Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-31
MEDICAL SUPERVISORS |
90 /
Boards Annual Report Sub
mitted to Commissioners.
- -
LICEN SEES GRAN TED
COMMENT ON THE EFFECTS OF
THE LAW.
Marked Improvement Noted in Elk
animation Papers of Applicants
Six Years Of Experience.

The Commissioners received today the
| fifth annual report of the board of medical
supervisors of the District of Columbia. The
report was submitted by DR.. J. B. Gregg
Gusts, president Of the board. 1t is stated
that there has been a marked improvement
| in the examination papers of applicants for
licenses to practice mediocre which shows
a higher standard Of education. The re-
port follows:
1.-THE board Of medical supervisors. in ac
cordance with the requirements of the act
of Congress, approved June 3, 1896, held
eleven meetings during the year After ex-
animation of fifty-seven candidates 1t
granted forty-five licenses. In addition to
these 1t granted licenses to eight practition-
ers by virtue of their registration at the
health office prior to the passage OF the
law under which we are now working The
board also granted during the year licenses
to three applicants to practice midwifery.
There are appended tabulated statements
of the work of the board that gives the
names of the colleges and universities whose
graduates have applied for the privilege Of
practicing medicine in the District OF
Columbia.
Effect of the Law.
"After six years of experience the board
feels competent to judge of the effect of
the law, and is unanimous in the opinion
that its passage was necessary and that
its effects have been salutary. There is no
longer effort on the part of the travelling
charlatan to prey upon our citizens. and
but little danger to be feared that con-
tagious and infectious disease can gain
foothold in our midst because OF the In
competency of our practitioners Of medi-
cine. and. In the near future, the board
hopes that 1t may by cooperation with the
judicial and police departments Of the Dis
trict government, rid the city of the few
remaining examples of perverted profess
sional skill and honesty.
''The board finds marked improvement
in the examination papers presented. which
shows a higher standard of education on
the part of the applicants, and, what is
equally as important, the teachings OF the
schools represented by the applicants to be
more thorough. and that our medical insti-
tutions are fully alive to the advance of
science in every branch that bears upon the
practice of medicine, not only as individuals
are affected. but also, as it relates to the
welfare of the community.
Harmony Prevails. =.
''The citizens are to : be congratulated
upon the harmony, which exists between
its examining boards, there not being any
unfavorable criticism on. the part of any
one board against the others, and all agree
ing upon the standard fixed by the board of
medical supervisors. which standard is as
high. as far as professional. knowledge is
concerned that required by any exam
ming board in the country. and which can
not at present be raised. The apparent diff
ference between our standard and that of
other boards depends upon the preliminary
education required for naturalization IN
| medical colleges, and we would suggest.
through you, to the several colleges in the
District of Columbia that they agree on
basis of preliminary requirements that will
better enable us to establish reciprocal re-
lations with states which have such re-
auirements formally prescribed We do
not believe that this will work any hard
ship to the students, and will carry out the
original purpose of the present law, which
was to place the capital city of the coun-
try in the lead of the cities of the land Of
fering the best form Of municipal govern
ment sanitary requirements and educa-
tional methods.
''The board has received four applications
for licenses under privileges granted by
other boards. which they were obliged to
refuse because of the lack of uniformity of
the laws and requirements of such boards.
Estimate for Appropriation.
eUnder date of August the board,
through it's president, asked the Commits
| sioners to embody in their estimates for
the coming year an appropriation of 81, 800
| for compensation of the members of the ex-
| aiming boards, believing that, because Of
the arduous labor required and the mag
pificent results secured, the District cannot
longer with justice to itself, accept the
! services of the professional men constitut-
ing these DOdrQS without compensation.
1.-THE boards Of medical examiners have
held eighteen meetings. Each one of these
meetings represented considerable sacrifice
of time and the exercise of the most con-
scientious and careful consideration Of ques-
tons prepared by representatives of the
several schools and the papers offered by
the ffty-seven candidates. The benefits Sc
cured were entirely to the citizens of the
District and not to the members of the
| boards, nor to the medical profession. which
has voluntarily submitted to the require
ments of the law, and for which they
alone responsible their motive being to pro-
tect the citizens from all dangers of creduli-
ty and ignorance, which seem to be part
of human nature.
Without Compensation.
There is no other body of men working
| under law which exacts so much without
compensation. Therefore, we feel no hest
tation in making the recommendation. The
amounts received under the existing laws
from fees represent no adequate return for
services rendered, and the fee system has
long been considered as bad in Its results
upon both the municipal government and
the individuals participating therein.
Members of the medical examining
MN ANY, HlNNn