The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-04
A Cnilnrn for HumbnE.

There is a crank idea sailing along unno-
ticed through the legislative defiles In
Albany which deserves o little attention.
It ia In the bill introduced by Senator Rob-
RRTsoN on March II, and passed by the Ben
| ate a month later, for the incorporation OF
"The Union Medical Missionary Col
Iere." Twelve OF the possible eighteen
directors thereof must be communicates OF
the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, Meth
! odist Episcopal, Congregational and
Dutch Reformed communions. Up to
the fourth section OF the bill this new
style Of missionary college would have
merely the right to "provido for the In
struction OF persons intending to become
Christian missionaries" but In seemingly
innocent addition to that 1t also 10 TO DO
empowered to keep hospital, and TO creaoe'
besides department OF biblical teaching,
departments OF medicine, surgery, den
tistry, and pharmacy. and such other de-
partments 90 the directors shall deem nee
essary, and to issue such degrees and diplo-
mas as are usually issued by institutions
giving similar courses Of instruction"
Medicine would certainly DO as important
"a any OF the innumerable branches OF learn
ing agriculture or architecture for example,
which might be offered to prospective mis-
sionaries under the "other departments"
clause OF this bill. With tho average
savage the man who can outcure and
dlscredit the native Medicine Man rises
TO almost unrivalled influence We sup
pose that the ordinary attendant az
course Of lectures on tho First Aid to the
Injured" wouldn't need more than SIX weeks
to drive out any Indian doctor to be found In
the wilds. and pass into his honors and his
teepee Probably also the conscientious and
bona fds student OF mission work would find
In studying the Arst aid to the injured
enough TO employ all the time no could well
spare from his regular lahore.
But we fear that the people who IN tho
end would meet professionally the graduates
of the Union Medical Missionary College,
would most Of them be found far east OF the
Mississippi. Although the latter would
leave Albany ostensibly as missionaries
with tho added ability to practise medicine
and innumerable other professions, the pro-
posed Medico- Missionary course would
probably produce nine medical men, such a.
they might be. to one missionary. There are
Indians, for example, scattered all through
the United States, not to mention the Inn
proved Order Of Red Men; and it is not UNI
reasonable to suppose that less than nine
tenths OF tho Union alumni would con-
clude that they we're better fitted to cure
bodies than souls. Even the stipulation
in the proposed bill that graduates
should not be allowed to practise lin
this State" without some qualified med
ical colleges endorsement on their diploma,
would scarcely protect the tribe Of Tam
many and other people In their country from
occasional insidious attempts upon their all
ments. The learned missionaries from this
Union College would lurk in ambush pretty
much anywhere but In the Rocky Noun
tains. Any sort Of diploma has Its effect
upon the popular credullty. The medical
profession In all its branches has always
been q peculiarly profitable field for invasion
by means Of fictitious degrees obtained ut
humbuR colleges; and the opportunity OF
getting certificate from an institution &C.
credited by the Albany Legislature would
be jumped at by thousands Of would-be
ouacks In spite Of the added requirement to
study o little religion. Indeed, IL may DO re-
Rarded as doubtful whether the regular re-
lIRious denominations heretofore enumerat-
ed could succeed In keeping out from their
curriculum the various methods OF treat
ment In use among SpiritualistS, Faith
Curists, and Christian Scientists.
Tho bill for the Union Medical Missionary
College seems to offer an unusually subStan-
tial basis for q tremendous lot OF dangerous
humbuE. A doctor travelling aS . missiOn.
airy may not DO harmful. but Q missionary
playing doctor 10 IN individual much IoLLor |
suppressed.