PRELIMINARY EDUCATION FOR ENTRANCE INTO MERICAL COLLEGES. BY HUGH HENDRIXSON, M. D., COLUMBUS, O. More than thirty years ago when the writer was young in the practice of medicine, and an undergraduate, which was then very common, there was a growing sentiment cropping out frequently in medical associations and periodicals calling for higher qualifications among medical men. Since then general education has been evolutionary and almost revolutionary. General education of to-day has absorbed all the older and best truths which are now incorporated into new discoveries and demonstrations making the beginning of the 20th century marvelous in larger, richer and higher culture, efficiency and power. The content of education, literary or scientific, must expand and the student, especially the student of medicine, must hustle to keep pace with its rapid progress. I am glad to know that medical colleges in the past few years are insisting on a higher standard of preliminary qualification for their matriculants. Medical education, perhaps more than any other, is a process strengthening mentality by association and assimilation of facts set forth in a well-selected curriculum. A college that attempts to crowd these facts into the mind. as into moulds, crowds out individuality. I am glad there is a growing sentiment among educators to curtail the hurrying process, especially in the medical schools. A medical education stands in a somewhat different relation to the general public than other so-called learned professions. We care less about ignorant lawyers, for there are codes and courts as safeguards to prevent them from doing harm. We care but little about an ignorant clergyman, for few will go to hear him. But since medicine is becoming more and more scientific and requires a better trained intellect to grapple successfully with its tremendous responsibilities there seems to be no protection against charlatanism, but to raise the standard of qualification backed by legislation. With these and other facts before us it seems to me there is a growing demand for a better and more mature preliminary education for students of medicine. Qualified medical men in the past have proven themselves worthy guardians of the profession's honor and have not allowed enemies of higher education and protective legislation to take us by surprise. Yet, I know from personal observation the defensive lines of our profession have been assailed from time to time for the past thirty-five years. There comes to the writer a vivid recollection, when he was yet an undergraduate, that during the winter of 1868 a bill was introduced in our state legislature entitled, an act to protect the citizens of Ohio from empyricism, which was passed May 5, 1868. It provided that no one should practice medicine in Ohio who had not attended two full courses of instruction and graduated in some school of medicine, or who could not produce a certificate of qualification from a board of examiners appointed by a county or the state medical society, which certificate was to be in force two years, when the licensee must obtain the degree of M. D. from some reputable college. The writer, with others, complied with that law, submitting to an examination by a board appointed by the Ohio State Medical Society at its meeting, June, 1868, consisting of Drs. Reamy, Stephens, and Muscroft, of Cincinnati; Dr. Ball, of Zanesville, and Dr. Hyatt, of Delaware. At the expiration of aforesaid legal requirement the writer took his degree from the medical department of Western Reserve College in 1870-now Adelbert College of Western Reserve University. The law in a few years became a dead-letter in spirit; but the profession for more than twenty years thereafter never ceased its vigilance and kept guard at the gates of the grand old temple of Esculapius holding aloft the magic caduceus until during the winter of 1896, bill No. 76, entitled, an act to regulate the practice of medicine in Ohio was introduced in the House ond passed February 27, 1896, after a battle-a Waterloo-in which Coleman became our Wellington, backed by every well-informed man in the state not engaged in medical commercialism or steeped in illiteracy. We are aware this law was not all the profession asked, but the best then obtainable. However, true to our purpose-better qualification-well-organized bodies of men in the different schools of medicine worked for and secured an amendment to the law passed February 27, 1896, known as House bill No. 221, which passed April 11, 1900. This completes the law as it now stands, giving to the Medical Board of Registration and Examination full discretionary power in the examination of all persons seeking matriculation in any medical college in Ohio, as to their literary or scientific qualition. The law demands what credentials the applicant must have: viz.: "A diploma from a reputable college granting the degree of A. B., B. S., or equivalent degree; a diploma from a normal school, high school or seminary, legally constituted, issued after four years of study; a teacher's permanent or life certificate; a medical student's certificate issued upon examination by any state board; a student's certificate of examination entitling him to enter the freshman class of a reputable literary or scientific college; or a certificate of his having successfully