New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-23
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
DIR. LEVI. OF THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EX-
AMINERs. TELLS WHY HE OPPOSES IT.
THE STANCHFIELD BILL.

Sir: In your issue Of this morning you publish IN
part the proceedings OF hearing given ny the
Judiciary Committee OF the Assembly on Assembly
bill No rs introduced BY Mr. Stanchfeld. You
also publish a statement from Professor Lusk.
president Of the Bellevue Hospital Medical Coz
ege, in advocacy OF this measure
In order that your readers may become familiar
with the reason for the attitude Of the opponents
OF the bill beg your indulgence for submitting
the following
There now exists on the statute-books law con-
trolling the practice OF medicine, OF Law, Of
dentistry and of veterinary surgery, which makes
II essential for all students DESTROYS of being adj
mitted to schools teaching these subjects to prove
their competency in academic work The theory
or this law is that n good foundation should be
iaii ny those intending TO enter the learned pro-
fessions. Educators agreed that this Is salu-
tary provision, in that 1t prepares the mind Of the
expeciant doctor lawyer dentist and veterinary
Tor the more difficult and complex questions which
arse IN the proper pursuit Of professional study
We are fortunate, in this State. n having
central educational body, which is freed from the
charge OF favortsm. ard which has administered
the laws honestly and earnestly, and in keeping
with tho demands Of those who are anxious 10
place the State OF New-York In the forefront as
devotee to higher education.
IN ~" there was passed another law relating 10
the practice Of medicine. which divorces tho teach
$50 ''N' ''lc hCtilSilk power. ana today the meli-
cal colleges of this State simply grant the degree
o. Doctor o: Medicine while the State. through
the Board Of Medical Examiners appointed for ,b,,
purpose passes on the qualifications OF those
VINO desire 10 practise the prof ssion Of medicine
within our borders
Every student who has entered a medical col
ieee since 1898 must have been aware Of the pro-
Visions or these two laws. ami, so knowing should
nave peen prepared to meet the primary test OF
acaDemic requirements before admission TO one
o. our medical colleges. and must also have been
coSHi"lht or the fact that. receiving his degree
o' DOCTOR OF Medicine he had still to pass the
ordeal Of a State Board OF Medical Examiners.
Inc combination Of these two acts OF the Lagis-
hture has strengthened the medlca. institutions of
'"'S state has advanced the standard of medical
requirements and has made it possible for the ct-
"eiis OF this State to feel that faVoritism has no
part IN giving the right to practise medicine to
those VINO have been licensed by the State so to do
OIL has been introduced in the Legislature this
year which has for its purpose the overthrow of this
preliminary academic requirement which has worked
so admirably. The measure Is crafty drawn, and
the layman. reading the first paragraph Of the
same would conclude that 1t had for its motive the
advancement Of the standards Of medicine, rather
IMAM the reverse; but the essential feature is this
The b!ll proposes to take from the State and from
the Board Of Regents the control Of the preliminary
academic requirements. and would permit each
''''' '''''Sc III tIt Stdto 10 10 tIe Judge OF the
fitness OF the students who Apply for the right TO
mairculato It would abolish the standard Of ques-
tons and the standard OF examiners. 1t would place
III the hands OF medical colleges and their faculties
tho right TO aiJgdge tho ability and the fitness of
those who would embark on a career OF medicine
IN other words. IT would return TO the methods in
vogue before the passage OF the existing salutary
Tho contention Is made that the medical colleges
oi The state suffer because OF the requirements for
admission 10 our State medical colleges but the
facts are that the number OF stud nts matriculatel
az me Hi,lIchl colleges or the STATE OF Nc~-lork
has steadily increased. and to-day there more
students In atendance at these Institutions than at
any time IN tho history OF our STATE.
