St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-02
Medical PRACTITIONERS.
A Gratifying Exhibit by the State
Board.
A DRUNKEN DOCTOR BARRED
The New Law Has Increased the Stand
ard and Rendered Quackery
Impossible.

A very satisfactory report has been
presented to Gov. McGill by the state
medical board. This board came into
existence by law passed by the legis-
lature of 1887, and E. S. Wood, of st.
Paul, secretary and treasurer, reports:
"Much of the labor of the board since
its inauguration-July l, 1S87-has been
in compiling complete list of all per-
sons practicing medicine in this
state, and the classification Of the
same. Not only has it been
done in this state, but in adjoining
states, many of whose practitioners, al
though not located in Minnesota. having
extensive practices therein. The CEN
sus thus obtained shows that we have
to-day 1921 persons practicing medicine
in this state, against l 1850 in 1883. Of
these, S34 are of the regular school, Isl
of the homeopathic, Al eclectics and 263
lrregulars. By irregulars is meant
those who are not graduates of any
medical school, but, owing t. iungtIl Of
time in practice ri this State, were is
sued exempt certificates under the five
years clause of the medical prac
tice act of March 5, 1883, and
those who, although not licensed or
graduates, had practiced in this state
prior to July 1, 1887, when the medical
act took effect. Of these 1853 ir1egularS,
227 were issued exempt certificates by
the old board and thirty-six under the
present one. The effect of the present
act in regulating
AND RAISING THE STANDARD
of the medical profession in this state is
shown by the following: In 1868 there
were $50 persons practicing medicine i'll
this state who were not graduated from
any medical school, now we have but
263. showing decrease in five
years of eighty-seven. Although
the present act has diminished
the influx of physicians to this state
yet we are still well supplied, and those
coming in are of much higher order of
education than hitherto, and thus one
of the main aims of the act has been ac-
complished. Under the medical prac-
tice act of March 5, 1888, there were,
from July l., 1885, to July l, 1886, Isl
licenses issued. From July l, 1886, to
July 1, 1927, 27S were issued, making a
total of 429 licenses issued in two years.
Under the present act, during the year
and four months since il took effect,
there have been but forty-One
licenses issued. This diminutiOn
in the influx of physicians
is due largely to the fact that the pres
ent act does not recognize any diploma
as emitting the poSseSSor to practice,
but requires that they shall come be-
fore the state board of medical eXamin-
erS and pass an examination prescribed
by the state. Furthermore, many OF the
physicians are not eligible for the eX-
animation, inasmuch as they are gradu-
ates from colleges which do not require
three courses of lectures of six months
duration each, which the present act
does. This cause, however. is rapidly
disappearing, as is shown by the fact
that
SEVEN MEDICAL SCHOOLS
in the United States have this year an
nounced their intention of increasing
the curriculum to three courses of lect-
ures of six months duration each. One
of the principal aims of the Minnesota
medical practice act is to raise the gen.
eral standard of medical education
throughout the state, ana it is pleasing
to know how well it is succeeding.
Since July l, 1887, the board has held
six regular quarterly meetings for the
examination of candidates for licenses.
In all siXty-nine have applied, but six
were debarred owing to their terms of
studies being too short. Of the remain
ing siX:y-three all but two were
graduates. Eight of the applicants
who first failed were re-examined
subsequently, and, except two,
all passed. One candidate presented
himself at three different examinations
ana failed in each. Nine who failed
did not re-apply, and left the state.
Forty-one passed out of the siXty-three.
The board has revoked two licences,
one being for unprofeSsional and i'm
moral conduct, such conduct being the
attendance upon and prescribing for
patients dangerously i'll while the doc
tor was intoxicated, the second for dis
honorable conduct IN presenting a
forged diploma from German univer-
sity and obtaining license to practice.
Eight have been compelled to leave the
state to avoid prosecution for violating
the act. The medical practice act has
to-day the hearty support and good
feeling of the medical profession
throughout the state, and it is largely
to their cooperation that the board has
been able to successfully achieve its
aim. The receipts of the board were
$500, expenditures S357.69, leaving a
balance of S262.3I. The members Of the
board are: D. F. Collins, G. F. French
and P. II. Hall, Minneapolis; Jay
Owens, E. S. Wood, st. Paul: P. G..
Bowman, Duluth; A. G. Wedge, Albert
Lea and w d. FlVnn Redwood Falls.