The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-11
THE RoAKpo OF MEDICALExAMINERs
A Strong Protest by q Richmond College
student.

Dear S:r-Will you kindly allow me a
short space in the columns OF your val
liable paper, 10 correct few mlsunder'
standings as to the attitude OF the stu,
dents of our college In the State Board
contest We think II has been clearly
shown that a graduate from our college
certainly has the knowledge required TO
practice medicine, from the fact that our
faculty is thorough and proficient. Ii Is
known fact that catch questions will
throw the ablest scholar, and for this
reason we claim that no written exami-
nation limited to three hours can test a
graduates ability. Our examination ex-
tends through every day in our course
under the constant supervision OF our
professors. Under such circumstances
we see no comparison between ia"
knowledge of any certain individuais
proficiency as ascertained by professor
during two sessions, and that derived by
an examination in three hours by the
examining board. Besides, since the
matter has come to this we can prove,
unless the parties concerned are nearly
the divine in nature thai some OF the
men who examined our graduates were
preiudiced. We refrain from passing
Judgment on the case, know ing that some
parties might call us biased but state
facts which we can substantiate in every
particular, and leave II 10 fair-mlnded
public and legislative body to pass the
verdict.
So long as the law remained as il was
first passed we made no complaint lal-
though we admit it was not without
flaws, because we knew the parties who
were antagOnistic TO our institution,
and could easily avoid the unpeasantness
of having 10 90 before them by going to
other parts of the State than Richmond
before members who were without preju-
dice. A, first the meetings of the General
Board were literally attended, but the
attendance gradually fell off until at the
meeting of the General Board in Rich
mond, April, 1887, we fiud but fraction
of those who constituted ii in attendance.
The majority OF those who examined the
papers of the applicants for certificates
were members from this city, antagonis-
tic To our institution. To prove that the
feelings of these members can be none of
the kindest, We adduce the following
facts
lst. That two of the Richmond mem
bers of the Board were defeated candi-
dates for proiessorship in our college.
2d That one of these has on Two Oc-
casions attempted to have the faculty
changed, and in view Of his so doing he
lost the position which he held in the
college at that time.
3D. That one of these same members is
connected openly with lmedicalD >
journal whose unmerited attacks on our
college has gained for it an unenyable
notoriety. This same member at the
examination held by the General Board
during April, 1857, propouDded questions
which he himself could not answer and
could give or find 10 authority for them
in modern text books At the same time
six of our graduates were rejected, Il
greater portion Of which at the expira
tion of three months passed highly credit
able examinations before local boards,
the Others not appearing, but going TO
other States If they had been so deficient
as these erlies would make il appear, it
is hardly probable that this would have
happened. The men who are urging the
passage of th. amendment TO this bill are
the same indIyiduas who have mani
tested such undisguised hostility TO our
school for the past six years. La view of
these facts is it TO he wondered at that
we, the students OF tais school protest
against such actions Ii is not the spirit
Of the law that We are resisting.
A fair examination before an unpreju
diced board we do not fear in the least,
but to avoid repetition of the events
that rave taken place we ask TO be
placed beyond the power of these parties
by accepting our diplomas with sigma
lures of our able professors as fit guaran-
tee of our abilities
These parties claim that they do not
know from what college the applicants
come This is too transparent. They
may not know the graduates from other
colleges, but they coIld hadly avoid
knowing those from ours, rs the names
and number of our graduates are pub
lished in every paper in the city at the
date of graduation. They claim that
they are actuated by the motive of ele-
waiting the profession and protecting the
public. If this be the case why do they
not examine all practitioners every five
years TO see that they do not
retrogradeg Besides, they allow electric
quacks, patent-medicine venders, etc, to
swindle the people daily without once
protesting, although they are aware of
the fact that these men are humbugs. In
deed they gave their indorsement and
certificate TO a magnetic quack who
figured SO prominently in this city year
or so ago. These facts go to prove that
the Board has been miserable failure
We suggest the total abolition of the
present farce and the establishment of
law similar to that of New York, and then
the medical profession will have reached
its highest attainments, and we will then
be placed in hands of men Of brains
men of learning and experience.
Yours, JAMES ALBERT.