Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-09-16
For the Journal.
The Medical Beard, No. 1.

The Medical Profession does possess that high
pute that it formerly maintained Not that Medicine
is less certain than in days past not that the profession
is less useful than formerly the contrary the is
constantly gaining in certainty, aud the other in mpor
lance The practice of medicine, when lett surmses
and vague conjecture is of cruel results nut when
its wellesablshed principles taken guide is
attended with certainty and manifold blessings to the
community But such has become the of access to
the professionals easy is medical diploma obtained al
the present day. and The facilities by which
legazed practitioners humbug the people, that the
standard Of the profession has been lowered Formerly
man obliged to study and toll and MOL for years
in preparation before he could obtain diploma prac
tice. He also obliged to give good evidence Of
moral character required to prove himself to be
gentleman before he could be welcomed across the
threshold of the sick chamber. Nowadays, however
neither study moral character indispensable pre-
requisites to graduation. AS general thing, if the
candidate will pay for two winter courses of lectures he
may rely pretty confidently upon having placed upon
bis shoulders all the bshing honors and responsibilities
Of diploma The truth Of this statement is notorious
Evil both the profession and to the public is the
cessary result 1t lessons the profession in the estma
ton of the community and annually introduces to
patients of doctors, with diploma 10 hand. who
are incompetent to engage in the delicate and difficult
labors of medical and surgical practice Not that
would underrate the advantages OF Medical College
All who Can should avail themselves of heir benefits
Nor do all who obtain diplomas merit this charge Of
unftness to which have alluded. But | contend that
so numerous have tie Medical Colleges become about
forty in number-sO great and INSCRIPTIONS is the
petition among Them such the corruption engendered
by the vOracOus appetite for numbers and money that
the leading desire with most of them u.s. not which shall
turn out the best qualified graduates, but which will
have the largest number OF students And it requires
shreWd observer to discover that similar ambition
is increasing to amenable degree among Literary
| Colleges, Schools and Academies for both sexes.
From such facts these, arose the patriotic deter
minatOn of the last Legislature to pass law OF protec
ton to the health and lives of the citizens of the State
Nobly did they discharge this duty, and well do they
deserve the thanks of every citizen for what they did il
this important relation. 1t is much the duty OF thu
legislator to sustain promotve of the sanitary
condition and bodily health of the people, it is to ad
vocate measures that will improve their physical wear
/ and mental and moral condition 1t is much thu
right of the Legislature to pass the law establishing
Medical Board of Examiners has the just power
authorize the Supreme Court to license those who prac
/ tice law, or Boards Of Superintendent of Common
Schools examine those who wish to teach Free Schools
If the over exists in one case it exists i'll all.
: The Bill creating the Medical Board passed il
obedience to popular sentiment, and not merely at tn
suggestion Of the Medical Profession. For years
fort has been made in the General Assembly estabs
such institution but owing to the fact that the pub
lie mind not sufficiently aroused to its necessity
and to the additional reason that demagogues, bot
within and without the profession, have all along, u
now been Industrious in attempts to confuse the peop
on the subject, the movement failed.
! Misunderstood by some misrepresened by others,
have vugh well to explain the provisions, features
, and objects of the law creating the Medical Board
Examiners existing in State, and to attempt,
proper spirit, to meet the arguments and objections
its opponents. propose to enter upon this task
future numbers A FRIEND TO THE BILL
| Sept. l4th, 1859.