The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-21

responsibilities of the medical profession
often develop valuable attributes. The dare
devil and the scapegrace have been almost
eliminated from the medical schools by the
amount OF hard work to be done. Talks
with students bring out their pride in the
amount of study that they are engaged in
Youths. who. 1t seems hard TO believe. even
would study, are putting in day and night
on their medical education.
THE QUALITIES NEEDED.
AS a rule. the young men who come to
these colleges have had some experience in
a doctors Office and have observed the ne
cessIty of becoming many-slded men. They
must have an education equal TO that
gained in a high school, and a course at a
literary college or a normal school is a de-
cided advantage. They learn that to be
highly successful they should be something
of an alI-around scientist, a mechanic,
electrician and a man of business Rudolph
Virchow. the eminent physician who died
in Berlin last September, was called jack
OF many trades and master Of them all.
His compatriots spoke Of him as "the man
who knows everything" Such men are
held up as models for the students and
they are led TO plan elaborate courses of
self-culture as a supplement TO their reg
ular studies. And all the while they are
cultiyating an affable manner and a genial
friendliness which is expected to attract
patients. To some students the summer
vacations bring no relief from work for
money must be earned to pay the next
years expense. These young men go North
TO work in the summer hotels; they go any
where to become nurses; they become So
licitors for the magazines: agents for in
surance companies, and sometimes they be-
come so absorbed in business that their
college careers abruptly end
That IT takes stiff amount of determina-
ton TO become a competent doctor is we'll
known. That 1t takes an equal amount of
physical endurance and cash is known to
the students and their parents. The cost
of four years course at either the Indi-
ana or the Central is from $500 to s, 400,
which, of course, includes living expenses.
Those students who work for their room
and board can get through for from 5000
TO 500. Graduates who go East for post
graduate work pay $l.4cO or $500 for a two
years course. and this is increased to 81. 500
or 5000 If they go to a foreign school.
Then there is often year in a hospital,
their living expenses. Finally, there is
the expense for office furniture, fixtures,
books and instruments. which may amount
TO over $1,000. The static machines now
seen in the offices of many general prac-
titioners alone cost $500. 1t. is not uncom-
mon for young doctor to spend $1,000 be-
fore he establishes himself on Ohio street.
But those who study medicine say that if
l.
The learning it requires, the accession of
new ideas. the occupation and excitement
1T affords are absorbing and stimulating
Lasting friendships are formed and self
reliance is developed. The oath prepared
by Hippocrates. the father of medicine,
Is administered to all the students at the
time of graduation. and it is an oath which
has the strength OF the hills. The story of
how young doctors go out in the world to
meet numerous temptations, strange ex-
periences. stirring adventures and wearying
struggles is a story which ought to be told
by pen like Kipling's
An investigation of these colleges, even
though it be for their human interest rather
than for their inner workings, brings forth
the time, energy and money which are
contributed by their instructors and di-
rectors. None of the physicians who lee
ture IN these colleges receive or has re-
cefved compensations for his services. The
preparation of the lectures often involves
exhaustive research and their delivery
often occupies the busiest hours of the day.
The late DIR. Marsee is said to have lee
tured In the Medical College of Indiana
ten hours a week for twenty-five years
The active management of the college is
In the hands OF physicians whose time is
easily worth $50 day. but who receive
nothing for their services. Yet these men
plan all the school work. arrange for lee
lures. buy supplies, collect tuition fees and
transact as much business as the proprie-
tors of good-sized store. The colleges
have no income other than the tuition fees.
and all the receipts. over and above the
running expenses, are spent for improve
ments. The Central College has gone SO
far as TO provide that it's new building
shall revert to the State in case it should
ever cease to be used for college purposes
The colleges have no endowments.