Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-03

"scanty;" on the contrary there Is
plenty Of TIA great deal too much OF
it-but II Is the quality. the nature Of
the knowledge, which ! quarrel with.
- The knowledge have looked for
was a real. precise, thorough, and prac-
teal knowledge Of fundamentals;
whereas that which the best Of the can-
dldatcs. In large proportion Of cases,
have had 10 give me was a large. extern
slye, and Inaccurate knowledge u SUI
perstruotnre. What | have found
and found 80 much reason TO lament, Is,
that while anatomy has been taught as
a science ought 10 be taught as mat
ter OF autopsy. and observation, and
strict discipline; in a very large number
OF cases, physiology has been taught as
II II were a mere matter OF books and
OF hearsay. declare to you. gentlemen,
that / have often expected to be told,
when ! have asked the question about
the circulation Of the blood, that Pro-
fessor Breltkopf Is Of the opinion that
II circulates, but that the whole thing
is an open question. ] assure you that
| am hardly exaggeratlng the state
OF mind on matters Of funda-
mental importance which ! have found
over and over again to obtain among
gentlemen coming up 10 that picked
examination Of the University Of Lon.
don. Now, | DO not think that Is
desirable state Of things. 80 Another
popularity | have found in the physi-
ology which has been current, and that
Is, that In the mind OF a great many
gentlemen It has been supplanted by
histology. They have learned a great
deal OF histology, and they have fam
cled that histology and physiology are
the same things l have asked for
some knowledge OF the physics and the
mechanics and the chemistry Of the
human body, and l have been met by
talk about cells. declare TO you
/ believe Il will take me two years, at
least OF absolute rest from the busl-
ness OF an examiner 10 hear the word
cell germinal matter" or "carmine"
without a sort OF inward shudder"
These remarks will apply with equal
force 10 the physiology OF today. One
cannot read Kirke's physiology or the
other standard psychologists Of the best
medical colleges without being made
aware OF the diversity OF opinion among
the leaders in this science. There are
fads here as in other scientific studies
and much Of the work done under the
cloak Of science Is misleading and OF
no practical value.
From these schools the regular ply
slcians graduate, among whom are
some Of the most elf-sacrlfclng and
philanthropic men, as well as some OF
the most bigoted and intolerant; men
who would put the thumb screws OF
ridicule and Punishment from their
ranks. upon anyone who dared to break
away from their fayorite ideas, no mat
ter how false, and who Will give the
rigth hand OF fellowship TO a regular,
no mater how incompetent
Not many years ago soYe OF the lead
Ing educational institutions Of the world
thought the best training they could
give young people 10 prepare them for
life was a long course In Latin, Greek.
and higher mathematics. There has
been a change OF sentiment and some OF
the more progressive institutions of the
land among them the Leland Stanford
Jr. University, have discarded the fall
lacy. Some OF the more progressive
medical colleges have abandoned some
Of the long cherished traditions with ex-
cellent results, and when we demand
rational methods OF prevention and
treatment Of disease from the guardians
Of the public health, there will be
great change in the courses Of the reg
ular medical colleges Of our land and
truth win be accepted, even II It comes
from the heterodox, by whom most
truths have been established.
Very respectfully.
]. T. sCHTEREI.