THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT. As nearly as can be ascertained, about 3,600 non-graduates were practicing medicine in the state when the Medical Practice Act went into effect. Of these, about 1,400 have since left the state or quit practice. Three hundred graduated from medical schools in 1878; 150 have been examined by the Board for license to practice; 950 have received certificates of practice; 61 are awaiting examination; 350 have filed affidavits which are now being investigated at this office; 100 are practicing under preceptors; 150 practitioners are now attending the medical schools as students, with a view of graduating, and 150 are evading every provision of the law. There are now probably 350 graduates and non-graduates in the state who are exempt from the penalties of the law, who have never paid any attention to it, either by filing an affidavit as to the length of time of practice in this state, or making application for certificates from the Board. Many of these have registered in the office of the county clerks, and made returns of births and deaths, as required by the Board of Health Act. A more general compliance with the Medical Practice Act throughout the state has been shown, both by the profession and by the county clerks, than the most sanguine friends of the measure could expect, taking into consideration the difficulties surrounding the execution of a law of such character, there being no precedents to follow in its execution, and the limited means at the disposal of the Board to accomplish the same. Thus far, nine certificates have been revoked on account of false affidavits of graduation, and of time of practice in the state, and quite a number are under consideration for revocation for dishonorable and unprofessional conduct. Suits have been brought in various portions of the state resulting in a number of convictions, and establishing the constitutionality of the law, and in other cases they were dismissed upon promise of leaving the state or quitting practice. EXAMINATIONS. The Board has held eleven meetings for examinations in different parts of the state, viz.: At Chicago, three meetings, and one each at Cairo, Centralia, Charleston, Decatur, Galesburg, Champaign, DuQuoin and Springfield, at which 371 practitioners who came within the requirements of the act to regulate the practice of medicine have presented themselves for examination. Of this number 150 have passed satisfactorily, although quite a number of them had appeared before the Board two or three times. Of those rejected, a large number have since graduated at medical colleges, and others have left the state. The effect of the law, and the character of the examinations of the Board, appear when it is borne in mind that in addition to those who have passed the examinations of the Board, 178 residing outside of Cook county are registered as having graduted from colleges in 1877, while in 1878 there were 420, the law not being in effect in 1877. The cost of certificates of examination and of practice has been greater than the amount of fees received for them. The total amount received for the examination of practitioners would not have covered the single item of cost of transportation of the members to and from the places of meeting. This deficit has been made up in part by the self-sacrifice of the individual members of the Board, by the most economical management, and in some cases by the generosity of railroad authorities in furnishing members with free transportation. The examinations have been conducted by a series of printed questions and written answers. At each meeting for examination a new series of questions was placed before the class, and one of the members of the Board supervised the class while it was engaged in answering the questions. Less than one-half of those who presented themselves were able to obtain the required eighty per cent. of correct answers necessary to secure from the Board its certificate of examination. Where the candidates had any special or peculiar views of theory and practice of medicine or of therapeutics, respect was paid to such differences of opinion, and they were allowed, upon request, to appear before individual members of the Board for especial examination in such branches. A complete set of examination papers is hereto appended, as also the form of application which each candidate made out at the time of examination; also a copy of the Medical Practice Act, and of The State Board of Health Act. APPLICATION PAPER For Examination Before the Illinois State Board of Health, under the Act to 5. Physician or preceptor under whom the studies were pursued, with post 6. Courses of medical lectures attended We have examined this applicant and find him to stand as above. Members of the State Board of Health. ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, Springfield, January 16, 1878. EXAMINATION IN ANATOMY. By H. Wardner, M. D. 1st. What membranes invest the brain? Describe them. 2d. What is the average weight of the brain in the male? Female? 3d. 4th. What is the difference between afferent and efferent nerves or vessels? What structures are cut in amputating at middle of the leg? 8th. Where and through what does the pancreatic fluid enter the intestines? 9th. 10th. How many bones are there in the carpus? Name them. Where are the glands of Meibomius, and what is their function? EXAMINATION IN SURGERY. By H. Wardner, M. D. 1st. 2d. 3d. Give differential diagnosis between shock and chill. Describe inflammation. Does the temperature of an inflamed part ever exceed that of the blood in the heart? 4th. What is a wound, and how are wounds classified? 5th. When an artery is ligated, what change occurs in it? 6th. What are the most essential points in treatment of fractures? 7th. Give symptoms and treatment of morbus coxarius. 8th. How would you treat fracture of the neck of the femur? and what results would you expect? 9th. Why is the hemorrhage less in lacerated than in incised wounds? 10th. What difference would you make between the treatment of incised and lacerated wounds? 8 1st. ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. EXAMINATION IN OBSTETRICS. By A. L. Clark, M. D. What change in the position of the uterus takes place in the first months of pregnancy? 2d. Give the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cephalæmatoma.'' за. What are the dangers to mother in multiple labors? 4th. What are the dangers to mother, and what to child, in breech presentations? 5th. What is a compound presentation''? 6th. What is the difference between abortion'' and miscarriage''? 7th. What difference in shape exists between the anterior and posterior fontanelles? 8th. Give the diagnostic symptoms of "hydrocephalus' of the child during labor and before its birth. 9th. What is the treatment for labor made lingering or difficult by a short umbilical cord? 10. Name and give the length of the longest diameter of the superior strait. EXAMINATION IN CHEMISTRY. By A. L. Clark, M. D. 1st. 2d. Give the name of the heaviest, and the lightest, forms of matter known. Name the elements present in potassic chlorate.. 3d. If twenty grains of potassic chlorate be triturated with ten grains of podophyllin, or sulphur, what will be formed? 4th. What element forms the basis of clay? 5th. Give the chemical name for plaster-of-paris, or gypsum? 6th. Why does the evaporation of moisture from the skin produce a sensation of coldness! How is the centigrade thermometer graduated? 7th. 8th. 9th. Is atmospheric air formed by a chemical, or mechanical, union of gases? What chemical difference is there between "Glauber's salts'' and the preparation of soda ordinarily used for culinary purposes? 10th. Give a very delicate test for the presence of any soluble salt of iron in solution. 1st. 2d. EXAMINATION IN PRACTICAL MEDICINE. By W. M. Chambers, M. D. What is the characteristic sound produced by auscultation in Pleuritis? What is the sound produced by auscultation in the first stage of pneumonia? In the second stage? In the third stage? 3d. In asthenic diseases it is not considered safe to let the patient remain long in one position. Give the reason. 4th. What are some of the best means to arrest persistent vomiting. 5th. Is obesity a disease; If it is not, may it produce disease? If yes, how? 6th. Is anæmia a disease? 7th. Are the diseases most prevalent in Illinois of a sthenic or asthenic character? 8th. Physiologists agree that any material containing hydro-carbon decomposable is food. With this view, can alcoholic preparations be considered food in the treatment of disease. 9th. In a case of Pleuritis, what would induce you to resort to Thoraco-centesis. 10th. What is an idiosyncracy? |