Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-23
THE MEDICAL COLLEGE.
OPENING OF THE FORTY-THlRD
COURSE OF LECTURES.
Naturalization of tho Largest Class in the
History Of the Institu tion-I
Address by Prof. 8. w. Landon-Ro-
marks by President Buokham.

The 43d course of lectures at the Medical
department of the University of Vermont
began Thursday afternoon under the most
favorable auspices, 157 students having
matriculated Thursday afternoon. This
is 30 more than had matriculated at the
same time last year. Nearly the entire
class were present Thursday afternoon.
On the platform in the amphitheatre
were President Buckham, Judge Wales,
Hon. Robert Roberts, Capt. III. Il. Truth
erly, Rev. DR.. Roberts, Prof. j. E. Cush-
man, and Drs. JENNIE, Briggs, jackson,
Tinkham, Boynton, insolvency, Wheeler
and Stoddard. When these entered they
were greeted with hearty applause by the
embryo doctors. President Buckham in
troduced Prof. s. w. Landon, who delv-
cred very fine address on a popular sub
ject. 1t was replete with pertinent
thoughts, was delivered in very enter
tanning manner, and was listened to with
close attention.
Mr.. Landon spoke as follows:
when your worthy dean did me the
honor to ask me to occupy few moments
of the time at this opening exercise OF
the work of the college year. 1 was very
reluctant to accept 1t was extremely dif-
ficut for me TO select any subject in which
] could reasonably hope to interest body
of prospective doctors l accepted, how
ever, and will attempt to speak for few
moments in very informal way upon the
preliminary education OF the professional
man, or the standard of requirement for
admission to professional course OF
study" The theme Is an interesting one,
vitality important, and lies at the very
foundation of professional work 1t has
also much to do with it's ultimate success
The previous education and training re-
qulred by any institution of those who
knock at It's doors for admission, Is a
matter of great significance to the public
at large, TO the institution, and especially
to those students who enter 1t. Throw
wide open the doors, admit all who apply
for admission without inquiry as to Their
qualifications, and 1t is true you may
for a time swell the numbers. but in time
Just as surely will you see the results OF
this course. the degradation of the institu
ton, the contempt and loss of its students
1t may not be out of place to make a loca
application of our theme. In fact presu
mably for my speaking to you to-day Is
found In the fact Of my relation to this
institution in connection with the en-
trance examinations. A brief history o.
the establishment and growth of these
may have something instructive in 1t re
garding the worth of the examination:
themselves.
Sometime ago 1t was decided by the
board of control of this institution to fl,
a standard of requirements for admission
and insist that every candidate meet thes,
Der of the faculty. was appointed and
these were his instructions: Give fail
examination, insist upon a reasonable
standard and let the entrance of the stu
dent depend upon that. The decision o
the examiner shall be final in the matter
The progress and Improvement in the worl
done in these examinations has beer
marked, the last being a vast improve
ment over the first. To-day students IL
selecting a college in which to pursue thu
study of medicine turns from this colleg
to others because entrance there is easle
and the examinations less severe. Thu
incorporators of the regents examna
tions of New York into the system her
has done much to strengthen it, The worl
done Is exceptionally good as tested b.
the examiners in Albany, where the pa
pers are finally passed upon. The frs
year not one-fifth of the papers were con
sdered OF high enough standard to for
ward to Albany. The last year less thai
one-fifth were considered below the stand
ard and of all the papers sent to Alban
only one has been rejected by the exami
ners. To-day the entrance examination
and the regents are identical, the sam
questions. those furnished by the regents
being used in BOTH
The question is naturally asked. 'Wha
are the purposes of the examination, an
what good do they accomplish, Surel
they are not merely TO keep men out o
the college, although this may be legitl
mate purpose, but they are to stmulat
students about to enter, 10 make n prope
preparation, to secure at least the begin
ming of a liberal education, In this age @
competition and rapid progress 1t Is ad
mtted that men must specialize thei
work in order to be in the highest sens
successful. 1t Is an age of specialists, bu
II Is also true that no professional mar
or in a narrower sense any specialist ca
reach the highest success in his callin
without a range Of knowledge far beyon
it. There are apparent exceptions bu
they usually resolve themselves into som
special shrewdness. stroke of good fol-
tune, or bold venture. The difcrer
apartments of knowledge have boundarie
so indeterminate and SO borrow means an
methods from each other that the cor
ceptions even in his own department of
man who knows nothing of the other
must be very small and vague. Suppose
specialist can reach the highest success
without a liberal culture, he belittlC
himself in his training and work.
If the division of labor enters into IL
profession as it necessarily must, the
name of liberal professions if the me
and women in preparing for them excluC
from their training everything that dot
not directly bear upon them. The coul
try doctor in Vermont IL a literally ed
Gated men, can in the leisure of his pr
fession, become light and power for Il
whole community. The converse of tn
Is equally true. No profession has bee
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