The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-03
TIE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD.

l
| SO. W A." Wants the i,oard to stand.
But Is strongly Opposed to Unjust Dis
elimination.
Editor IF tie Times
In the Richmond Dspath of January
| 2Gth under the heading discussion Over
the State Medical Examining Board
| there appears a statement which is calcu-
| lated 10 produce an erroneous impress on
on the public mind and al the same time
] influence members Of the Legislature 10
the injury Of the Medical College OF Nir-
gina. In the report of the DUpqth Is
enumerated among other propositions
before the committee the following 90 10
exempt the Medical College of Virginia
| from the operation Of the law"
In the petition from the students OF
the Medical College of Virginia they in
tended and expressly asked that both the
University of Virginia and the Medical
College BE- exempted. We think that al
though a great deal has been written on
this subject that a misunderstanding still
exists regarding the motives OF this petit
ton The Faculty Of the Medical Col
lege. as well as the students, think our
Examining Board an admirable institu-
ton so long as it exercises its power in the
prOper direction. but we do think that at
should stand on the same footing, and
that there should be no legislation 30 pal
pably in favor of one Of the State schools
and 30 directly preiudicia to the Interests
Of The other. If The proposed amend
ment TO the existing law, viz, to abolish
the local boards but 10 give the President
of The Board discretionary power 10 ap
point Hrte examiners 10 examine the APP
plicant i'm cases where they failed, far
" sufficient cause" 10 appear before the
full Board l. adopted, the graduates OF
the University of Virginia are practically
exempted from ecer appearing before q
fuH Board for the following reason.
Nine.tcnths Of the medical schools in
this country graduate their students in
the spring, and hence the State Board
meets AZ this time and the law requires
that We appear before this Board at that
time or wait six months in idlencss until
the next meeting, provided we fail to
come up without sufficient cause Not
so, practically, with the University gradu.
ates They receive their diplomas in
June at which time there is no meeting
OF the Board What is the result \
University graduate applies to the Presi.
dent Of the Board for a special eXamina-
ton before three of the Board. OF course
he has Sufficient cause for not going
before the full Board in the spring be
cause he didn't graduate til June. The
excuse is perfectly satisfactory, and he
is examined 10y three instead Of thirty
three.
Thus the University graduates have an
advantage (the Board themselves admit
that there is an advantage which is de.
MED the graduates, not only Of the Medi
cal College OF Virginia, but those of every
other first-class school in the country.
Let Us have an Examining Board but
put Us all on the same footing. Don't re-
quire all the other young doctors 10 20
before the full Board and let the Uni.
yersily graduate 90 before three. Make
things even and then all hands will be
satisfied but we must protest against
such open fayoriism. II you don't level
up things, then abolish the law IN t0to
\ few words as 10 the composition of
the Board and its methods Don't re.
quire the newly 1edged and inexperi-
enced graduate 10 pass an examination
which the Board themselves wouldn't
dare face As we understand il we are
not to be examined a. experts. but simply
for the purpose OF ascertainiHg whether
we are competent 10 practice our profes-
sion with safety 10 the community.
Let The number OF the Board be re-
duced, say to seven, aud pay them $500
per annum, and don't make the applicant
pay for having his throat cut. This fixes
the responsibility, and will make the ex-
aminers more chary in the exercise OF
this wholesale decapitating process.
Surely if our Legislators are so much /
concerned in matters Of public hygiene /
as appears TO be, they will not object to /
appropriating s2, l00a year for the protec- /
ti0n q Of the dear people in this way, |
when three times t'is amount has been |
drained from The State Treasury by the /
new sewers al the University OF Virginia |
for preserving the healhO of this pet insii. !
tuition.
Now as to the composition OF the
Board We think il only fair that the |
members of the Board be- required to
pass an examination as we'll as the Young
doctor. Select three professors from
the University OF Virginia, and three
from the Medical College of Virginia, be.
fore whom every appointee of the Gov
eF0nr's there will be 10 applicants in
spite of the proposed salary shall appear
for examination, and when they have
proven themselves qualified to examine,
then the students from the Medical
College Of Virginia will always be ready
to meet them. G.. ". A.