Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-01-13
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. 10, 1888.


FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. 10, 1888.
STUDENTS PROTEST AGAINST
THE STATE BOARD OF MEDI-
CAL EXAMINERS.
The Virginia legislature of 1915. in the
form Of a law creating the State Board OF
Medical Examiners, made the most re-
markable and sweeping concession to
the medical profession Of the State that
was ever made to any trade-union in ex-
istence. 1t put the practice of medicine
absolutely in the hands of those then en-
gagged IN it, against all new corners. even
though they had passed satisfactory ex-
aminations in the medical colleges of their
State and received their diplomas. That
such law could not long survive in the
Nineteenth century was certain; for the
principle Of monopoly, whether real or ap-
parent, with which it seemed to be loaded,
is adverse to the free spirit of the age. AS
well had the legislature created an editorial
and ministerial State Board of Examiners
to pass upon editors and minlsters-who
have a good deal to do with the mental
and spiritual health of the people-to pass
upon the qualifications OF their younger
competitors desiring to enter their pro-
LESSONS, as to have collected together a
Board to pass on graduated physicians.
All professional men have their Boards
which sit upon their qualifications, and
sometimes upon them. quite as effectually,
and with as good judgment as a State
Board might be expected to display. The
congregation, the subscription list, the
clients and the popularity are the Boards
which sit upon the minister, the editor,
the lawyer and the doctor. and which see to
it, to the sorrow of many aspirants. that
the memorable survival the fittest" is
enforced. The people at large as a gen
eral thing are fully able to take care of
themselves. and such paternal legislation
as State Examining Boards are alien to
the spirit Of the age. If public safety.
which was the plea on which the law was
passed, is a good one, why not have a
State Board to examine civil engineers over
whose work thousands Of men risk their
lives on railroads every day? Why not
have State Boards to examine the builders
who erect our houses-why not have them
for every calling, the exercise of which af-
fects the welfare of the people. Apart
from the Objectionable principle involved,
the machinery Of the law was awkward
and cumbrous and calculated to arouse
dissatisfaction.
That dissatisfaction has come to the
surface. Six students of the Medical Co.
lege of Virginia at Richmond. have memo
rallied the legislature. asking that the
graduates Of the Virginia medical insti-
tutions be exempt from examination by
the Board. Their petition sets forth some
facts worthy Of consideration-for IN.
stance, that twenty of the States OF
the Union recognize by law the diplomas
of their own medical institutions; that
tie present Virginia State Medical Exam
lining Board has itself never passed ar
examination before any Board, and il
selected at random from among practi
GlOuClO IL HuCLQ lLC dIO VI SAuA1AdtJCii IL
not as familiar as to the college professors
and that so rapid has been the increase Of
facilities for teaching madeleine that mani
graduates of the present day arg better
qualified for the practice Of medicine thar
the members of theState Board were when
they graduated; that the law establishing
the Board is class legislation sgotten VI
by few for the benefit Of few; thai
"certain members of the Board have ex
hibited open and marked antagonism to
at least one Of cur medical Colleges" and
that many graduates who distinguished
themselves before the faculty and theil
fellow students have been rejected by The
State Board,
We must allow little for the natura
Indignation of these men at the bad
working Of a law founded On wrong prin.
ciple;an not take them literally on every
thing. We are not prepared to believe thai
any of the distinguished physicians COM
posing Che State Board have so far forgot
ten themselves and their obligation as t.
make hostile use Of their power agains
any medical college in the State, but The
very fact that the intimation is made
shows how easily the system produces sucl
charges. We are glad to see that the legis
lature has taken action in the N alter ,and
tina. resolution has been introduced civ.
ing the State Board an opportunity to Sc
themselves right on this charge of hostilit.
to college. and that bill has been intro
duced by Senator Heaton to abolish tn
State Board of Medical Examiners. Boil
the resolution and the bill ought to l.
passed. The Board ought to be abolished
not because it is an incompetent or uni JUS
one, but because the principle on which i
was established is a dangerous one.