The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-26
DOCTORS urge REFORMS.
Need for Improvement in Medical
Education Emphasized.

II. y. Sbalienberger's Address He
fore the Pennsylvania SOeIety-He
Denounces the Commercial Spirit
OF Northumberland Of Disease
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Sept. 26.-The
most important feature Of the sessions
Of the Medical Society for the State Of
Pennsylvania. being held in this city,
was the address last night of Dr. r. NJ
Shallenberger. Of Rochester. upon Re
forms in Medical Education" He spoke
Of the prevailing abuse through which il
hterate and Incompetent men are grad
uated and receive diplomas.
In the United States there are l5G
medical colleges said the doctor. from
which 5000 men are graduated every year.
Ia many Of these colleges there is simply
a commercial spirit in securing students.
and not much attention is paid 10 secur-
ing and turning out III men Examiua-
tIOus held lately by the Pennsylvania
State examining board showed a surpris-
ing condition Of affairs From many stu
dents answers were received that were
silly. absurd. and with simple English
words misspelIed- The explanation of
this denseness and ignorance on the part
/ of graduates is due 10 disJOinted, didsctlc
methods OF teaching.
Il would propose two remedies: First
preliminary examinations of students adj
hitting only those who have adequate edu-
cation, second. a change Of curriculum,
/ SO as 70 have "a uniform standard in AN
/ colleges, SO arranged as TO include all
! collateral branches"
/ In the discussion following this address
/ Dr. T. y. BorIand suggested that faculties
/ of colleges and medical boards should be
! examined, as some Of them seemed 70
/ need a wedding out
/ That disease and crime are the direct
/ results Of the lack Of proper medical leg
/ isiauon and education was the purport
] of papers read by DR. T. y Ritter.
/ Of WiIiamsp0rt and Dr. J. G. Batesou.
| of Scranton. DIR. Ritter. who is a woman.
4 blamed a great deal of the social evil
upon the lack Of proper medical education
/ given To- boys and girls By having them
/ instructed by men and women doctors
. she thought a vast amount Of crime and
/ disease could be prevented
/ Dr. Batesou's proposition was that men
and women before being allowed To- mar
/ ~ should De examined and procure med
. lcai certificates from regularly appointed
physicians BY SO doing the propagation
OF consumption cancer, and other terri
BILE diseases could be curtailrd.
we pay alt'uiuu To- these matters
/ with cattle and horses" said DR. Bate
I son, but men and women are allowed TO
/ breed tho sick. iuiirm. and crippIsd-oft-
Z en- the criminal In some States IegisIa-
ii"n on this subject has already been iu-
] tTOGUCsI
Other papers were read by Drs. +. b.
. Bor.and, PIushurg. John NJ Batten.
/ boWnluEtowu, Liuuaeus Fusscl, Media;
! 4. &. Abbott. Edmund W. Holmes, J. NJ
Anders, and Joseph Sailer, Philadelphia
The association elected officers as fol-
lows F. T. Ban Lock Haven. president.
Walter LathTop. HaZletOn, first vice presi-
dent. \ ). Harshberger, Lewiston, sec
pud vice president: r W Stewart. Pitts
burg. third vice president; j. X. Weaver.
NuTristoWu, fourth vice president: q. l..
! Stevens. Athens. secretary, W. y. Erd-
man, MacungIe. assistant secretary ,
George b. Duumire. Philadelphia, treas
{ urcrs Thomas D. Davis, Theodore i.
simpson. Henry Beates. jT-. and G. W
Wagner. trustees.
The following were chosen delegates 90
/ the American Medical Society. DIS g.
! w Guthrie, Wilkesbarrg, W. NJ Weld
Z man. Reading; W. 5. Foster, Pittsburg,
/ a. u. Hull. Montgomery. W r Bishop.
/ Derry, J. b. Roberts. Philadelphia and
II. 5. Mcconnell. New Erlghtol-