New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-20
HEARING ON A MEDICAL BILL
PROPOSED CHANGES IN STUDENTS EN-
AMINATIONS.
MANY PHYSICIANS DECLARE THAT THEY "oOLD
LOWER THE STANDARD OF THE PROFESSION
o>- rtrr, oTrIEp SIDE

MANY PHYSICIANS DECLARE THAT THEY WOULD
LOWER THE STANDARD OF THE PROFESSION
ARGUMENTS ON THE OTHER SIDE
Albany, Feb ia score OF physicians from AL
parts of the State appeared to-day at the nearing
given by the Assembly judiciary Committee Oh
Assembly BIZ No .$ introduced by Mr.. Stancn-
field which provides for four years study of medi-
cine and attendance on four regular courses OF
medical instruction Of not less than SIX months
each at legally incorporated medical colleges pre-
limlnary to receiving the degree OF bacheio' oi
medicine. The majority Of those appearing opposeu
the bill. c. c. b. Alexander. Of Bellevue Medical
College; Dr. Ferguson. of Troy and Dr. Eohey' %
New York favored the passage of the Dill Among
those who opposed 1t were DR.. Watson. OF the Ne-
gents Department; DR.. Didama Dean, OF the S!f"-
cuse University Medica, College: Or. Spencer OF
WATERFOWL, president OF the State Meu''" 'o''9''
Dr. NJ j. Mann, of Buffalo; Dr. Tuck, register OF
Union Medical College, DR.. Nandeveer. OF Albany
and DR. Spooner. of New-York
The argument Of those In favor OF the bill was
that the requirements OF the regents, making II
necessary for student to have regents hedicaI
certificate before being admitted to the practice OF
medicine in this State. which Is the law at present
and which the bill OF Mr.. Sianchheld does away
with are excessive unnecessary, and. being aroi-
trary, cannot be made TO conform with a majority
of cases They also declared that requiring THESE
arbitrary examinations" In the medicai eoleses
OF this State had the effect OF HlIlhB 'He Heu'0"'
colleges Of other States. particularly those OF Penn
syvania while the attendance at the insutu'iohs
OF New York had grown less every year.
The OPPOSITION 10 the bill urged that 10 reject by
the passage OF the Stanchield bill those require
menis which experience had shown TO be so 'd'u-
able would be to lower the standard OF the meu'ea'
profession In New-York State. which years OF nara
work had created Ii was urged by the opposition
that the bill was in favor Of minor medical lhstl-
,utons which by virtue OF the passage OF this bli.
would make their .equrements for admission easy
and thus be accessible 10 many whose cuuealoh
was not sufficient to warrant their admission 10
the practice of medicine The attention OF the COM
mitiee was called TO the circumstance that out Oh
thirteen co leges represented either In person or by
letter at to-days hearing only one. Bellevue. OF
New-York was In favor Of the Stanchhed Dill
Chairman Robbins read numerous letters from
prominent medical men In all parts OF the state
protesting against favorable consideration OF '"e
bill by the judiciary Committee. Among the let
tiers received was from Seth Low. president
Of Columbia College to Speaker Fish. urging MIN
TO prevent the passage OF the Stanchfed hii' MI
Low writes that, in the event OF the passage oi
the bill the laborious efforts OF years when nave
aimed at the elevation Of the medical profession
would be undone lie says that by Section o@ch
college is permitted 10 substitute It's own eHami-
nation for the Regents requirements. and that
the poorer colleges would al.ow students 10 enter
with lower EXAMINATIONS IMAM the Deter s0i,oo,7
section 3 Of me bill he declares allows 'Ach Hl'ul
college 10 usurp the prefoSauNts OF th' 80
IN deciding wndt are repuiao.e co'!eses anu ''Is"
schools OF the nrst grade. section D. ne sly, re-
moves many OF the safeguards as 10 character
ana satisfactory instruction wllcn a sene, s,1
OF students nave proved wise. ana sections anu :
1 n',s, >" csstnti1I feature Of present laws.
Letters OF protest were received from the iiesIu
Department Of Hnghanion. NE Women Menics a
c1vse oi Of I me Committee on Legislation OF the
Medical Society OF the state OF New YORK the Medi-
cal Department Of Niagara lniVeTsty. me bulA
Meli College
Surgeons Of New-York, and George X ROVER, eA,
Of the Regents OF the University.
Dr. W. r Lusk president OF Bellevue Hospital
Medical College when asked as to his objection to
the present law. said
The difficulty lies briefly In the completely OF
the so-called series OF academic counts by which
is determined the value Of medical students GER
incates presented as an equivalent for the Regents
examination Thus the latter consists Of arithme-
tic English geography, spelling, United States his
| tory English composition and physics or any nifty
counts or IA three years academic course. As a
sample OF the perplexty caused by the present
| system We cite the following instances
IF. s. Howard Outerbridse presented certificate
dated October 3. 1885. from 4. Waddington. u. a.
| Hamilton bermuda, with descriptive prospectus
of the school. ard duly attes!ed before notary
public, that he tOuterbridge) was pupil at the
| Saltus Grammar School, Bermuda. during the years
| 1898 and 1883 ,, - .,,,.a
| Latin French and the usual English subjects.
| "'IIe proved himself diligent student and made
| good progress In all his work.
r. Warrington further stated under date OF Oc-
tober l6. 1895:
a. That Algebra, higher arithmetic. geometry
and bookkeeping are included under the head OF
ma thcmatcs.
-. That Latin grammar. Latin composition and
| Caesar are included under the head of Latin;
80. That French grammar French composition
and translation from the French are included under
- That among the English subjects are Included
| English history geography, English composition
! and English Language
| The Endorsement these papers Is:
zone or two years short OF statutory require
| ments on the admission OF the candidate
tia;s from the Medical School Of Harvard Unver-
sity; ,., Ill.,
| satisfactory examination for admission TO this
school in Latin. geometry physics and English, but
analysis H is, therefore. admitted condtionaIly.
The next oppcrluny for the pfmSya s 81 this con"
''ThIs ceriifes that D. J. Hayes has passed
satisfactory examination in general chemistry and
| qualitative ana.yss.-Feb T. 1884"
These credentials were rejected with the ndorse-
ment: "Twenty-four counts: two years of academic
TO the unsophst:cated mind these students APP
parently had furnished the necessary evidences of
tered i academy or high sc6oo Both We're directed
| to pursue two years of further academic work.
offer themselves for the Regents examination, the
complaint lies in the difficulty Of understanding the
| Medical Society speaks OF 1t the pride Of the
profession. and yet hardly think even he can say
| of that he who runs may read. frankly state
| my inability 10 comprehend II.
Another Inconvenience lies in the pacing the
seat examinations not In New-York, where
| nearly all the medca students are aggregated.
but in Albany Last year a branch office was es-
| tabl.shed In New-York. but this has since been
| discontinued Students. 1t may be said. will not
pay fees and enter upon their studies until they
know that their credentials Will be accepted. The
| city OF New-York. and especially the Bellevue Hos
pita has been the great attraction for nearly forty
tn
| But the rules that have been imposed upon them
| have tended continuously to restrict their number.
and promise to convert the great National schools or
| New York into petty local institutions.
I'm the examining year 1t has been decided TO