Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-26
DIFFERING DOCTORS
DISCUSSION OVER TEE STATE MEDICAL
EXAMINING BOARD.
Professors, Students, Doctors, and Others
Before the Senate COMMITTEES
on General Laws.

The Senate chamber for several hours
yesterday afternoon presented a scene
more in keeping with medical conven-
ton or classroom in q medical college
than of legislative hail. Doctors, both
young and old, students, and professors
were in attendance in large numbers. The
meaning of it all was that the Commit.
tee on General Laws-N Taylor Berry
chairman-was in session to hear express
sions of opinion from those who desired
to present their views on what are COM
monty spoken of as the Medical Board
bills, which are really more in the forms
of petitions.
THE MORNING SESSION.
The committee held two sessions of
several hours each and gave the entire
day, except during the session of the
Senate, to the hearing of these gentle
men.
The morning session was held in the
office of the Clerk of the Senate, and it
was surprising to see how many persons
crowded themselves into such a small
space.
There are four propositions before the
committee
To abolish the law in toto.
To exempt the students of the Medical
College Of Virginia from the operation
of the law.
To abolish the local boards.
To reduce the membership OF the
Examining Board from thirty-two, as
now, to twelve-one from each congress
sional district and two from the State at
large.
EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION.
DR.. Hunter Mcclure, OF this city, was
the first to address The committee. He
strongly advocated the continuance of
the Examining Board, and expressed
satisfaction with the amendment proposed
by the House committee, which provides
that when an applicant is prevented
from attending one of the semi.aDnual
meetings OF the board he may be exam
iued by board of three to be appointed
by the president of the State Board.
When an examination is had now before
local board all three do not sit at once,
but the applicant goes before each one
separately.
DIR. Latham, of Lynchburg, president
of the board, and Dr. Nelson, of
Charlottesville, its secretary, also advo-
Gated the continuance of the board and
took substantially the same ground held
by DR.. Mcclure. Both OF them pre-
ferred examinations before the full
board.
DR.. NJ. L. James, one Of the professors
in the Medical College. said he was op-
posed to the Examining Board, and he
advocated the exemption of the students
Of his college.
One of the students made q speech.
He was opposed to the board, but il it
was to be continued he, speaking for
himself and associates preferred that no
change whatever should be made in the
law.
DR.. George Ben. johnson, professor
at this institution, was speaking, when
at II o'clock, the hour for the assembling
of the Senate, the committee rose to
meet again at 4 o'clock. DIR. Johnson
finished his speech at the afternoon ses-
sion. He said he was utterly opposed
to any change being made in the existing
law.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
When the committee reassembled at
4 o'clock, despite the sleet the doctors
were there and ready for the warfare.
The discussion, as in the morning, was
quite heated, but all the time courteous.
While there is a great deal of feeling
in the matter, neither side seems de-
sirous OF indulging in personalities, nor
will the committee allow it.
Among the speakers in the afternoon
were DIR. Nash, of Norfolk, a member Of
the board Professor Wexford, OF the
Virginia College; Professor William II.
Taylor City Coroner; DIR. Chancellor,
of Charlottesville, representing the Med
ical Society OF Virginia, and Professor
Harris, of Richmond College.
Professor Harris advocated the board
from an educators standpoint. He
thought it would be a step backwards to
repeal the law. He pointed out many
reasons why it was better for students
proposing to practice medicine to be ex-
amined by such a. board than by their
instructors. The chief reason he gave
was that it would make them study
harder.
Coroner Taylor in a very humorous
speech expressed himself as opposed to
the Examining Board.
Several other gentlemen were heard,
and about o'clock the committee with
out taking any action rose.