Wichita eagle., 1888-05-10

CINCINNATI, O., May 9.-The American
Medical association, with nearly l,ooO
members present, of whom twenty-five are
women, held a preliminary session in
Music Hall today, at which welcoming
oratory was supplied by Mayor Smith on
behalf of the city, and by DR.. c. ID. Come
gys on behalf of the local medical frater-
nity. President Garrett replied, and also
submitted his annual address, which was
distinguished for its demand for reform.
These features were received with storms
of approving applause. The suggestions
he offered are these:
That standing committee to be called
the committee OF legislation, be appointed
for each state, territory and the district OF
Columbia to consist of five members OF
the medical profession in good standing,
three of whom shall have no official con
nection with any medical school or college,
whose duty it will be 30 carry out AS far
as possible the following instructions:
l. That each one of said committee, or q
majority thereof, shall attend the sessions
of their respective legislatures, or from
time to time, as their duties may require,
for the purpose of using all honorable
means looking to the reduction of the
number of medical schools in the United
Statds, and consequent Illumination III
the annual number of medical graduates;
that as practical measure TO this end
they urge the passage OF law requiring
that in the future granting of charters for
creating medical schools there shall be a
clause in every such charter requiring that
all schools or colleges thus created shall
demand full term of four years study
before granting diploma to any student
thereof, and that no student shall be ad-
mitted to martriculate who has not passed
satisfactory examination, both oral and
written in the ordinary branches of acad-
enic study; and further, that any college
failing to show a greater number than
fifty martriculates annually for three con-
secutiye years, shall forfeit its charter and
be abolished.
9. That they use all diligent efforts to Sc
cure an ordinance create in each state and
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 ex-
anime all applicants for license to practice
medicine in their respective states; and
that any person who may be detected i'll
practicing any branch of the healing art
without license granted by said board
shall be subject to such penalties as the
law may provide.
That this committee may be authorized
by statute to select and nominate to the
governors of the states seven competent
and learned members of the medical pro-
fession to constitute said board of eXamin-
ers, who shall have the exclusive power to
issue licenses to practice the art and sci
ence of medicine and surgery.
That the faculties of the several medical
schools within the limits of the United
States be urgently requested to call a con-
vention at some central point for the pur
pose 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 advaDc-
ed progress of medical science, suggesting
four years term of study, the require
ment of a preliminary education, lnclud-
ing some knowledge of the classics.
That any college or school which shall
refuse to enter into such an arrangement
as may be decided upon by said conven-
ton shall be excluded from all connection
with the American Medical association
and its alumni not recognized as members
OF the profession.
The association then separated into sec
lions, Where papers were read and discus
sions followed.
The corridors of Music hall are brilliant
with an exhibition of aids to medicine, sur
Giles, tricycles and buggies are exhibited,
while the products of the chemical labora
tories and the Workmanship of instrument
makers are simply wonderful. Tonight a
brilliant and crowded reception was given
in the large dining hall of the Burnett
house. 1t was found that a place like
Music hall would have been inadequate
room for the large number present.