passed an examination conducted under the direction of the State Board of Medical Registration and Examination by certified examiners, none of whom shall be directly or indirectly connected with a medical college; said examination to be held simultaneously in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, and the questions submitted to be uniform at such places." etc., etc. Noting from report of national confederation of state medical examining and licensing boards that the report of the committee on minimum standards for admission to medical colleges by the discretion of the state examining and licensing boards, the rule be enforced that any college to be considered in good standing must demand as a minimum entrance requirement, that the applicant possess a high school diploma or certificate issued after a four years' course of study, or attain a satisfactory grade of 75 per cent. upon examination under the direction of the board. In accordance with Sec. 4403c of aforesaid law the State Board of Medical Registration and Examination adopted May 15, 1900, the following minimum requirements for admission to medical colleges: 1. Orthography.-A sufficient number of words and of such character as will be a thorough test. 2. English Grammar.-Embracing the parts of speech, rules of punctuation, the formation of plural and possessive, distinction of gender, classification and properties of verbs, and analysis of sentences. 3. English Composition.-Two compositions of not less than 200 words each. One subject to be assigned and the other subject to be elective, the compositions to be written by the student at the time of the examination. They should be criticized in relation to thought, construction, punctuation, capitalization, and handwriting. Geography. Including some elements of physical geography, the political divisions, routes of commerce and travel, staple productions and population of the different countries. 6. Latin.-(Two years) the examination showing the ability of the student to translate and parse the construction of easy Latin prose, together with the expression in Latin of English sentences, such as would indicate two years of study. Arithmetic.-Such questions should be submitted as will show a clear knowledge of decimal fractions, percentage, compound numbers, and square root. 8. Algebra. Through quadratics. 10. Physics. The questions to include the elements of mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, heat, electricity, and especially of optics and acoustics. 11. Botany.-Embracing the structures of plants and the principles of their classification. 12. Zoology. Embracing the general divisions of animal life, with the distinctive confirmations and habitat of each. 13. United States History.-Boundaries and possessions. of the United States, history of the early discoveries, by whom and dates, modes of life of the natives; form of government from colonial times down to the present; various wars from the Revo lution down to the present, causes of the same; conditions that led to the Declaration of Independence; federal constitution, form of government, various administrations, dates of the most important events under each administration; growth and wealth. Candidates deficient in one subject may be admitted with a condition in that subject, which must be removed before the beginning of the second year. In lieu of the foregoing credentials, medical colleges may accept (a) a diploma from a reputable college granting the degree of A.B., B.S., or equivalent degree; (b) a diploma from a normal school or seminary, legally constituted, issued after four years of study; (c) high school, four years, setting forth that the holder has satisfactorily pursued the studies indicated in the foregoing examination; (d) a teacher's permanent or life certificate; (e) a medical student's certificate issued upon examination by any state board; (f) a student's certificate of examination for admission to the freshman class of a reputable literary or scientific college. In bringing this matter before this body of men, some of whom are professors in our schools and colleges, it is hoped a better understanding may be had, if possible, by encouraging every one to become better acquainted with the requirements of the law as to the preliminary qualifications necessary to enter a medical college. Of course, a collegiate education is desirable and is becoming easier to obtain owing to the greater number of schools, student aids, and greater wealth of the people in general. I am glad to know most medical schools recognize this fact and have raised their preliminary educational standards. In my opinion it is fatal to cheapen education in any line, especially that of medicine, and I think Yale will ere long realize her mistake when she sees in her medical graduates only "shadows of her former greatness." I would emphasize this, in my opinion, that while our board has cut out of the recommendations of the National Confederation of State Medical Examining and Licensing Boards geometry, zoology, and reduced Latin from two years to one, yet recommends the four years high school course which requires two years in Latin; that in the judgment of our board the recommendations were not too high, but the people in general were not aware of the requirements of the law and were not prepared |