates 10 press its claims and 10 commend il 10 The los
cring Of the Stac for every ono greater or less
extent feels its Importance and prepared tn give il rece
dencc every subject may require legislative
nteposition And medical ctnca,uE whilst it, Importance
has been fully and felt but by that sc:y s class Of
The community the enlightened physicians ot our country,
il has nevertheless been assiiuousiy cultivated by few
interchangeable laboers and brilliant Of tlnt class,
and, by their united cfprts, has been elevated
ofter and pouder position than it has occupied
in any past period in its history. Eat whilst this s
true of medicine science we haze sill The Iuri!yng
confession TO make that amidst all It's Improvement
and progress and With all the increased facilities that have
boe opened up 10 the la5orious student o medicine the
general diffusion OF thorough s ;nnre Imltcd and
scientific attainment more Than II was y years ago
To those who have directed their attention TO i sub
ec and have had occasion inform themselves 10 tie
present standard Of medical cducation this be
OF surprise But such have been placed i'll ln
voube position detect the that have been in
ton produce This result il is perfectly pal?abe that this
deporatlr gcncracv is r legitimate fruit oi the defective
system upon which the medical schools nt present con.
Quoted degeneracy which has converted the seven yens
of the old Edngburgh school, with its rigid cxan-
nations into the eight months Course and nonln cX ANNA
uns U the present day These changes have taken place
alone in our country Thus whilst our science has
been progressive and tc domain vi medicine rapidly cX
tending boundaries time allotted the student rrOhtably
TO explore this extensive field has been gradually narrowed
down to such extent, that ia impossible him TO oh.
|
his profession. These facts with winch almost every
person. ont of the profession is familiar, and we need
only ask give this idea Of mastering the various branch
Of medicine hin the short space of eight n"nhs but
moments reflection in order that y0a may see s complete
absnrdy. Now, who" does blame attach itself in this
matter ii Il does not 10 ihusc who have assumed IN" teach
ing and licensing power Medicine unlike the aw. with
which, in point o importance Ia tic community at large, II
will certainly compare most lvorabIy) has thrown
completely beyond the range of legislative supervision II
has been entirely abandoned nc management TN very
many nstlnccs) of unsciupnl'us advennrS, who, either
actnac ny motives Of gain reduced to the necessity by
the sr7ineing Of rival adsenu'ers have converted our G
honorable calling trade. And II would ely
seem the rCat dcslcaiun with the student nrw ls To
select the school in which lie 5r taught in the shortest
time how 10 carry on his trade with the smallest amount Of
capital.
+ is in vain that the medical profession bGiy, who
and feel This growing evil other class and
feel has urged the schools of country 10 radical
formation upon ,s suoect Appeal after appeal has been
made and there is scarcely single iRceng OF any al eur
associa IONS either State national when this a!.engross
ng subject does occupy the largest share OF their acn
Hon. PefSurslOn ana argument nave Detn III
repeated attempts That have been made that
honorable title ui NJ d. the disrcpuc winch il
has fallen, by Of defective education We now hope
70. by such means these since
entirely convinced that neither persuasion arsr
ent, will weigh any thing long that potent
of all Influences scnlerest, in the opposite scale.
Mcdica! instruction The United States, has become al.
entirely OF individual speculation and private
ambtioni and this being the it is not 10 be expected
those engaged in these spccU1tons will take
STEP That may BY possibility, maze them any other than
profitable adveniurers Teachers OF medicine see and ac.
knowledge the defects of the present system o cdncnton
but the time acknowledge their inability 10 effect
change without dGYla- their students from Their lee
rooms and thus sappinr the very foundations h iEelr
institution. Such IS the rivalry cAsilng between Tie
schools by of their ncrcaed and s! IN ;rcasi
numbers thai they compelled to o'.r Inducements in
the form period u study, and '"w st";iri -:
requirement. entirely incompatible with thoraG2h even
respectable medical education Schools they ~ make ana
students they have and the consequence has Been
that species of rival bidding been gotten up which
leaves scarcely any discretion and places thc
sIudcu in poson to dictate his own Terms: those
terms will generally be- that he shall the close of the
session, be licensed 10 paccd medicine, win, or without
i qualifications.
