The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-11
WEAK MEDICAL SCHOOLS
HAVE QUIT BUSINESS
DIR. Stuart Mcclure Tells OF Changes
in Modern Medical Etlu-
cation.
NUMBER CUT FROM 1876 TO 1o1
Long Course Produces High-Grade
Men, but Opens Problem as to
supplying Country Practitioners.
Value OF Specialists Discussed.


liz his annual address to tho South
ern Medical Association. DIR. Stuart Me-
ing that the efficiency OF the medical
profession has been greatly cnhahceI
by the elimination of the weaker and
poori: equipped schools. and by tho
more rigid entrance tests. The result
OF 4 movement nauguratcd to this
end is that In the last ten years the
total number of medical schools in the
United States has been reduced from
1S6 TO lD1, and the total NUMBER of
students from 2s.1i2 to 1860. Tho
value Of the modern method of teach
ing, ne said, is seen in the graduate
himself. His report. In part. follows:
The subject OF my address Is The
Profit and Loss Account Of Modern
Medicine Wonderful progress has
been made in medicine during recent
years, but the profit has been attended
by loss. which must be considered In
balancing the account.
I'm taking stock of the gain we Will
tind inspiration for the future. III count
Ing the cost we may guard against the
undue sacrifices of the past.
Tile most distinct profit and loss In
modern medicine have come about
through changes III medical education.
which have been accomplished lar4ely
through the efforts of the American
Medical Association, the Association OF
American Medical Colleges and tho
Carnegie Foundation for tho Advance
ment OF Teaching.
WEAK MEDICAL COLLEGES
HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS
1T was recognized that each year
progressively increasing number OF
low-grade practitioners were being
graduated by medical colleges and
licensed by State governments An in
vestigation of the medical schools
showed that many of them were poor
~ equipped. had scant clinical material
and lacked sufficient funds to secure
the necessary time of efficient teach
ers
ITO remedy this evil deliberate and
systematic movement was innuguratcd
TO lessen the humber and Improve the
quality of the men who were being
added to the ranks Of the profession.
BY moral suaslon. by State Legislation
and by the com bnation of the better
schools, - the entrance requirements
were advanced, the number and length
of the teaching sessions were increased
the character and scope of the curri-
cula were improved, and the minimum
number and approximate pay of the
full-time teachers were specified.
The result of this movement has
been that in the last ten years the
total number of medical SCHOOLS in the
United States has been reduced from
lS6 to 10l, and tho total number of
medical students from 2S,142 to 1892.
In other words. eighty-fve medical
schools, weak either educationaIly or
over 10000 medical students not proper
~ qualified for the profession have
ceased to study.
Finally the cost of the modern
method OF teaching is seen In the
graduate himself. If he has not paid
II n n
time for his education. He has been
Kept in laboratory, lecture-hall and
hospital ward, a nonproducer depend
ent on others for his support, until
he reaches an age at which most Of
his contemporaries are married and
settled in life. He is conscious OF the
sacrifice he has made. and usually over
appreciative Of the attainments he has
acquired. He desires to be specialist,
and Will only do general practice as
means to the end. He is determined
10 locate In city and unwilling to
settle In the country, preferring to
starve himself In the one rather than
starvc his ambitions in the other
NEED OF PRACTITIONERS
FOR COUNTRY SERVICE
This results In an urban congestion
and rural depletion of medical men
which has reached 4 point to give sc.
rious concean, and for which some
u. OcGn
proposed that special medical schools
be operated to produce low grade prac-
titioners for country consumption, but
this Is impracticable and unthinkable
The remedy for the evil Is to make
country practice less nrduous and more
profitable. and this will come about in
time with the evolution of our social
economic and political life. When we
compare the conditions that exist in
the country to-day with those which
existed even twenty years ago, and
recall the changes that have resulted
from the goodroads movement, the do.
velopment of the automobile, the in.
stallation of telephones. tho introduc.
ton of parcel post and rural mall de.
livery. the Improvement OF the public
school system. tho perfection of heat
ing and lighting plants and the in
Hention OF labor-savins machinery, il Is
not difficult to believe that in the not.
far distant future. tho Increased popu-
lation due to emigration of health and
Eleasure-seek crs from the city, and the
Increased prosperity due to intensified
and scientific farming. will mako the
life Of the country doctor one that will
attract and hold tho best representa-
tives of the profession.
The presence OF Al specialist in a
community not only gives to patients
suffering with certain diseases oppor-
tunities FOR efficient treatment, but also
Offers to the surgeon and general prao-
titioner consultant whose opinion and
advice is often Invaluable In the de.
termination OF the cause OF obscure
symptoms. and in the decision as to
the therapeutic treatment or operative
intervention most likely to effect a
cure.
lTk1ITIrU 1Ihin