The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-06-07
Missouri Medical Colleges Of Small
CaIlbre Are in the Lime Light
Good and
Strong.
THE DOCTORS TRUs'
American Association Is Charged with
Doing All 1t Can to Break
Down the Smaller
Schools.

ST. LOUIS, June 7.-Contrary to ex-
pectations, most st. Louis physicians
decline to deny the assertions of Ab-
raham Flexner and DR.. Henry s. Prit-
chett of the Carnegie Foundation,
who report that the medical tnst1tu-
tions of Missouri, with the exception
of three, are far below the standard.
|, Several physicians interviewed yes
terday around the headquarters of the
American Medical association stated
the observation made by Mr. Flexner
and the report of DR.. Pritchett was
based on facts, and stated besides
that the conditions not only In Mis-
souri,, but all over the country, were
abominable.
The doctors do not think Mr.. Flex-
ner singled out Missouri because 1t
was Missouri, but because there actu-
ally exist in st. Louis, st. Joseph and
Kansas City, and all through the west
ern states and Texas, all kinds OF
medical colleges which are run pure.
! ly on money-making principle, and
which do not train physicians along
modern scientific lines. Many of these
schools, THE doctors claim, have no
| other motive than to send out men af-
ter they have gone through the nomi-
nal course and have paid their tuition.
4 The st. Louis physicians are unwill-
4 ing to be quoted as taking the side Of
the Carnegie Foundation in its TRADE,
as they claim they would jeopardize
their Positions in the fight for better
ment. 1t is pretty well established,
however, that on the whole they are
of the opinion that medical schools
are tuTing out, as one doctor put it,
"an army of quacks, who are paid
whether they kill or cure They will
join in the movement of the American
association to rid TIE state of such
schools.
On the ther hand, the officers OF
the schools met the disapproval OF
DR.. Pritchett and Mr.. Flexner are loud
In their condemnation Of the report
They claim the American association
is trust, that 1t favNrs Washington
university as member of the trust
and that it acts unfairly in its discrim
ination against them.
DR.. Waldo Briggs, dean of the st
Louis College Of Physicians and Sur
geons, Is loudest in his condemnation
He says Mr.. Flexner Is not a physi
clan, ard Is therefore unqualified to
make any observation with regard to
conditions in the colleges. He says
Mr. Flexner never visited the College
of Physicians and Surgeons, and
claims the report was framed for the
benefit of Washington University HI
says Washington University, in its de
: sire to forge ahead, has acted to the
: detriment of other schools, and wishe;
to control all the colleges. He cites
, the recent Hospital Commission, or
which only the Washington University
: is represented.
He says many physicians Of the
country know as we'll as he that the
American Medical association is {
trust. TIE peculiar feature of DR.
Briggs statement is that he is mem
Der of the socalled trust. He say'
ne is ABOUT to resign. He says tha
despite the report OF DR.. Pritchett th'
College of Physicians and Surgeons
will remain.
The Owens senate bill, providing
: for department of health at Wash
: ington is favored by the American
Medical association in convention
here. An active campaign to proven
: blindness at birth is slogan of th
: convention.