Thus has il been that the community seeing this abuse
of posi On and confidence The part uf those vino have
The direction of medical education, has bern led 10 draw hut
little distinction between HE educated and conscientious
,vsicon and the ignorant and unscrupnlous pcicndcr
And y regular physician rails out against The coln
rrnacc given by The community the avowed quack, he
would but examine into the amount Of Licensed lsnoranc"
existing midst hc would with more justice saddle The
.espons sility Of things upon entirely dill
feen, party. II the want OF confidence on the part OF the
the bred physician, tiut FURNISHES
the food which sustans that miserable o beings
ouacks; and in nine lines Of en their "cry origin may be
traced no the ranks OF the half taught doctors that aTt
yearly turned loose upon the public Whilst your petition
csr can bu, regard the in which medicine is taught
and The examinations for the degree OF NJ D. conducted a
the principal Of the pcscnt dcporaac STATE d medi
cal education in cnnnlry, al the time have th
pleasure To know that there those Of tho schools wh,
honestly desire to good faith both the student lh
communv and profession a large But II is fact no
10 BIZ denied nor should runccalrd) that there
many who exhibit in The exercise OF the examining and cen
sing mower too great disregard 10 duty The general eur
rent is certainly towards cupale neglect oi duy in hi
matter and those who ray wish honestly, scarce
" be expected successfully 10 resist The urce o iat current
more particularly when pressing conslderhnns oi roc
are constantly urging them yield 10 IT, But why argue u
show the existence Of low standard OF medical education
in our State sho" upon whom the responsibility o TN
things should properly rest III only necessary 10 pre-
sent the subject Of lis rromncn, outlines n
order that gariug defects may be and the ncces
sity fell for radical cinulaon Since then the remedy
beyond the control nf the medical profession, and ih
SCHOOLS canno, ar will apply il (iur already
stately your petitioners would most earnestly s0lci
some legislative intcrposiion IL This matter. we wout
most respectfully suggest the establishment OF State boar
of Medical Examiners euncntIy calculated to secure tn
very desirable Objects have in view We entirely
convinced that nothing will the State thoroughly
educated ana scientific body of physicians that does ne
separate the teaching from the licensing powcr II mns b
obvious 10 any one il would be safer and more udcon
TO place the licensing power in the hands Of The great boo"
Of nby sicans in the Stale rather than h hands OF tho
interested and irresponsible bodies That manage the clo -
of the country and who necessarily subjected to all ines
,
crenco We ask you to cgislac 10 put down quacR
cry rcsrc, the freedom Of opinion upon or the sccc
ton be wcen the different systems Of practice either Home
on ,ihic Hydropaihc, Thomps"nian Ecrclic. We oi
ask you elevate medical education; br!ieVng as sc %
that as education up qnackcry must down; The en-
phtened mind being enabled 10 discriminate bctweeh IN
system that based upon scientific principles nndsuc
as have h,r origin n Ignorance and knavcy and that lee
upon the crcdulity of the community And your bod
should entertain doubts the efficacy the Boar
we propose ly" but 10 invite your attention To the or
gazaiiDn and management OF the Army and Navy Board:
Tho models after which desire u frame State Meu
cal Board The examinations instituted, for the purpose
testing The ouaIitca Of candidates Tor Army and Nav
SURGEONS hav been such for that service tn
must accomplished men, and the very flower of our Poies
sion similar sy sten and nothing else but similar sys
lem will make the medical profession OF our own Sta,'
what il should br. II is significant fact, and one TINT &c
serves our special attention. in considering this subject tia
not hye in fifty who fresh from the graduating class
Medical College, prepared 10 pass The Army and NlV
examinations And yet these vcf" men, whcsc etncann
so materially deficient justify their exclusion from III
mc dical stn of III" Army and Navy, rccnmnonced
Tho confidence Of the community rnii!c'y c"rrct
enter upon The responsible duties Of their profession I'M
being The s,ne things aud these The facts in reference
mrdjcnI cducarinn submit Ia yOar intelligence an