The four years’ course as marked out by the Intercollegiate Committee of the American Institute of Homoeopathy is certainly excellent, but does it go far enough? The first year is given to elementary medical study; there are then but three subsequent years given to the whole of that science and art, than which none is more comprehensive and varied. After the most careful study of this subject in its various phases, this time seems altogether too short to accomplish the needed work, and at least five years should be required from the time of leaving the ordinary literary studies to acquire essential knowledge of a subject so intricate as medicine.
The following presents a comprehensive schedule of the required work:.
First Year.
General Chemistry (Laboratory Course and Recitations).
Physics (Laboratory Course and Recitations).
Zoology (Laboratory Course and Recitations).
Botany (Laboratory Course and Recitations).
Microscopy (Laboratory Course).
Latin.
Second Year.
General Anatomy (Recitations and Dissections).
Physiology (Recitations and Laboratory Work).
Histology (Laboratory Course).
Pharmaceutics (Laboratory Course and Recitations).
Minor Surgery.
Sanitary Science. Dietetics.
Third Year.
Anatomy of Nervous System and Special Organs (Dissections).
Embryology.
Physiology (Laboratory).
General Pathological Anatomy (Demonstrations and Recitations).
General Surgery.
Materia Medica.
Obstetrics.
Fourth Year.
Pathology and Therapeutics.
Special Pathological Anatomy (Laboratory Work).
Operative Surgery (with Clinics and Laboratory Course).
Topographical Anatomy (Dissections).
Materia Medica.
Obstetrics (Clinical and Operative).
Diseases of the Chest and Throat.
Clinics.
Fifth Year.
Pathology and Therapeutics.
Diseases of the Nervous System.
Diseases of the Skin.
Diseases of Women.
Diseases of the Ear.
Diseases of the Eye.
Electro-Therapeutics.
Medical jurisprudence and Ethics of Medicine.
Dispensary Practice.
Clinics and Clinical Reports.
Thesis.
In addition to the subjects already enumerated, there are constantly arising many points of practical instruction suggested by the different forms of disease and the accompanying circumstances, which can be discussed by the various instructors with great value. Time becomes an elements of importance, and the student, however stupid, by continued contact with those well learned in the various subjects, will gain a large amount of knowledge.
But it can be readily seen that a medical school for the proper teaching of all these subjects requires the most extensive facilities, which are necessarily attended with great expense. The hospital should be large and commodious, the dispensaries sufficient to afford the greatest amount of clinical work, the numerous laboratories thoroughly equipped, with a sufficient number of competent instructors to properly direct the course of the student, and clinical material should be secured to illustrate as fully as possible all the essential points in medicine. The very detail of this work is startling, almost appalling, but the end to be gained-the physical advantage of the whole human race-makes the subject one well worthy of the greatest human effort.
Is there any class of physicians to whom we could appeal for this with better reason than to those of our own school? From the time of Hahnemann to the present, those who believe in his principles have, as a class, been independent, earnest, progressive men, not accustomed to shrink from sacrifice or personal effort; are they not equally ready now? It is not a matter of a few months, or even years; but it is for us to set our standard of what should be done as high as possible, and then bend our efforts to its accomplishment, whatever time it may require.
We are now nearly at the close of the close of the nineteenth century, environed by mental activity and a rapidity of progress before unknown in the world’s history. Here in the City of Chicago, which stands pre-eminent for its energy and powers for great success, may we not take on some of the qualities of our surroundings, and determine that at the beginning of the twentieth century in all the Homoeopathic colleges of this country we will aim to reach the high standard of medical education which five years of close study can alone give to the physician.
DISCUSSION.
THE CHAIRMAN: The address will first be discussed by O.S. Runnels, of Indianapolis.
DR. RUNNELS: Homoeopathy to-day holds pre-eminence in matters educational, and we want to do nothing here that shall in any way take her down from that proud position. We must keep our forces well to the front and be leaders in all educational matters, for it is a fact that the American Institute of Homoeopathy is the only national body that requires the high standard that she does. There is no college there recognized that does not requires a four years’ course from her students.
That is a great advance. And for several years students matriculating have been informed that they are to have a thorough education first, and that they can get their degree in no other way. I am sure that Dr. Talbot has taken the right stand here to-day in looking forward to a time when greater requirements must be had, when the student shall have to pass five years in preliminary work before he can go forth to practice. A great deal depends upon the stand the laity takes in this matter.
Medical colleges can will to do certain things, but unless they are supported by the profession at large they will be powerless to accomplish that work. I think the medical profession should patronize no college which does not require the highest of their students. From the earliest times in Homoeopathy we have been friends of education. We look back to a founder who was not a mountebank, but who stool at the very top of medical requirement, and so all along down the line, our leaders have been men who have shone in the firmament of knowledge.
THE CHAIRMAN: The address will be further discussed by Dr. A.P. Hanchett, of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
DR. HANCHETT: I feel illy prepared to discuss this question, for I have only heard the paper as you have heard it. I have a feeling of pride and of great satisfaction at all times to know that the representatives of our school of medicine could feel that their position was on firm ground, that we had taken the lead in the matter of a higher education.
A few years ago when one of our Western States organized its board of examiners, and the question of schools and colleges came up, the diplomas from which should be accepted as credentials, the whole field of the medical colleges was thoroughly and carefully canvassed. Something like 150schools that issued diplomas were found to be in existence in thus country; of that number but fifteen were Homoeopathic. Ten per cent. of the Allopathic schools were ruled as unworthy to have their diplomas recognized, whereas 100 percent of the Homoeopathic colleges were pronounced by this non partisan board as thoroughly reliable, and whose diplomas should pass current.
The strikes me there was one point in this paper which was overhead, and that was the requirement for preliminary education. Before a student approaches us we should say, are you ready young man, or young woman, to commence the study of medicine? have you, had the mental training that must precede it? And then if we should positively demand such preparation we would bring a better class of men and women into our colleges. I contend that the medical profession must make the same requirement made by some of our religious denominations.
I understand that in some of them they are not admitted to the theological schools until they bring a diploma showing a classical education and through mental training. It is this preparation that I am laboring for, and I have many times expressed the conviction that I should accept no student who has not had a through training or a college course. In that way only I believe are we to bring the standard of our medical men up to where it should be.
THE CHAIRMAN: The paper will be further discussed by Dr. T.G. Comstock, of St. Louis, Mo.
DR. COMSTOCK: I was very much pleased with Dr. Talbot’s paper, and I thought the Congress might be proud to know that the Boston University was the first to insist upon a four years’ course of study, and if you will look over the catalogue of the Boston University you will find for several years that one third of the students are A.B. ‘s. Now one year ago at Philadelphia I had the honor of being the President of the Alumni of the Hahnemann Medical College, and made and address there in which I insisted that hereafter none should enter a medical college unless they had the degree of A.B., and moreover. I made the prediction that within ten years from now every medical college would require a course of five years instead of three as at present.
THE CHAIRMAN: As there is no further discussion on this address the paper of Dr. Alexander Villers, of Dresden, Germany, on “Historical Development of Homoeopathy in Germany,” will be read by the Secretary.