At the hearing on this biz on Wednesday last
there were pr sent as rs advocates G. G. b. Alex
anier a trustee II the Bellevue Hospital Medical
College. Dr Gouey a weI-Nnown specialist Of this
no b.n were thc representatives, OF tho New-lork
state Medical Society. In the person Of Or. Spencer.
of WATERFOWL. the president and Dr. A. Walter
suffer, tho chairman of ia Committee on Legisla.
non; Or Daniel Lewis president Of The state Board
Professor spooncr. vice president Of the Eclectic
Medical college. Dr. Mann. dean OF the Medical
paIimcnt @. the University Of Buffalo; Or. Tucker.
moni secretary u tho faculty OF the Long Island
Medical College; Drs Van der Veer and Watson OF
tho state Board OF Medical Examiners Professors
Ward ana Mac Donald. OF the Albany Medical COL
f,s-ou. representing all the schools OF practice
-, the twelve colleges N the State. The represen-
itfFff ~ iuf one institution. inc BfIfNu" ilfhl
Medical college oi TINS city. aon" advocated the
StanChnol h!l. Each OF the representatives. q the
existing law and spcke In the highest words Of
COMMUNICATION " the excellent management OF the
Surgeons. OF Ncw-York CITY. and the Medical De-
partment OF Columbia University sent In protest
OF is faculty. Physicians from all parts II The
state sent words OF protest against any alteration
field hlll. Prominent educators. Including men Ike
President Low. OF Columbia. wrote III" chairman
OF the COMMITTEES protesting against the proposed
changes. Mcl like RoOsa Jacob, Fox. McLane.
and others Of equal eminence. are outspoken
against the bill. while the only voices raised In It's
favor are thoss above named. together with others
attached to Bellevue Hospital Medical College
Can II be possible that this array Of medical tai
cnt and educational lore Is at fault and that the
only real course TO pursue Is that advocated by the
in the stat? The paucity OF the argument in
favor OF the bill Is evidenced IN the statement made
ing the seat OF EXAMINATIONS not in NewYork.
whore nearly Az the medical students are aSSre-
gated. but In Albany" THIS would lead 10 the IN
ference that examinations preparatory 10 admis =
sion to medical colleges 10y the Regents ar" held
elsewhere than In Albany but the iact Is that
there IS no point in the State whore AZ least five
times a year the Regents are not prepared TO con-
animation held In Ncw-York CITY in January Of
this year 100 students and soGld-be students
tempted the tests for admission TO the medical.
legal, dental and veterinary institutions OF ms
zens OF California should be restless because ma,
ilonal laws governing their 'nsttutq3ns snou''
The benencencc az our laws AMI their manage,
mcnt through the Regents Office T. susc.pupc OF
daily PROOF. CDnmun.cltons are received rom AZ
quarters Of thr globe in relation To the mctioiS
here pur sued. and numbeross States IN ne Union
are copying "a nearly as they can. our Jaws GOV
orrlng the practice OF medicine. Educators n
other States are lameutlEg the fact that they nave
the advantage Of central confronting enuVa-
iional body such as the Board OF Regents. our
standards are accepted 10y all VINO nave inVeslgd'1a
the subject as superior to those IN eN'Htrhy' III
other states Of tie Union. ! have on my heaK' ~
/ write A lctter from the Secretary or the leNtS
Stat. Medical Association, asking cur di III NV
formation Of law based upon the principles " u
undcrle the existing medical law o. the state OF
NeW-iork. ,,-... ..o,,,,
l. there any reason why the LeRislature sh9 2
lower the bars? None has been advances, no
principal argument adduccd. that our STATE IS lps-
ln is prestige a. to the number OF meilcaI
in attenlan.a at medical colleges fAllS 70 pl''c
I'm f,re or the fact nat our medical colleges Wsre
never IN 50 GourishIns condition as To-Day. ne
courses Of study are prOiongrI the hlDei VI mn ~
devoted IN daily lectures has been increased; the
number OF chairs In the various colleges has peei
augmented and more than ALI else. In cHara, yer
- amllrk ON ther