Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-03
TWO GREAT QUESTIONS
Will Be Considered by Medical Men at
Chicago Convention.

Pittsburg, Jan. Am important meet
ing of leading medical men and educators
of the country convened here today in
Carnegie Institute. Presidents of colleges
and universities, and medical men, both
professors and practitioners representing
the American Academy Of Medicine, are
In attendance. 1t Is not the convention
Of the academy. out the work Of this
council, az 1t Is termed, win furnish the
material for the annual convention Of the
American Academy of Medicine to be held
the second week CT June at Chicago. Two
great questions will be discussed:
First Realizing that four years In col.
lege and four years in a medical school
are too much Of mans life to ask in
preparation for his profession. the Acnd-
envy of Medicine proposes to 50 arrange
the college courses and the medical
courses that six years only will be re-
quired.
This question will be discussed from the
viewpoint of their colleges by President
Jacob Schurman OF Cornell University.
Frank Starr Jordan. president OF Leland
Stanford, Jr,. University; James D. Moi
fatt. president Of Washington and Jeffer.
son College, and other educators.
Second-"State Medical Examination
Laws" Each state requires a state med
icaI examination before doctor can
practice within its borders. The acud-
envy proposes that a uniform examination
be held ir every state and that a doctor
who has passed this examination in ono
State may be admitted to practice in any
other state without again taking an ex-
animation.
Addresses at the afternoon and even
ing sessions of the council were char
acteriZed by papers and addresses
scoring the present curriculum Of col
leges and the methods Of such insti-
tutions Murray Gault Motter, A.
M. NJ, secretary of the National Fed
era ton of State Medical Examining
and Licensing Boards Of the United
States. in his paper on Tho Medical
Curriculum said the present system
of medical training Is defective; that
there are too many "Ologys"-"too
much institution, but really little edu-
cation"
The result of the recent inspection Of
the 1850 medical schools of this coun-
try are enough to make up pause"
said Prof. Motter. In round numbers
90 per cent. were rated below 80: 30
per cent between so and 10, and only
50 per cent above 70. The average man
licensed to practice medicine is deficient
in knowledge in anatomy. physiology.
pathology and chemistry, and when we
consider the elementary character Of
the examination the deficiency Is moro
apparent"
Frederick H. Gerrish. 8. M. A., LID,
Of Portland, Me. professor Of surgery
at the medical department Of Bowdoin
College, expressed the danger OF at
tempting too much. His views later
were corroborated by DR.. Clara Mar
shall, dean Of the Womens Medical
College Of Pennsylvania, the only wo.
man in attendance.
Other educators who read papers and
participated In general discussion
which followed, agreed that four years
in college and four years In a medical
school are too much Of mans life to
spend In preparation for his profession
and courses should be SO arranged that
six years only should be required.
1t was also favored that every medl.
cal student secure his college degree
before his degree in medicine.