work of visitation and inspection is resumed, the preparation of the report can be proceeded with as was contemplated in the recommendation, because the information can be obtained directly from the college much more correctly and expeditiously than it is possible to obtain it from a catalogue. I have, however, begun this work and am prepared to give you the results of the little I have been able to do under the circumstances. On taking up this work I was struck by the heterogeneity and variableness of the information to be obtained from a catalogue. Contradictory statements were made as often as three times in one catalogue. After I had figured out the amount of time devoted to various studies in about fifty catalogues, I was forced to abandon the work because the information obtained in that way could not be utilized for any purpose. Each college has its own ideas as to what should be taught and how much time should be devoted to it. Some colleges devote considerable time to studies not considered worthy of a place in the curriculum by others. Again, some studies are merged and are taught from one chair, so that no estimate can be made as to the time devoted to each of the studies so merged. A personal communication with the teacher would be the only proper way for obtaining such information, and that requires considerable time and correspondence, as well as an outlay of much money. Therefore, I have laid this portion of the work aside until some future time when conditions are more favorable for taking up a study of the curricula of medical colleges. It can not be denied, however, that such a report would be of assistance to all colleges in preparing their courses of study, and in establishing a uniformity of curricula. LENGTH OF TERM. Next I took up the length of the courses, and here, too, 1 found considerable variation. Six months may mean 24 weeks or 26 weeks. Seven months usually means a 28 weeks' course, but in some instances it is only a 27 weeks' course. Eight months means 30, 31 or 32 weeks. Nine months means anywhere from 33 to 36 weeks. I made my calculation according to the calendar, including examination weeks and omitting the vacation periods. A calculation based on the number of days of actual attendance would, perhaps, have been more interesting, and it certainly would have been more exact, and I shall make future calculations on this basis. Then, too, the length of the senior course always is shorter than the courses of the first three years, so that the fourth year of an eight months' school would not exceed 28 weeks in length. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS. Considerable variation also shows itself in the matter of entrance requirements. Admission by examination is possible in nearly all colleges. Some colleges admit only on presentation of a high school diploma, and some specify what such a diploma should represent in work done. In some instances it is rather difficult to determine just what credentials for entrance are required. Some colleges give time credits for nearly all kinds of work done. Others give only work credits, even to holders of baccalaureate degrees. A few colleges that are parts of a university prefer to admit only such students who have completed a prescribed course in such university. I have prepared a preliminary report on this, and expect to be able to present a complete report, giving the name of each college and its entrance requirements in detail. It is impossible to do this in a summarized report. A number of colleges will not admit students on conditions, and that, in a large measure, may be responsible for the falling off in numbers of the medical students during the past year. Of course, the raising of the entrance requirements quite generally has had much to do with this falling off. It is almost impossible to obtain a correct list of the medical colleges in this country. I believe that at present I have a list that is more nearly correct than any other. My information has been obtained from any and varied sources, but because of the constant formation of new colleges it is quite a task to keep the list correct. I have studied all the colleges in this country-those that are members of this Association and those that are not. As a result of this study, I present the following summarized report: There are at present in the United States, including the Philippine Islands, 128 regular schools, 19 homeopathic, 10 eclectic, 3 physiomedical, and I nondescript, a total of 161. Of this number, 66 of the regular schools belong to the Association and 65 are non-members. (Of this number, four have been received into membership since the writing of this report, and applications have been filed by two more.) MEMBERS. Of the colleges belonging to the Association, 2 are exclusively for women, 2 for negroes, 1 has both day and evening courses, 3 have a continuous course extending over twelve months and divided into four semesters of three months each; 1 college is a member of this Association and also of the Southern Medical College Association; 7 schools confer two degrees, the baccalaureate and the medical degree, at the end of six and seven years; 37 colleges have a university connection, either actual or in affiliation. AS TO THE LENGTH OF THE TERM. Four years of six months each, 6 colleges; four years of seven months each, 19 colleges; four years of seven and a half months each, 2 colleges; four years of eight months each, 23 colleges; four years of eight and a half months each, 1 college four years of nine months each, 15 colleges, a total of 66. