The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-09
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
Fifteen Hundred Members in.Attendance at
Cincinnati-President's Annual Address.

CINCINNATI, May S.-The American Medical
Association. with nearly l.5o0 members pres
emit. Of whom twenty five are women, held
preliminary session in Music Hall to-day, at
which welcoming oratory was supplied by Mayor
Comegys on behalf OF the local medical fraterni-
ty. Presidents Garrett replied and also sub
nitted his annual address, which wss distin-
guished for its demand for reform. These feat
ures were received with storms of approving ap-
plausa The suggestions he offered are these:
THAT . standing committee, to be called
committee of legislation, DO appointed for each
State. Territory and the District of Columbia,
to consist of FIVE members of the medical pro-
fession in good standing. three OF whom shall
have no official connection with any medical
school or college. whose duty 1t shall be to carry
out. as far as possible. the following instruc-
tons: 800 - -
"First-That each one of said committee. or
majority thereof, shall attend the sessions OF
their respective legislatures, from time to
time. a. their duties may require. Tor the pur-
pose of using all honorable means looking to
the reduction of the number OF medical
schools in the United States and a consequent
diminuton in the annual number OF medical
graduates; that as practical measurs to this
end they urge the passage OF q law requiring that
In the future granting of charters for creating
medical schools there shall be . clause In every
such charter requiring that all schools or col
leges thus created shall demand . full term OF
four years study before granting diploma to
any student thereof and that no student shall
be admitted to matricuIate who has not passed
satisfactory examination, both oral and written,
In the ordinary branches of academic study: and
further, that any college failing to show greater
than fifty matriculates for three consecutive
years, shall forfeit its charter and be abolished.
''Second-Thas they use all diliRent. effort to
secure an ordinance creating in each State or
Territory where no such board at present exists
board of medical examiners, which shall have
no connection with any medical school, and
which shall be required to examine all applicants
Tor license to practice medicine In their respect
i've States, and that any person who may be de-
tected in prscticing any branch of the healing
art without license granted by said board shall
be subject to such penalties as the law may pro-
vide; that this committee may be authorized by
statute to select and nominate to the Governors
OF tho States seven competent and learned
members Of the medical profession to constitute
said board Of examiners, who shall have the ex-
elusive power to iseue licenses to practice
the art and science Of medicine and surgery.
That the faculties Of the several medical schools
within the limits Of the United States be ur-
gently requested to call q convention, at some
central point. for the purpose OF consultation
and adopting some general and uniform system
OF medical education more comprehensive and
rigid in its requirements, and more In accord
with the spirit of the age and the advanced prog.
kCSS Vi meolCoi SCloucos suggesting u tour years
term OF study, the requirement of q prelimina-
ry education, including some knowledge Of the
classics. That any college or school which shall
refuse to enter into such an arrangement 40 may
be decided upon by said convention shall be ex-
cluded from all connection with the American
Medical Association. and It's alumni not recog-
nized as members of the regular profession
The association then separated into sections
where papers were read and discussions fol-
lowed.
The corridors OF Music Hall are brilliant with
anexposition Of aids to medicine, surgery and
dentistry. Even doctors bicycles, tricyces and
buggies are exhibited, while the products of the
chemical laboratories and the workmanship of
sinstrumentmakers are simply wonderful To-
night brilliant and crowded reception was
given in the large dining-hall of the Burnet
House 1t was found that place like Music
Hail would have given more adequate room for
the large number present.