New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-09
itself Everybody watched the last act. and the two did
not
THEY SHOULD HAVE KNoWN THE Law.
DR. D. B. ST. JOHN RoosA coRREcTs MIsSTATE-
MENTs MADE IN BEHALF OF AS
SEMBLY BILL 3d.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Your CORES pendent al d. w." In his pea Tor
the medical students, las made some Measurements
which beg You will allow me TO correct Inc 10"
creating state Board of Medical Examiners was passed
in june 1870, and 90 into effect In September
1901. II did 20 into effect at that time, as iar az
those graduates outside OF New York were concerned
Il wa, not passed l. ID. W" stntes on account OF
any great influx of badly prepared physicians ron
other States" on the contrary, 1t was passed In
obedience TO the demands for many years OF tho untcd
medical profession the teachers OF medical col
leges consplcuously included The charters OF New
York colleges were in no way nullihed by IT as
your CORES pondent states The right to confer the
degree OF NJ D. was all that rrcvocably conferred
upoh the colleges The old State law gave the license
10 practice on receipt OF that degree. But that was
matter Of law which the State had the right TO repeal
at any time.
The state demands OF lawyers that they should pro-
cure the right to practise from the courts no matter
what law school they may have attended or wha'
degrees they may have obtnined( The Church de-
mands the same OF theological students, although
there are excellent schools Of divinity. Were there
state Church. the State would conduct the cxamlna-
tons for preachers.
This law, for which delay In enforcement IS sought
by medical students, Is IN the Interests OF the
people. 1t protects them from ll-prepared ineAperi-
cnccd men, who, under the old state OF things
not Infreoucntly procured the degree Of NJ d. The
profession az large I'm the State OF New York once,
Hike that Of Great Britain ard ireland, Germany, ana
France, had this power, through Its state Menic"i
Society, OF licensing to practise. IL now, WIN tn'
permission Of the Legislature, takes IL again. aI'cl
an interregnum when the colleges had IL IN great
uroporf,on This law was deliberately passed diteI
years OF discussion. II ordered that IL shouiu
20 into effect in September 1901 Notice OF 1t was
verv widely given Through the efforts OF medlcai
students 1t was amended IN June. 1891, 10 exempt
certain students who should file certain ecruncate
by August !, 1881. Ccrhinly medlcal s'uucn''
were sufficiently Informed OF this, for 10 was 'he', anu
they only who amended It. Any man enough III
terestcd I'm medicine to begin the study OF IT, Shouu
certainly inform himself "a 10 tho qualifications Tor
calling a license 70 practise As the Speaker OF thc
Assembly who is u doior poI'tedly said to one Oh inc
students who was at the Assembly henrihg' ~
norance Of the requirements OF the In" Is no cl''"
for exemption from IT. This amendment OIL iA''
yc,r was n step backward which never should nave
becn taken Il exempted the men who had hau iuii
notice NJ what was before them IL they continued III
the study OF medicine. To amend 1t again. 10
delay again It's enforcement at the deinand VI ic" "
many medical students. who were ignorant oi i'' to
ouircmcuts i to say that the Legislature OF leoo'
which passed tho law, and the profession tn"0 "ieo
,bor, to II. did not know what they were doing
Whatever may be sad 10 the contrary, thiS hsse"o"
hlu No 513 Is serious attack upon the Medlcai hA
amners law hit is passed. It Will be n check TO wha'
wa, a great advance IN elcvatng the 9ualhcauohs oi
practitioners Of medicine.
Your correspondent is again mistaken IN sa'lhs o"'
intluatcd Tat the doctors not given tar near
Ing by the senate Committee. stated that only three
members Of the Senate Committee were at tho heanhs'
,d ,ho, H. seened difficult 10 get these TO view the Dill
In "A serious light but rs means OF DONG sumo
thing for the boys It hurried through the oe'c'
now state In addition to what have formerly stated
mat q largo sum ~ money has ueeh
rascd by subscription among the medicai s'uuoN''
- five colleges u secure It's passage no"
this money /, used Of course do not KNOW Inv
III would have been hurried through The Assembly,
Committee nl,o but Dr.. Lewis secured hearing LOT
tie profession. We are confident ~ result OF tta'
hearing that tho Committee on Public Health oenevcs
hat tie medical profession. M Represented py us si'.
,f'e -oc Giles rs press and by the unlted Nur "a
IL iudi vldu.I members, knows better than stuehts
vhat 1. best FOR the people. We nave showu ny
-. ran,Or- I'm our melons. The committee OF Wmch
A. "A member Wa ordered by the htate Meuical 90
clctv m "A deliberate and unanimous VOTE 10 Ies,st
cycTv amendment delay In the enforcement Oh t'e
law until II 4, fairly tried This I'VE are cfideavorinS
~ do IN tie kiudct spirit 10 medical students anu
NTH tho highest regard FOR interest. which we percy:
10 lie icniical thO-c II tho medical profession ana u
,te ,,.,nie D Il. ST. Join ROOsA
Chairman Committee on Leglt latlOh.
Medical Society oi tho state 81 Ncw-iO
New YORK, March - l-92.