Proceedings of the National Medical Conventions, held in New York, May, 1846, and in Philadelphia, May, 1847.

  • American Medical Association
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Proceedings of the National Medical Conventions, held in New York, May, 1846, and in Philadelphia, May, 1847. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    which are demanded in foreign schools. They either exact of theii< pupils an unnecessary standard of requirements, or we, on the con trary, are satisfied with too low a grade of qualification. WhicN alternative is this convention prepared to adopt? Are we willing tc ] assert, and maintain the opinion that he who has passed eight month: within the walls of a medical college is as well fitted for the practica duties of his profession, as he who has devoted years to more ex tended studies? Assuredly we cannot advocate a proposition so ab surd. Nor, perhaps, is it at all requisite to occupy the time of tho convention with a long detail of arguments in order to prove th< necessity of some measures of reform. In regard to the two subjects of preliminary education and the mode of examination, this committee has nothing to do. But bein£ charged with the duty of reporting upon a uniform and elevatec standard of requirements for the degree of M. I)., whatever altera tion in the present system it may recommend, will more immediately bear upon the interests of the schools. Yet let it not be supposed, a: some we fear have imagined, that the object of this Committee, or o this Convention, is to attack with a ruthless hand the institutions o the country, rendered venerable by time, or that still larger numbei whose charters have been obtained at a more recent date. We be lieve that no agrarian feeling has stimulated to action the advocate: of reform in this or any other land ; we dare express the conviction that the best interests of society and of the profession itself (which spring from no selfish considerations), could alone have commenced a work, which, if calmly and perseveringly conducted, must redound to the good of all. We are aware that many obstacles are opposed to the successful prosecution of the several matters upon which we have assembled to deliberate. With no National Legislature to regulate our Medical Institutions, and with a reckless indifference to their concerns too often practised by our State Governments, each has endeavoured to build up for itself, if not an enduring reputation, at least a long cata- logue of names. And the colleges themselves resting secure in their chartered rights, may contend against any interference with their several systems of education ; although we would fain indulge the hope that some among them stand prepared to listen to that voice which rarely speaks in vain—the voice of public opinion. This it is which now agitates the professional mind from one end of this Union to the other; and this it is which, if not now heeded, will not cease to reiterate its cry. Let but a very few even of our conspicuous in- stitutions demand of their pupils a more extended course of study
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