The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-04-22
TRAINING THE PHYSICIAN
Dr.. McGinnis Of the College of St.
Thomas Protests Against an At
tempt to Lower the Standard
Of Preliminary Education
For Physicians.

For Physicians.
On March %, 1911, bill was pre-
sented in the State Legislature by
Mr.. Diessner with reference to the
examination and licensing OF physi-
clans in the State of Minnesota. This
bill was in the form of an amendment
to the revised laws of 1905. 1t pro-
vided for a change in the existing re-
quirements for a license to practice
medicine in this state. These condi-
tions at present, as is known, require
complete high school course two
years of college work, and four years
in the College of Medicine and Sur
gerry. According to the proposed
amendment, the conditions are stated
as follows Q quote from the billy:
The candidate "shall be admitted to
examination upon furnishing satisfac-
tory proof that he has completed
regular four years state high school
course, or it's equivalent, in which one
year courses Of biology, chemistry and
physics shall be required, and he shall
also prove that he has completed
four entire sessions of twenty-six
weeks at medical school recognized
by the board" etc. From this it is
evident that the two years of college
work are, in the intention Of the bill,
to be eliminated.
Discussion has waxed warm in GER
tain quarters as to the advisability Of
emasculating the law as regards the
college work required. It would
seem that such an elimination will be
direct retrogression on the road that
leads to higher standards of efficiency.
While not presuming to dictate in
matters of technical nature, it seems
to the lay mind that the high position
which Minnesota holds in the medical
world by reason of her elevated stand
ard of medical education would be
appreciably lowered We're such an
amendment to pass the legislature.
In fact, there are few periods in
history which present such univer-
sal demand for efficiency in the pro-
fessional man as the present. Today
Is pre-eminently the age of the spe-
cialist. The whilom criterion of GER
titude in matters technical-the ipse
dixit-which formerly settled many in
tricate questions, has now lost it's
prestige. The constructive nature Of
experimental science has brushed
aside, reverently but surely, the un-
proven statement of the isolated
thinker, and has erected a structure
which rests on deep foundation of
proven facts, and not on mere asser-
tions. True, the limited power of the
intellect has at times failed in it's con-
clusions, and has had to revise it's
code from time to time. The bald
fact, nevertheless, remains, that proofs
alone, or the nearest possible ap-
proach to them, lie at the basic, rock
bottom foundations of the temple of
science.
This does not by any manner of
means suppose that every professional
man must be a specialist in his line:
it does suppose that he be thoroughly
equipped, il not as specialist, at
least as a man of broad knowledge
along the various lines that lead up
to the profession itself. The day of
the self-made man has almost disap-
peared. Here and there a powerful
intellect will vault over the chasm of
imperfect schooling, and by sheer
force raise itself to position Of
prominence. The ordinary person
trying the same method will prove a
a foS %h0 Nf
rior competition will make itself ir-
resistibly felt, to the detriment of the
Iimperfectly trained mind. So true is
this that well nigh every profession
has recognized its necessity. The
summer school, the lecture bureau,
the postgraduate course, the special
research work, and other lines lead
| ing up to specialization are an efo-
quent testimony to the earnestness
that characterizes the pursuit of
science and learning at the present
day. They all point unmistakably to
the consciousness of a necessity for
absolute efficiency in the trained pro-
fessional man. He is not allowed to
dabble in a science and then claim
intelligent recognition from his fel-
lows. Mercenary individuals will en-
deavor to make profit at the expense
of public credulity, but the half
formed product of their intellectual
incubators will assuredly betray their
inherent weakness, and as surely will
they be branded before the public as
impostors.
! Now, the physician holds one of the
very highest positions in any COM
munity in which he be found. He is
no longer simply the family doctor"
whose sole occupation it is to admin
lister simple and, perhaps. disagree
/ able remedies to let blood and per