The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-06-30

disproves the Importance OF liberal prelimin-
ary education to the medical student. We ad-
mit-all must admit-Athat they who are endow
ed by nature with the adequate mental power
and energy, may by industry and perse yerance
overcome early deficiencies ef education. and
even with restricted opportunities for improve .
ment, may outdistaEce others who. with i3fe
rior native talents and energy. have been rear.
ed from their earliest youth in schools and col
leges. These individuals do not succeed. how
ever, independently of education, but by its
subsequent acquisition with much toll and la
bor, all of which would have been saved them,
and their onward progress in their attainment
of knowledge and the Investigation of truth II 1.
cilitated, had they been afforded the proper op-
portunities for an adequate preliminary educa-
tion in the outset. There is great necessity that
those who would assume the duties and respon-
sibilities Of the profession should possess prop
er intellectual qualifications. 1t is In vain to
look to our medical schools for the remedy, IS
we all know they will admit to their classes all
who may apply and can pay the necessary fee,
The graduation fee is another incentive for
them to send forth graduates. for which cause.
we should insist. on the part of our schools, up
on a sufficient preliminary and Thorough pro-
fessional education. At the present the system
Of m edical education is very inefficient and in-
sufficient, and there should be an imperative
demand for some restriction to the facilities
which now exist for obtaining the degree of
Doctor in Medicine. by persons altogether unfit
to be safely entrusted as practitioners with the
health and liyes of their fellow creatures. Any;
change for the better must be inaugurated by
the profession itself. Let each preceptor feel
that there is q responsibility connected with his
position as such. and let him nerve himself
manfully to meet it. In receiving students let
him look solely to the interests of che profession
and not to pecuniary emolument. Per>otfs unfit
to engage in the study of medicine from want
of capacity, or proper early education, OF having
passed the teachable age. should not be received
as pupils. Elevate the standard oil medical ed
ucation. One means of remedying thef evil. OF
advancing the interest Of scientific medicine
and elevating the standard of medical education,
has been suggested by making medical colleges
educational institutions only-ana have a non
sectarian State Board of Examiners. who shall
examine all candidates for the degree of Doctor
in MGdicine-that the diplomas gran ted by med
ical colleges be but certificates of scholarship.
without granting license to practice. W hch priv.
ilege should be ted only to the State board
1t no doubt would be difficult matter for the
State to establish laws to protect the health or
its inhabitants. as there would a cry arise that
the rights and liberties Of the people were in
vaded. Social progress requires l.om the State
protection of lite from violence, of property and
of liberty; and the next important step due by |
the State to every citizen is the protection of his
iife-the most valuable possession of a freeman |
Ibis property. by employing every safe -gnard |
possible, and requiring of those 10 whose care |
his life and the lives of his family are commit
ted. presumptive evidence. at least. that he is |
qualified to furnish such protection. .,. .l |
The Legislature of Ohio during its last session
had the text Of a law before it. regulating the |
practice OF medicine which failed in its passage.
through the apathy of the regular profess ion, |
and the enei gy and influence of a strong lobby |
OF irrcgulars and charlatabs opposed to it. Let |
the regular profession discard politics, unite IN
q common cause. and exact OF candidates FOR |
the Legislature pledge to support such meas
ures as will regulate the practice. No fiistinc-
tiOn as between the different schools mnst lie |
asked for. All that at present can bc demanded |
should be that every practitioner IL properly |
educated in the fundamentals OF medicine. II |
will not do to attempt any Discrimination. and |
the practice must be left as now. to each indi- |
viduars prediction. Many States already have |
laws protecting their citizens. and we conse- /
quently are infested with q horde oil quacks and |
moutebanks, driven ;thither. to a Seate where |
there are no restrictions. Let us put every en-
ergy to work, and adopt for our motto the Ian |
guage of Virgil. a'...o4 'f"
"Possunt, quia posse videntur''