New-York tribune., 1874-12-02
a AWAYTOADYANCE MEDICAL EDUCATOX


DIR. sTEpnEN SMITHS PROPOSAL THAT THE LEGAL
DUTY OF MEDICAL COLLEGES SHOULD ONLY BH
TO TEACH-A STATE BOARD OF EMINENT Phfsi'
CLANS SUGGESTED TO EXAMINE GRADUATED sTU'
DENTS AND GIVE DIPLOMAS.
To the Editor or Ths Trtouhs
SIR: No proposition could be made which
would receive universal assent than that every
person who engages In the practice Of medicine should
have competent medical education. Nor would there
be less general assent 20 theproposton that upon tho
educational qualifications OF the phy scans Of any
munity depends the highest interest o. that community.
viz, It's health Tie question naturally arises Why
should not the state IN tho interests OF the pubic
health require that all persons who practice medicine
shall have a suitable medical educationf Tho answer
49, "wnle doctors disagree and men OF learning do
nounce each others systems tho State must hesitate
about comforting exclusive sanction upon any school
Of medicine or any body Of professors" Admitting
the force Of this answer sil ask "Why then hesitate
enforce standard OF qualification In all pranches
of medical learning about which doctors do not ds-
agree, and which men Of learning do not denouhcef
Now doctors" do not disagree nor do iaynen as to
the Importance OF requiring every practitioner oil med
cine to have a suitable knowledge OF anatomy physt
olog chemistry, and the principles Of ined'ene surgery
and Obstetrics All medical schools OF every grade ana
shade OF opinion teach these branehe' and generally
in the same manner and from the tex books Aud
entire of study necessary TO an ordinary meii-
cal education. The only other branch Is D1td rcdea.
medicines and their uses, from which spring al ths
81 stems OF practice, abou wnch doctors disagree Ths
branch Of medical education should BE- pursued IN
hospitals after graduation in the other departments,
and the student may be left TO perfect himself In 10
wherever he may choose for. in tho hands OF the
physician thoroughly educated in the Fundamental
branches OF medicine, all remedies safe, but IN the
hands OF the uneducated 10 remedy is safe.
Why, them may not the rate, through a board com
posed OF u competent anatomst, physologis chemist,
physician surgeon and obstetricaa, establish and en-
force a grade OF qualification in those branches OF a
medical education about which there Is 10 disagree
mentl We have anatomists. psychologists, chemists.
physicians, surgeons aud obtercians who, as pecal-
lists these branches take rank among DOCTORS above
all schools and systems and who would perform their
high duties in an impartial manner IL may be asked.
united In tue ELEVATION or the stand
ard OF medical educatOn why NAV not TIE WlOie mat
be left to the profession T. Te answer l. oDyous
Where there Is no legal standard vi qlaHca0h e'Fy
person may practice medicine, aud the qualified ana
unqualified placed on tue sauo plane. often groly
10 lie disadvantage OF Iha ioriDef Inc medical seIYo
private and irresponsible enterprises. winch Tx rr
own grade OF G1'hnG0n iOT tAeT IF"G,; cca, aas
which the schools s,i. set up IS 5sb tng nI1oGs
apparent that in proportion 1 the standard OF edca.
and qualification ID raised By any school tbo nn Der
OF students will diminish, for the diploma OF one shoo
useful that of another IN practice, ana neither
is requisite in law Tne proot OF h, truth OF this state
faculty OF this school recently raiscd the staudard Oh
medical education and qualification quite regardless ot
giving its students tho most thorough eiucaiOn and
allowing uUquahfied man L. take lts diploma Pres
dent Eliot, In u recent address says: Mheh tle
faculty, at their own risk and peril, entered upon TINS
resolution the professors " our chief medical scuoJs IN
the country prOphesed that J would fa though ought
TO succeed. They said. You wlll lose w0bIds ol your
students and the sons OF the poor We nave lost t%o
And may add tnak the students wlQ have d.sesle9
Harvard because It raised the standard OF edncaOn ADD
ftaafin gHal ffl.
which found the professors who approved the course
taken by Harvard but prophesied failure.
1t must be evident 10 every one who has reflected
upon this subject tnat We eau never establish Lisher
grade OF medical education ana ua eaGA
posed OF an expert siudent III eaca ot tDe e
as have said, doctors do not agree-to which shall DO
committed the interests or medical education. ~
should be empowered to prepare a scheme of
medical education, to a1 grade Of Qualification.
to enforce 1t Oy personal examination ana To pr9'ae
registration OF those found quahed. The medical stu
dent might then obtain his education where ne pleased;
the schools would become educating bodies wAOut tao
power confer the degree Of mcaieue and tne MARY
would then be 10 secure the graduation OF tue
largest number OF qualified students by MedeA
day IN all the New-Eng and states there would
be o general rush OF New E1eland students
from schools which Iney are attending 10 Hdryart
TO secure the advantages winch 1t offers for medical
education which would qualify tnem 10 pass the ex.n
nation OF these state Medical Councils. Ani II inde
psndent medical examining boards established 10
all OF the States every medical college would De 90
serted that did not at once make us system OF I-ns, -
ton more practical, more thorough ana moro eompvr
hensve. Nor would such Medical Council 10 a.
upon Stale for II the fees now paid 10 Ghe schools
te graduates for their diplomas should be all pal1
the treasury OF the Council for It's dIpomas. as
England the fees for Registration are paid u The Mcl
Council they would furnish ample means Tor Us b.~ M
agement. Though the methods bere proposed o. 80
curing u higher education OF the medical professloh
doubtless open 10 much criticism, yet OF ooe thls
can doubt, that thcrc Is universal feeokur
ton this country Of the necessity or enfofons
through some authority sntaDe grade OF a'rI.
aud Qualification in the essential branches OF ho eS
cal sciences all persons w1o undertake tue resV1
bilties Of practice. erEPHLS SMITH, ~ ~
Aer Yorh, Dee. !, 1S7k