New-York tribune., 1879-03-15
TOO MANY DOCTORS.
VAST DIsPRoPoRTIoN IN THIs COUNTRY BETWEEN
MEDICAL Practitioners AND THE rOPULATloS
-rHE REQUIREMENTS IN OTHER COUNIMEs-

VAST pIsPROPORTION N THIs COUNTRY BETWEEN
MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND THE roPULATIoN
-rHE REQUIREMENTS IN OTHER COUNIRIEs-
CURE FOR THE EVIL
To the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: The medical colleges Of this city
within two weeks conferred the medical degree upon
nearly 900 candidates. AS the comnencements have
NOT vet all been held the degree will within few days
have been conferred upon nearly 100 moro. There are
thirteen medical colleges in tins state and three medl-
cal societies each county, all having the power to
confer the right TO practice medicine anu surgery.
Medical colleges are also very numerous in other states
IL France with population OF 4OOOOOOO, there are
only FIVE bodies that can confer the right TO practice,
namely the faculties Of medicine Of Paris, Montpelier
Nancy Lyons and Lille. In Germany no colleges can
give the right 70 practice They can bestow the med-
ca degree In order TO obtain the AUTHORIZATION TO
practice the examination OF the State Board tSfddS
Lxqraea) must be passed. In Great Britain the
medical degree is difficult to obtain and necessitates
long wears Of study and the passing OF rigid eIanina
tiogs there also and the Continent the candidate
fr atrcu alton must have the degree OF Bachelor OF
Arls OF OF Sciences, or must pass an examination IL
LATIN and the LIBERAL studies before ne can be admitted
as student After that he must study at least four
years, and pass examinations which MAKE the require
uents Of our colleges seem Insignificant
In or own col eyes with the exception OF one in this
State and two III other States, anyone may become
student without any preliminary examination as know
edge of the ordinary English branche- hardly requ-
site The longest period Of study required is nomnaly
three years but sudens often graduated at the end
oftwo years In some Of them the examinations and
course OF instruction thorough and honest in Others
superficial and imperfect. have known student ad-
mlttsd to practice who upon examination for the Doc
tors degree stated that the dose Of Prussic acid
~ administer in whoopng-cough to child two years
old was from four 10 SIX drops! There are
bpt few people who are aware that any fve persons
NJ suitable age may associate together under the gen
era act FOR Incorporating charitable benevolent and
scienfine socet:cs and establish medical college with
teachers possessing no adequate qutHHcatiOns' nut
wuuse diploma Will be as Valld mere as 'ua o o
aud Oldest colleges & gei,Se m t .i H es,abl,sbed nm.
Tbs , MISREPRESENTATION of medical practitioners here Is
tAerc !, one physici 10 Coz people IN CANADA close
byl 10 200 ;in Great Britain, L. l6I2 IN france.
900; In Norway, 10 34s0; ID italy 10 $500. To
quote the language Of Professor A Mercer OF
when the proportion OF medical pracuuOners here De-
comes 90 400, medical ethics wiz De en-,
trey Irao-eL The eu of th' IS con-, couGII'Sh ,.4 4l
VANTAGE u tae selection Of It's medical men, ana places
lie usdlcai welfare TOO much at me mercy oI neA Oi
whose am- % is protection they GlJen nave 10 means
Of iIdgug The title of VI. d. should al least guarantee
ihe public tat IT. possessor has received thorough
Toamenorate this state Of things: &c..
The licensing power should be taken away Hom
. Tie professors the medical colleges should no,
BE- dependent for their emolumcns upon the number oi
students they can get and graduate. ..-,... J.,
s. Before a student allowed TO matnculate, ne
Should snow that ne has good English education ana
t0iur Wedge OF tine liberal sciences ana Ldl!n'
4 lie lcuSth OF the course OF study should DC III
creased.
Tc statement Of D. i ST. J. r., that some OF the men
VINO have Just graduated had graduated once before
Amount. nothing, the number OF these lH very
small There is Dut little dignity about our nedical COL
lcge The addresses 10 the graduates
by prominent ceIgYnen unnecessary, ana no natte
how eloquent display considerable ignorance OF their
subject.
Tie greatest reform, however, and one which must
soAe IL taS be 10 give the licensing power 10 sste