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS. Rules of this Association, 41; rules of state boards of medical registration, 9; high school diploma, 8; either a baccalaureate degree or a high school diploma, plus 15 units, 1; high school diploma, plus two years of college work, 2; high school diploma. plus one and one-third years of college work, 1; high school diploma, plus one year of college work, 1; baccalaureate degree. plus credits in physics, chemistry, biology, Latin and a reading knowledge of French and German, 1; high school diploma, plus three years of college course, 1. This information was taken from the catalogues of the colleges, and is the minimum requirement, in lieu of which an exammation may be taken. Some colleges give no advanced standing whatever for any degree; some give a time credit of one year to dentists only: others, to dentists and veterinary surgeons; a very few give credit to graduates in pharmacy; some colleges give work credits but no time credit. FEES. I have included the matter of fees in my study. The fees vary from $35.00 a term to $200.00. The medical departments of universities have low fees for residents, but the same fee does not apply to non-residents. A very few colleges give a discount to the sons of physicians and clergymen. One college offers the tuition of the third and fourth years to students who matricu late for the freshman work in October, 1903 and 1904. NON-MEMBERS. Of the colleges who are not members of this Association, I is exclusively for women; 1 teaches all of the "pathies" and "sects" of medicine, including osteopathy, the student choosing his work; 5 are for negroes (4 are night schools); 4 teach the first two years only of the medical course, and 1, I understand, is a diploma mill; 34 have a university connection of some kind. AS TO TIE LENGTH OF THE COURSE. Fours years of six months each, 19; four years of seven months each, 18; four years of seven and a half months each. 2; four years of eight months each, 11; four years of nine months each, 4; four years of ten months each, 3 (night schools); five years of nine months each, 1 (night school); two years of nine months each, 4; no information, 2-a total of 65. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS. Twelve of these schools are members of the Southern Medi cal College Association, and exact the entrance requirement laid down by this Association. Seven other schools abide by the rules of the Association of American Medical Col leges; 5 abide by the rules of the Southern Medical College Asociation; 19 require a high school diploma or its equivalent ; 1, a baccalaureate degree, plus a chemistry credit; 2, a high school diploma, plus one year of college work; 1 requires "sa isfactory evidence of educational qualifications necessary for the successful prosecution of medical studies": 1, "a diploma certificate, or examination showing proficiency"; 1, "a certifi cate showing proficiency"; 1, "certificate showing possession of sufficient knowledge"; 1, "preliminary examination for app cants not possessing requisite diploma or certificate." FEES. The fees range from $30.00 to $250.00. The colored school ask the lowest fees, and nearly all of them ask less than $50.00 per term. This work is merely a preliminary study, and the fortheon ing catalogues for the session of 1904 and 1905 will vary con siderably from those of the last session, so that this work wi Dr. William J. Means, chairman of the council, reported as follows: The Judicial Council held one regular meeting during the year, at the Wiltshire Hotel, Atlantic City, N. J., June 6. There were present Drs. W. J. Means, chairman; E. F. Ingals of Chicago, T. H. Hawkins of Denver, Randolph Winslow of Baltimore and H. B. Ward of Nebraska. The meeting was called to order by the chairman. H. B. Ward was elected secretary. The first business was a consideration of the applications for membership made in 1903, on which action was deferred pending further investigation of the standing of the colleges. Dallas (Texas) Medical College, withdrew its application. The application of the University of Tennessee, located at Jackson, Tenn., referred to Dr. Means for investigation, was taken up, and, because of insufficient facilities and lack of teaching force, was not considered eligible for membership. Rejection of the application is, therefore, recommended. The application of the University of West Virginia, located at Morgantown, W. Va., for membership, covering the first and second years only of a four years' medical course, is, on a report from Dr. Dodson, who investigated the college, recommended. The application of the Medical Department of Wake Forest College, at Wake Forest, N. C., for membership, covering the first and second years only of a four years' medical course, is, on a favorable report from Dr. Winslow, recommended. The application of the Medical Department of the University of Mississippi, located at Jackson, Miss., for membership, was considered, and it was decided to recommend membership covering the first and second years of a medical course. The Medical Department of the University of Missouri made application to complete its membership for a full four years' course. A thorough investigation was made of the clinical facilities of the college, and the members of the council believe they are sufficient to meet the requirements for a thorough medical course. The council, therefore, recommends a full membership. The Medico-Chirurgical College of Kansas City, Mo., made application for membership. After due consideration the council recommends that the matter be laid over one year pending further investigation. COMMUNICATIONS AND ANSWERS. During the year many inquiries were received asking for a construction of rules governing admission of students, credits, etc. Among the most important, we submit the following: CHARGES AGAINST BALTIMORE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. The following charges were preferred by the Baltimore Medical College against the Baltimore University School of Medicine: BALTIMORE, May 18, 1904. William J. Means, A.M., M.D., Chairman Judicial Council of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 715 North High St., Columbus Ohio: Dear Doctor:-The Board of Directors of the Baltimore Medical College has directed me to lay before your Council the following complaint against the Baltimore University School of Medicine: That the said Baltimore University School of Medicine received students. then in attendance at the Baltimore Medical College, on or about the following dates, the same being other than is permitted by the rules of the Association of American Medical Colleges : Charles H. Glover left the Baltimore Medical College on or about Feb. 17, 1904, entered the Baltimore University School of Medicine and graduated therefrom on April 19. 