The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-19
THE STUDY OF MEDICINE.
Two Answers to a. Question Recently
Asked by This Paper.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
Your question of a few days ago. us there
anything about the study of medicine, or
medical college sights and associations. that
tends to undermine the moral sense?" is
worthy an answer, in view of the rather un-
desirable notoriety which the profession has
received in the last few weeks through the
public press. The question can be given two
different answers There is and can be
nothing in the study OF medicine and sur
gerry itself to lessen the moral obligation
felt toward society at large. 1t is a pro-
fession which demands more personal self
sacrifice than any other calling, and which,
even when faithfully followed, offers in the
end but very little more than a bare COM
potency. The physicians who have large es-
tates made wholly from their practice are
rare. The public has not been slow to
recognize the value OF the profession, and
to give its members a high standing in their
confidence. 1t is true that there are some
physicians who are unworthy the confidence
and the trust of the people. as in other &C.
equations. As 1t would be grossly erroneous
to judge all lawyers by the thieving petit
logger or all ministers by the wolf who as
sumes the clerical attire to serve Satan, so
Il ~ uIldlI 10 assume OF even 1ntlmdte tlat
there is anything in the study OF medicine
Of itself TO conduce to moral depravity. The
most of the United States require a medical
diploma from some medical college. This re-
quirement is intended to protect the public
from impostors and charlatans. Nearly all
medical colleges. among rheir requirements
for admission. demand a certain amount Of
preparatory Office study and a good moral
character vouched for by the preceptor.
During this preliminary training the student
comes in daily contact with suffering sor-
row, mental distress and the effects of vice
three years spent in a medical college, and
We would naturally expect the student TO
come forth lind, tender and sympathetic, as
well as help->-l, and this would undoubtedly
be the case If greater care were taken in
the training of the student. And here. 1 am
sorry to say, comes the affirmative answer
to your question.
While a knowledge OF disease and the ac-
ton OF drugs. as well as of anatomy, is abb
solutely necessary to the physician and sur
geon. there are other things which are far
whose hands society Is to trust its dearest
interests. While teaching anatomy and
physics. too frequently the professors neg
leet to instill the idea OF the sacredness of
human life or even mention the fact tina
medical students can be gentlemen. The
student Is led to believe. from the actions
Af0 oA1 VI Wv taNAft aha l4oll uIlQIs
that the patient Is nothing more than a
machine brought forward for his inspection
and experimentation. Too many of them.
instead OF kindness and gentleness, teach
brutality and coarseness. Many intersperse
their didatic and clinical lectures with the
vilest OF stories and the coarsest OF jokes.
and In such a way arouse the very worst
passions OF the human soul. For years this
erroneous system of medical training has
been growing from bad to worse. Fifty
years ago each lecturer in the medical
schools took time to give instruction con-
corning the conduct of the student, the
practitioner and the surgeon, and their own
conduct gave an example OF consistency and
uprightness. With such men as these at the
operating tables and In the lecture rooms,
there was but little danger OF the mentally
perverted and morally depraved getting even
an inkling of the use OF dangerous and sub
tie drugs.
Ten years ago. when the writer was a
student at one OF the best-known medical
colleges in the West. two young ladies pre-
sented themselves as matriculantsl They
paid their fees and took their places on
the bench with the remainder OF the class.
Their coming As students called forth the