The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-11-07
Medical Legislation.

The English Government are Just now
engaged in medical leoi ,lation. and as
the evils they are seeking to remedy are
intensified on this Continent and the
special bane, it may be instructive 20
the remedy proposed.
Here, as in England, the family doctor
occupies much the same position as the
father confessor in some others, and his
discretion and integrity, no less than his
professional skill, are matters of great
and general concern. Whatever, there.
fore, will improve his professional knowl.
edge and raise his esprit de corps will
make him more valuable public servant
and more trusted friend. In England
there Is Public Register of medical men
authorized to practice, and the right of
registering is obtained by securing a de-
gree hceL Sc from one or more of nineteen
corporations, some of whom derivo largo
incomes from this source, and are conse-
quently tempted to confer their diplomas
upon persons of insufficient education
Many Englishmen, for example, 90 TO the
University of Aberdeen because they can
there procure the title Of Doctor on easier
terms than at their own universities. In
America there are some hundreds of rival
schools and universities the professors of
which derive large incomes from the
granting of diplomas-som after exam
lnation and few without: and ii is COM
mon for the native Of one state to 60 to
another for his diploma, and then return,
toisting upon the public an instrument
OF which the value is utterly unknown,
and which affords no guarantee whatever
that he has been thoroughly taught or
that life is safe under his hands To
remedy such defects, the English Parlia-
ment arS about to enact law cOnstitut-
ing a public examining board, which
Will examine every practloneer as to his
knowledge of medicine and surgery, and
no medical corporation Will be permitted
to confer their diploma or title upon anv
person who has not already passed this
state examination, the standard of require
ment being the same in every division of
the kingdom. Two important points will
thus be secured-first, that every doctor
will be properly qualified in all the de-
departments of professional knowledge.
and, secondly, that no medical character
or title can be assumed without due
authorization. 1t will be observed that
there is no attempt to legislate for the
protection of fools. Heaven born doctors
and women with second sight are permit
ted to practice if they can find patients.
for, as lo!d Granville said, legislation
cannot prevent a man from consulting a
blacksmith, if he thinks fit to do so. Such
Legislation is, however, death to quacks,
for the green grocer will not be at liberty
to call himself doctor or obtain patients
under false titles or pretense. In this
country il would be necessary to establish
representative medical council for the
United States. This council would ap-
point examiners to visit the various States
and issue the common license. The med
ical schools and universities would be
compeilec TO prepare the candidates eff
citntly Tor this examination, whilst thoir
own degrees ana diplomas would be pre-
served for the promotion of medical edu-
cation and the distinction of pupils hav-
ing the highest attainments. II Is IN
possible to doubt that the public would
be great gamers from some such plan