1904. Wm. E. Giesregen left the Baltimore Medical College on or about March 1, 1904, and graduated from the Baltimore University School of Medicine April 19, 1904. Frederick S. Bootay left the Baltimore Medical College on or about Feb. 20, 1904. and graduated from the Baltimore University School of Medicine April 19, 1904. H. Forsythe Stapp left the Baltimore Medical College on or about March 26, 1904, and graduated from the Baltimore University School of Medicine April 19, 1904. Harper A. Wright left the Baltimore Medical College on or about Dec. 24. 1903, and graduated from the Baltimore University School of Medicine April 19, 1904. Harry E. Duffy left the Baltimore Medical College on or about Feb. 2, 1904, and graduated from the Baltimore University School of Medicine on April 19, 1904. Should other proof than this statement be required we will be pleased to place before your council on request documents proving the correctness of the charges herein made. We regret to have to make this complaint against a school in our own city, a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges, but believing the charges to be true and in contravention of the rules of the Association of American Medical Colleges, as well as inimical to the general welfare of medical education, we feel it our duty to do so. Kindly acknowledge receipt hereof, at the same time advising us what further action, if any, may be necessary on our part. Assuring you of our cordial personal esteem, we have the honor to remain, Yours very truly, DAVID STREETT, M.D., Dean. P. S.-On April 20 our Dr. Samuel T. Earle informed Dr. R. Winslow, the resident member of your council, of this matter, and I presume that he has already notified you of it. D. S. A copy was furnished the Baltimore University School of Medicine May 21. The following answer was received May 30: BALTIMORE, May 30, 1904.' Dr. W. J. Means. Chm. Jud. Coun., Association American Medical Colleges, No. 715 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio: My Dear Doctor Means:-I am in receipt of your favor of the 21st, and in reply our faculty is more than surprised to hear that the directors of the Baltimore Medical College should have preferred any charges against the Baltimore University School of Medicine, and the faculty at a meeting held Friday evening, May 27, 1904, has instructed me to say that each and every one of the students mentioned in your letter, that is Messrs. Charles H. Glover, William E. Geisregen, Frederick S. Bootay, H. F. Stapp. H. A. Wright and Harry E. Duffy, matriculated in the Baltimore University School of Medicine in October, and were students at our College during the session, and if they were in attendance at another college at the same time our faculty was not aware of it. We have no desire to do anything that would conflict with the constitution or by-laws of the Association of American Medical Colleges in any way, shape or form whatever, and we do all we can to uphold and support the Association. We have done nothing to conflict with "Section 4, Article 3. of the Constitution," we only honor official credentials of recognized medical colleges, and under no circumstances do we allow any member of the senior class to graduate at our institution unless he takes all of the branches embraced in our senior year. It is our custom when a student applies to us for matriculation and shows us his credentials for his past years, we never think of such a thing as asking him whether he is in attendance at any other medical college at that time. Trusting this will be satisfactory, and assuring you of our earnest desire not to do anything that will conflict with your body, I beg to remain, Very respectfully yours, H. H. BIEDLER, Dean, Baltimore University School of Medicine. Due notice was given both colleges to prepare their evidence for presentation to the council June 6, at Atlantic City. Dr. Streett, Dean of the Baltimore Medical College, submitted evidence, properly attested, from the records of the college and teachers in support of the charges. Dr. Biedler, Dean of the Baltimore University School of Medicine, denied the charges in a general way, but furnished no documentary evidence to support his statement. After due consideration of the testimony the council adopted the following: RESOLVED, The testimony presented by the officers of the Baltimore Medical College clearly established the fact that Chas. H. Glover, Wm. E. Giesregen, Frederick S. Bootay, II. Forsythe Stapp, Harper A. Wright and Harry E. Duffy were regularly matriculated students in said college, and continued in attendance during the time stated in specifications; and, the statement of the dean of the Baltimore University School of Medicine that said students were matriculated in his college in the month of October, and were in attendance during the session, unsupported by attested evidence from records of the college and teachers, is not a sufficient refutation. Therefore, inasmuch as the charges are clearly in contravention to the rule of the association, and the requirements for graduation set forth in the college announcement, the council recommends that the Baltimore University School of Medicine be suspended from membership until satisfactory evidence is furnished from the class records and teachers of the college, properly attested, sustaining the contention that said students were in attendance during their senior year. The members of the council wish to express to the officers of the association and the members thereof, their appreciation of the many kindly courtesies shown them. Respectfully, W. J. MEANS, E. F. INGALS, T. H. HAWKINS, RANDOLPH On motion the report was accepted. (To be continued.) |