Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-18
Machine Made Doctors.

A bulletin of the Carnegie Founda
ton for the Advancement of Teaching.
concerning medical Education in Eu-
rope" has just been issued. 1t pre-
sents In detail and in terms not to be
misunderstood some of the problems
and evils now confronting those who
are fighting to elevate the profession
and through it, humanity.
president Pritchett explains in his
introduction that the Foundations
study of medical education in Ameri-
ca led TO a demand for an extension
of the investigation to the leading
European nations. The bulletin there
exist in these countries, and draws at
tention to both their strong and their
weak points. Perfection is found no.
where, but all European countries
make q definite educational require
ment for entrance upon medical edu-
cation, and permit no school to teach
medicine without the essential labora-
tory facilities and abundant clinical
opportunities. In President Pritchetts
words.
Scandals in medical education exist
In America alone. In no foreign couh-
try is a medical school to be found
the dssecting-room and disease by the
study of sick people. 1t has remained
for the United States and Canada TO
confer annually the degree of doctor OF
medicine upon, and to admit to practice.
hundreds who have learned anatomy
from quiz-compends, textbooks. These
scandalous conditions are less Wide
spread today than they We're decade
ago; yet they are still to be found in al
most all sections of the country, even in
the most cultivated. lhe state of Mas
saehusetts tolerates in the city OF Bos-
ton, the State of New York tolerates In
the city of New York, the state of llli-
nois tolerates in the city of Chicago, the
State of Missouri tolerates in st. Louis,
the State OF California tolerates in San
Francisco, so called medical schools that
pretend TO train doctors despite the
fact that they are without adequate
clinical facilities. In no European coun-
try is il possible to find an educational
farce Of this description. There, every
school has adequate clinical resources
terms upon which medical school can
exist abroad were applied tc America,
thrEe-iDuftbS Oh our existing medical
schools would be closed at once. And
let me add. the remaining fourth would
be easily and entirely adequate to our
need Managers of feeble medical en-
terprises in our country pretend that
they are making great sacrifices for this
public good, This hypocritical pretenst
ought not to be permitted longer tC
damage the public interest No medica
school that lacks proper facilities hai
any other motive than the selfish adVan
tage of those that carry II on; and nc
civilized country except America at thii
dav allows such anterprIses 10 limos.
upon the public
Perhaps the most important part o
the report deals with examinations
The American state board examina
ton is almost altogether written, il
consequence Of which medical school
lacking laboratories and clinical faeil
tiles can by hard drilling prepare thei
students 10 pass. The commercial es
Adjustments in Chicago, San Fran
cisco, Memphis. and even institution
like the medical departments OF Dart
mouth College and the University 9
Vermont. with very seanty clinical ia
cilities, can live in America becaus