The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-20
MEDICAL BOARDS REPORT
1T COVERS THE WORK FOR THE
YEAR ENDING OCT. 81, 1902.
Trouble the Board Has Had with
Many so-CalIed Medical Colleges
spirit of COmmerciaIism.

The fifth annual report OF the State
Board of Medical Registration and Exami-
nation is now In the bindery of the plant
of the State printer and will be ready for
distribution within the next week or two.
The report covers the work of the board
for the year ending Dec. 81. 1902. One page
is devoted to the memory of the late DR..
w. F. Curryer, who at the time of his
death was a member of the board. The In
diana medical law of 1897. with the amend
ments Of 1899 and 1901. are given. together
with instructions to those desiring to OBJ
tain license to practice medicine in In
diana A summary of the laws and regula-
tions governing the practice of medicine
in the different States and Territories of
the Union and the Philippines is contained
in the report. There is also an official regis
ter of physicians by counties.
The report has something to say about
the boards trouble with the 'SO-called'
medical colleges, and along this line re-
marks: 1.-THE spirit of commercialism, like
blighting curse, pervaded many of the
colleges With a view to making little
easy money and obtaining some cheap repu-
tation, few men, or as In one instance a
man and his wife, would obtain a charter
and start a college. In some instances no
pretention at instruction was given at all.
Two or three rooms in cheap building,
some advertising matter and a typewriter
or two constituted the medical college
equipment. A list of questions sent out to
the prospective doctor, a short correspond
ence respecting the fees and flaming di-
ploma, written in Latin, constituted the
educational process, and some community
had q new doctor. Some of these colleges
made a pretense of furnishing instruction
and required some attendance, but the work
done and the advantages and education fur
nished the student was so utterly deficient
that their students could not pass the State
Board examination. That these institutions
are no longer a menace to the people OF
the State is ground for congratulatiOn. The
without educational preparation can an
nounce himself "a physician, and,
for personal gain, prey upon the
1t is subject for congratulation
also that nearly all the States and Terri
| tories have enacted medical laws for the
protection OF the people from the boast
| ing Quack and medical vampire. The law
| does not seek to deprive the people of their
| choice in the selection of a physician, or
their preference for any school of medi-
| cine, but demands that physicians of all
schools shall be competent, educated men.
| The people are to be congratulated that the
Legislature has refused to either weaken
| or overthrow the law, in response to the
demands from Hobbies, made up of all man
| ner of claimants for recognition. 1t is to be
| regretted that the quack and charlatan
have at times been enjoined by students
seeking exemption from examination. This
| Is a great error on the part of students.
| and would ultimately, If successful, de-
/ grade the profession they seek TO enter.
| THE recognized medical colleges in our
| own State have faithfully co-operated with
/ the board in it's efforts to elevate the stand
ard OF medical education. The standard
now fixed by the board under the provi-
| sions of the law is such that any student
| graduating from Indiana medical col
| lege under the present standard of entrance
i requirements would be eligible to examina-
| ton under the rules OF the examining board
| in any State.
1.-The question of interstate reciprocity has
| been from the first and is now receiving
| the earnest attention of the Indiana board
| The principal difficulty experienced by al
| the States in their efforts to establish reel
| procity is the dissimilarity of the medica
| laws of the various States. Some States
are not able TO reciprocate with Indiana
| provision in their laws. Again. the require
| ments in a few of the States are so low
that Indiana cannot accept the work o.
the boards in such States as a sufficien
| test of qualification. The work of the board
in this regard, however, is not being aban
doned. Reciprocity is demanded by th'
profession everywhere. The contention 1!
| made, and justly, too, that well-qualifieC
| man having submitted to a thorough ties
| of qualification in one State should b'
permitted to practice in any State withou
| believes that unlimited reciprocity under
| existing conditions is not possible or desir
| able To this end the board is in affiliatioI
| with the National Association of Medica
| Examining and Licensing Boards, and will
not cease it's efforts until just and equi
table basis of reciprocity has been estab
| lished."