The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-02-18
EXAMINING PHYSICIANS
Review Of the Work Of the State
Medical Board.

Good Work in the Interest Of the People
aud for the Elevation of the Medical
Profession -Ridding the state of Fake
Doctors and Bogus Medical Colleges
How Examinations for Medical CertiH
Gates are Conducted-Personel of the
Board.
The ordinary citizen is but slightly, if
at all, conversant with the object and
workings of the State Board of Medical
Examiners. but we make bold to state
that there is no department of the States
government and administration more
important for the protection of the peo-
pie. Since the organization and ap-
pointment of the first Board of Exami-
ners in 1891, the medical profession and
general medical affairs of New Jersey
have steadily and perceptably improved
until to-day our State ranks especially
high in all branches of medical science
and particularly in the intelligence and
standing of the men in the profession.
DIR. A, Uebelacker of this city who has
been member Of the Board since its
establishment, and who has recently
been honored by re-appointment, was one
of the early supporters of the project.
Up to the date mentioned above, COM
paratively very little note was taken Of
the matter. Though there was a gen
eral medical law admitting and licensing
candidates for practice in the State, there
was no definite examination for admit
tance and consequently no definite
standard for the professional ability or
personel Of the licensees.
In those days the State was overrun
by incompetent and bogus physicians,
claiming certificates from colleges locat-
ed all over the country and some with
out location. Then also, specialists of
all sorts were common, passing rs won
derful agents and by wonderful dis
coveries to cure all sorts of incurable
maladies, diseases and disorders, includ-
ing the dread consumption. The
nuisance finally became so common
and so menacing to the people that
several gentlemen of the Essex County
Medical Association took up the matter
and, appealing to the Legislature sue
ceeded in securing the enactment of a law
regulating the practice of medicine and
establishing the State Board Of Medical
Examiners. The board is composed of
nine members appointed by the Cover
nor, and confirmed by the Senate, and
their special duty is the examination
of candidates for State certificates with
out which no physician is allowed to
practice in the state.
The Board meets twice a year in
Trenton for the examination of cam
didates, and all candidates for ex-
animation must be graduates from an
accredited literary or scientific college,
or have completed satisfactorily three
years course in an accredited high school
or academy, or have received a prepara-
tory education in photography, arith-
metic, English grammar and compost
tion, geography, algebra and physics.
The medical law of the State requires
! four years Of medical study, including
three courses of lectures in different
years in a legally incorporated medical
college, prior to the granting of a degree,
though an interneship Of one year in an
incorporated hospital or asylum, or five
or more years of medical practice, are
accepted as the equivalent of one year of
medical study. These examinations are
in writing, conducted in close session,
! each applicant being allowed two hours
for each subject, and all are examined in
the following branches: "a Materia
Medica and Therapeutics, ~ Obstetrics
and Gynecology, 90 Practice of Medi-
| cine. including diseases of the skin, nose
and throat, az Surgery, including sur
gical anatomy and diseases of the eye,
ear and genito-urinary organs, (5) Anat-
omy, (6) Physiology, (D Chemistry, f8
Histology, Pathology and Bacteriology)
and (9) Hygiene and Medical Jurispru
dence.
The Medical Board is composed of 5
AllopatEs, 8 Homeopaths and / Eclectic
physician, but the examinations are con-
Quoted without regard to school, and
examinations are by numbers SO that the
candidates are entirely unknown to the
examiners. Subjects are divided among
the several examiners and per centage
of seventy-fve is required, but before
final decision all papers are posted for
review or revision by the other ex-
aminers. In case Of an appeal COM
mission may 0e appointed by the Gov
II efnOr TO review Che W0rk OF tn6 Board,
but this is rare and has thus far
proven an unnecessary occurrence.
During the past year ninety-two cam
1 didates were examined for license to
practice medicine and surgery, ten of
whom were rejected, and the highest
average attained during the year was
948. The Board has also approved llfty-
four certificates of medical license issued
by the Board Of Regents of the Univer-
lsity of New York and by the Medical
Council of Pennsylvania which are the
only licenses endorsed by the Board,
these states alone being considered as
4 approaching the New Jersey standard,
and it is well known fact that candi-
dates wishing New Jersey certificates
have gone before the above mentioned
bodies for examinat tions, rather than pass
the ordeal Of the New Jersey examina-
tion.