The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-04
A MEDICAL UKASE.
New Qualification for
Students.
EMBRYO GALENS IN ALARr1.
Will the University Demand a
College Degree !?
AN ARlsTocRATIC REQUISITE.
DIR. Mclean Says There Is Misun-
standing, but Many Students
Have Gone East.
AN ARlsTOcRATIC REQUISITE.

At meeting of the faculty of the NJ edi-
cal Department of the University OF Cali
fornia, held few weeks ago. it was de-
cided that in future all applicants for the
course must be degreed smen. 1t was to
be imperative that they present their
graduation certificates from some college
before they would be admitted to study.
The new rule came like thunderbolt to
the old students. Many young men who
contemplated attending the medical col
lege were forced to change their plans.
Some of the students who had friends that
contem pla ted attending the course of lee
lures went to different members OF the
faculty to see il some exception could not
be made. Those who had advocated the
measure were obdurate, and said that the
new rule must be adhered to. In fact.
IL was their intention to stick TO 1t If the
school had to get along with only two STU
dents.
Several young men. not college gradu-
ates, who came TO San francisco from
other PAGES W it'll The intention Of attend
Ing the lectures were greatly disappointed
and compelled 10 make other arrange
ments. They could not produce a certifi-
cate of graduation from any college. and.
in fact, had never thought such an amount
of education would be necessary to enable
them to study me dicine.
Chss. FERGUSON, a young man from Stock
ton. felt quite bitter about 1t. and said he
thought it was creating an aristocraey of
physicians. Now l have a love for the
practice o med cine" said. sand have
spent the wears might have spent in COL
eye at work, SO as to earn money enough
to enable me to study in some medical col
lege. And that is the way with most of
us. think that fellow who will WORK
several years so as to get enough mo ney
and study his profession is more likely to
make good physician than the son of
some rich man who simply takes up med-
cine because he thinks he ought TO do
something after he leaves college,"
Mr.. Fergusson's sentiments were echoed
10y several others. Some OF those who
could not enter the State Medical College
made other arrangements in this city, but
most OF them went East.
The idea of medical student having to
be A college graduate has not found much
favor in the United States. Harya rd's
medical department has had some such
rule for several years. and another college
in Pennsylvania insists on the college
graduation diploma from students, but the
largest md most important medical schools
in the United States admit all who can
pass fair English examination. There are
many men with the greatest talents for
medicine and surgery who never had a
chance 10 GO to college, but no show their
devotion To the medical profession by their
willingness TO devote several years to work
so as to be able to study.
During the faculty meeting IL was given
out that The reason the rule was made was
that the Standard of students ia the
medical department was not what the
ia Z 70 he
Just what they thought students ought to
be was not stated.
Several physicians in the city were
spoken to on the subject. and most of them
were of the opinion that the rule was
bad one. A few, however, thought 1t
would raise the class of physicians from a
social standpoint and ought TO be adj
hered to.
The urse OF lectures of the medical
department of the university commenced
last Thursday, and 1t is said that the num-
Der OF applicants for admission was very
small.
Dr. Robert Az Mclean, being the most
accessible member of the faculty. was
seen by CALL reporter Yesterday after
noon. Somebody has made a mistake"
said the doctor. land created an erroueous
Impression in the minds of prospective
students"
Were not great many of them dissat-
isfied about the college degree being necss-
sary before they could be admitted to the
medical college ?" asked the reporter.
Yes. replied the doctor, but IL Is be-
cause they misunderstood, ana [ would
like TO see all of them. l am sure L would
be able to set matters right. III you know
oil any tell them 10 come and see me-"
But won't the college degree be neces-
sary?" asked the reporter
Nut this year." replied DR.. Mclean,
''buI very likely such a rule will be i'm
perative at the opening of the thirty-second
course in 1895. THIS year all that will be
required is an examination such as would
be required before they could enter any
college of letters. This is higher than 1t
ias been, Of course, but many men can
pass it that cannot show a college degree"
DR.. Mclean evidently regretted the fact
that the misunderstanding had taken
place. but thought that matters would
soon be arranged again.
Tell all students who want to know
what is required of them to come and see
me-" he said as the reporter left the office.