Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-17
The Medical BOARD OF Examiners.

To the EdifOr Of m CDiSp0tch:
have read carefully every article in
the Dispatch and .Statcupon the subject
of the Medical Examining Board, and
have also read the able and, as think,
unanswerable editorials both of the DIS
patch and state upon this snhject.
/ graduated forty years age thus spring
at the Medical College of Virginia, and
have of course kindly feelings towards
nv Alma Mater The faculty then, as
now, was conscientious and painstakiDg,
and did their duty. fear this has not
been the history OF great number OF
colleges that have sprung up IN the
country. The standing of the NJ. ID.
has most certainly deprecated IN the
past forty years lrefcr especially to the
education preliminary TO the medical edu-
cation, a most important matter. No
man is fit to practice medicine who has
had no mental training mean man
who has not received liberal education.
The doctor, far more than the lawyer, has
to reason all the time. lie has no
"statute law" With his first patient
begins the task of observation and rea-
soning. Many Of his facts are occult
and difficult TO get at A man has a
headache. What sort OF headache
A nervous, neuralgia, rheumatic, CON
oestive. ordyspeptic headache ? TO find
this out viii often require careful rehec-
ton and judicious discrimination.
1t will not do, as the DjSDatch says,
70 take a "step backwards. Every
other branch of science is advancing.
Medicine, the oldest, must advance too.
Every trade and profession knows Its
own needs best. Timers must look after
the timers interest. The Medical So
ciety Of Virginia, with nearly 600 phySl-
clans, must look after the medical mat
tiers Of the State. The "selish" argu-
ment is unworthy OF notice, so also
the charge of prejudice against Virginia
schools. What class of men are more
unselhsh than doctors ? 1t naturally
grows out OF their calling.
The general public is far more in,
terested in the elevation of the medical
profession than are the doctors i'll a ma
tcrial point OF view. The patient is the
man who suffers (and dies from incom-
potency.
When / was a boy doctor was a
sort Of walking encyclopedia. 1t Is not
so now, alas A young lady said to inc
the other day that she was introduced to
a Young NJ. d. who did not speak cor
rectly. With this loss of general lntelll-
gence has come, l am sorry to say 1t, a
| loss of "high tone" know whereof
affirm. 1t is sad confession. Where
this decadence will stop who can tell:
| have for some years tried to forecast
the doctor in this country OF the next
ccntury-a poor. crowded profession,
struggling for bread. Then comes the
temptation to low arts and mean tricks,
/ No man, Mr.. E1ilor, can cheat witt
such impunity as the doctOr-unDeces
sarv visits aud examinations and magnl
! fviup SYMPTOMS to eXalt his skill IN re
/ heving them.
IT is q singular fact that the most in
telligent gentlemen in the profession o
my acquaintance are not at all iuclmeo
to make their sons doctors. I'm II Chris
tim sense IT is bv far the nOClest PROBES
sion, and men Of the hlghes attainment
should he induced 10 enter ITS portals
and its affairs should be as pure and I'M
sullicd rs those of the priests.
At the last meeting of the State SO
ciety | stated that some of the questions
asked by the board at It's last eXamina
ton were unreasonably hard, and pro
mise NY student friends to call the at
ton of the State Society from time L
time TO this subject. 1t is true that
student is allowed to pass if he mss on
question iii every four. But the boarC
must not expect too much III chem
istry. Every new instrument is capable
of improvement. and think the change
asked for by the Medical Society o
Virginia at its last session SHOULD
be cheerfully granted by the Legs
lature. The board is progressive. TC
our people it is protectiVe; t.
the profession itself it Is elevating
to the young gentleman now a student
will in wears hence be d benediction.
thorough preparation will save him (nnC
his patient, too many heaitache. W.
need in The State OF Virginia holy min
istry. a learned ana heightened judiciary
a conscientious legal and cultivated
and benevolent medical profession
Standing upon these four polished col
umns our noble mother Virginia vii
soon inscribe upon her beautiful banne
E'JceiSiOr! RICHMOND.
Richmond, January II, 1883.