New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09
HIGHER STANDARDS OF EDUCATION.


The annual commencement Of the College OF
Medicine of New-YOrk University, which oc-
Cured last week, was an incident OF more IMAM
ordinary interest. 1t may be said 10 nave
marked, or to have helped to marx, an epoch
in medical education I'm ths' city, and to nave
set an example which must have an important
effect upon all systems Of professional instruc-
tlon and training throughout the land. This
was the last commencement at which that IN
stitution will confer degrees for three years
course in medicine. Four years VIII hereafter
be required That is the significant fact IL ~
easy to remember when two years course
was deemed sufficient. Then II was extended 10
three years. Now it Is increased to four years.
When such an institution, one OF the largest IL
not the largest. and by general consent one Oh
tho very best medical schools in America. takes
such step IL means something Ii means tnat
the standard of medical education is being al
,anced, and that other schools must keep up
10 II. or drop out Of the work altogether. Doupt
less all worthy schools will keep up to the stand
ard. Some have already adopted the four
years system and all will ere long do So until
the four years course in medicine is as gener-
ally followed as the four years regular college
course"
Nor ia II in the least unreasonable that this
should he required The bounds Of medical
science, the things that must be learned by one
who would be competent physician, have in
creased beyond the increase in the length OF
the course There must now be learned more
than twice as much as when the two years
course was deemed sufficient. -Four items alone,
within the memory of men now living have
t1,4 ol1f
sary attainments of the physician. One is the
use of anesthetics, introduced by Morton.
Wells. or whomever else. The second is the
germ theory Of disease, discovered and estab-
lished by Pasteur and developed marvellOusly
by Koch, Behring Haffkine and others The
third is the use Of antiseptics, introduced by
Lister, from an inspiration received from fas-
teur. The fourth is the therapeutic applicatlou
Of electricity. To master these four branches
of the healing science might well be the study
Of n lifetime, without taking into account all
else that there is to learn. THE thoughts or
men are widened with the process Of the suns,
and their time Of study must be widened. or
heightened, too. Not shorter but longer college
courses are required, especially In preparation
for professional life.
There is another very practical business view
of the case. No less than JOB new doctors or
medicine were commissioned by the Univer-
sity last week. Columbia will send out SINH
lar company. Other schools, here and else
where, will add their contingcnts, and the year
will see the number sweled TO an army. How
will they all make living? We have more
doctors in proportion to the population than
any other nation on the globe; and more dem
lists; and more lawyers Every year is ncreas-
ing their number, and every year the complaint
becomes louder that the professions are over.
crowded, and that briefess lawyers and pa
tlentless physicians are TO be named legion.
From this state Of affairs arise the abuses that
now and then scandalize the professions, of
lawyers and doctors who resort to unprofes-
slona and perhaps illegal methods to secure
patronage and fees. Perhaps it is not alto
eether possible TO check such over-supply, but
the engthening Of the course Of study and
lasing Of the standard Of required scholar
ship will tend strongly in that direction. 1t
will certainly mean better practitioners and
it will probably mean, for time at least, fewer
new ones each year. And better, not more.
practitioners are what not only the public, but
The professions themselves most need.