Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-06-04
Opposition TO a Medical College.

COLORADO, TEN, June 3, lSSi.
To the Editor ofthe Gazette.
When money, energy and brains
are needed in enterprises of impor-
lance Fort Worth generally finds them
at her disposal, and we admire her
courage in coming to the front in
matters that rebound to her welfare.
But there is scheme on foot just now
for the establishment of a medical col
lege in Fort Worth, the necessity of
which will be doubted by at least a
large number OF intelligent physicians
as well as laymen. 1t has been one of
the Courier-Record's fondest hopes
ever since its inception, as one of the
writers learned from its first editor,
DR.. Straud. The writer also ex-
pressed it as his opinion that such
an institution was not demanded
nor needed by Fort Worth nor indeed
by the state, and we believe that a re-
spectacle majority OF the profession of
Texas will agree with him here. We
do not deny that Texas is just as capa-
BILE of sustaining it, after u fashion, as
many other states which have recently
chartered medical colleges, but we be-
lieve that the interests of the whole
profession would have been infinitely
better subserved had those colleges, in
several notable instances been refused
charters. The.law, too, of supply and
demand applies to the medical profess
sion as well as to the trades and manu-
factories. The facilities for a
thorough medical training were
ample enough ten years ago,
since which time the rage for med
ical colleges in every town of few
thousand inhabitants has increased to
astonishing proportions.
What Is the meaning of this won
derful multiplication of medical col
leges? The Courier Record discusses
the subject from every standpoint but
the proper one. To say that such q
thing would "fll a iong.feIt WANT
would be to deny that there is doctor
or piece" of a doctor at every cross.
road in the United States and terri
tories. The Globe Democrat, about
two or three months ago, discussed
doctors and medical colleges at great
length, and exhibited the fact that
there was one doctor to every $50 in
habitants throughout the Union,
showing cOnclusively that the pro-
fessi0n of medicine was fear
fully over-crOwded, and still the
Courier Record wants to establish O
mill for turning out more. Wide May
number of the sAme.) AS a CONNER.
cial enterprise it must in any event
fall far short of tine G. RS expecta-
tons; for while this journal estimates
that from 100000 to $I50,000 is spent
every year by Texas students abroad
as a matter of fact there would still be
large proportion of them that would
continue to patroniZe colleges whose
diplomas would be accepted all over
the land as evidence of the competent
cy of its possessor. 1t is safe to say
that three-lourths of them would get
their "sheepskins" In the older med
ical colleges. OF these there are at
least forty-fve which are regarded as
hrst-class, and as many more
OF doubtful repute, besides
a score or more of electic homeopathic,
ct Id omne genus, making an array at
once formidable IL not imposing, and
still the q. II. wants to add another!
NOW, grant for one moment that there
Is room for one more. what clinical
advantages are to be found In Fort
Worth? Medicine, as whole, has
Kept abreast of the time, and medical
college cannet hope for success with
sDnb AocAittCu ioI CLlutCbi LehcIlUKs
The principles of medicine and sur
gerry can be obtained from the works
OF the best authors and the students
preceptor, but knowledge OF the
practice must and can be obtained only
at the bedside. When 1t can be shown
that Fort Worth has all these
advantages, and that the necessity
Tor the medical College exists,
II will be time enough then for Fort
Worth to come forward with her dona-
tons. Until then she should give 1t q
'cold shoulder" Certainly the time
has not arrived yet when such an in
stitutlon Is demanded and we cannot
but regard the present move as an I'M
fortunate one. III there be any legiti-
mate opening for a medical college In
tue state Of Texas it should be under
the fostering care and wing Of the
state university. There need be no
dimculty In selecting faculty
~ the q. II. suggests. Other
states find no difficulty In this branch
OF their universities and the fear as ex-
Dressed nv the Enu riar- u ,Accr1 Ia xuo