OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

1899.

W. A. SPURGEON, M. D., President......

.Muncie.

Examiner in Anatomy and Physiology, and in Physio-Medical Materia Medica and Therapeutics, and Theory and Practice of Medicine.

J. C. WEBSTER, M. D., Vice-President....... Lafayette. Examiner in Regular Materia Medica and Therapeutics, and Theory and Practice of Medicine.

W. F. CURRYER, M. D., Secretary....

...

Indianapolis.

Examiner in Gynecology, and in Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics, and Theory and Practice of Medicine.

JAMES M. DINNEN, M. D., Treasurer............

Examiner in Chemistry and Surgery.

Fort Wayne.

W. T. GOTT, M. D.........

.....Crawfordsville.

Examiner in Obstetrics, and in Homeopathic Materia Medica and Therapeutics, and Theory and Practice of Medicine.

REPORT OF THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL

REGISTRATION AND EXAMINATION.

To His Excellency, James A. Mount, Governor :

The Indiana State Board of Medical Registration and Examination has the honor to submit to you a report of its proceedings for the years ending December 31, 1898 and 1899.

The members of the Board take pleasure in acknowledging their great obligation to your Honor. They appreciate very greatly your uniform kindness and constant assistance in the execution of the law, and appreciate the kind attention which they have ever received from the executive department. The Board has been greatly aided in its work by the advice of the Attorney-General, Mr. W. L. Taylor, and of his deputy, Mr. Merrill Moores; and for their excellent counsel in determining legal questions that have arisen, and assistance in the execution of the law the Board is under great obligations.

An earnest and sincere effort has been made to execute the various provisions of the medical law fairly and justly, and to secure to the people all the protection and advantages that it can afford. It is due the Board to say that perfect harmony has prevailed in all of its work and deliberations.

While the work has not been so arduous during the years just closed, as in the early history of its duties, yet many difficulties have arisen in securing the enforcement of the law in certain districts of the State. In the main, however, the Medical Practice Act has met with general favor and compliance by the medical profession and has received the endorsement of both the profession and the people. Under the operation of the law, a large number who were devoid of medical education have either quit the practice or left the State. Medical colleges within the State are earnestly endeavoring to fulfill every requirement of the Board.

In compliance with the law, the Board, either as a body or by committee, has visited and carefully inspected the equipments of each medical college within the State, and informed itself as to the

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amount and character of work done in each college. As will be seen further on in the report the colleges in this State have for the most part fulfilled the requirements of the Board. It is with no little gratification that we are able to say that the recognized medical colleges of our State are earnestly and successfully endeavoring to meet the higher requirements of not only our own. law, but of the medical laws of the several States of this country.

The members of the Board are especially grateful to the officers and faculties of the various medical colleges of Indiana, and of the various medical societies in the State, and also to the profession at large for hearty co-operation and encouragement, which we have received in all our efforts to enforce the law in the interests of honorable medicine. It will be observed that since the enactment of the law and the organization of the Board, the recognized medical colleges of Indiana have all accepted a four years' course of study. The Board has every reason to believe that they are all adhering to the standard of minimum requirements prescribed by the Association of American Medical Colleges as a prerequisite for matriculation, and are carefully enjoining regular attendance upon the full per cent. of lectures and recitations in each of the four regular courses of instruction, and earnestly endeavoring to comply with such requirements as are enjoined by law.

The Board in its work has encountered a class of men who, in order to win the title of "doctor" in the easiest way possible, and to avoid the long rigid course of study and hard work required by reputable medical colleges, have resorted to many forms of deceptions and schemes to secure legal recognition. The Board has not attempted to construe the law as limiting any physician to any method or means of treating the sick, but does demand that a legally recognized physician shall possess a reasonably thorough medical education, as demonstrated by a successful examination by the Board or the faculty of a medical college giving the regular courses of study, hospital and laboratory training.

There are three classes of violation of the law: (a) Open and defiant violation by those who have no license and who do not ask for license. This class is small and growing smaller. (b) Those who have no license but contend that they are eligible. These are persons who are from nonrecognized institutions. (c) Persons

who are engaged constantly in the treatment of the sick and the afflicted, but contend that they are not practicing medicine in the meaning of the law, because they avoid the administration of drugs. These people claim the right to take into their hands the fate of the sick and the welfare of the community without any adequate preparation. They advertise their extravagant claims and boast to the community of their cures, while at the same time they do not know and could not tell the difference between smallpox and some noninfectious or noncontagious form of disease. Juries, prejudiced in favor of what they erroneously call "personal liberty," and the right of each person to choose his own doctor, acquit some of these violators, deciding that they are not practicing medicine because they do not give drugs.

A more precise definition of the "practice of medicine" as the term is used in the law would afford the community some protection. It is often as dangerous to the sick and to the community to fail to recognize the nature of a case of sickness or the character of a disease as to know nothing about the correct treatment or to treat it improperly. We would recommend, therefore, a change in the law, defining the practice of medicine.

The Board has from the beginning endeavored to comply with that provision of the law which requires it to visit the medical colleges of the State and inspect their work, equipment and facilities for teaching the science and practice of medicine. For the most part the officers and faculties have accorded the Board the fullest co-operation and assistance in the work. Very naturally, however, in instances where a favorable report could not be made, and the colleges were in equipment and facilities below the standard fixed by the Board, dissatisfaction has found expression. It is contended by the officers and faculties of some medical colleges not recognized as in good standing that the teaching afforded their students does equip them for the duties of the profession and renders them safe and valuable members of the profession. Again it is contended that some students in nonrecognized colleges, by reason of superior ability and great application, are better equipped after graduation than some other students who have had their training in the best colleges. The Board believes that in a measure this contention is not without foundation, and that all graduates of all

medical schools should be placed upon an equal footing so far as possible upon the basis of individual merit and equipment. This condition has been recognized by all medical colleges and by the examining Boards of many of the States to meet and provide against any injustice to either the college or the applicant for license.

The laws in many States have been amended so that all graduates of all medical colleges are required to pass an examination before the State Board of the State where application is made. We believe this is just and would place not only the applicant upon his merit so far as possible, but the college as well. At this time the practitioners of medicine of our own State are under the disadvantage of receiving no reciprocal recognition from many other State Boards upon the basis of their standing in the profession in Indiana, though this Board has striven to secure it for them. The reason assigned by the Boards of the other States for refusing reciprocal relations with us is that their requirements are higher than in Indiana, in that they require an examination of all applicants. So we believe that the time has come in Indiana when all future applicants for certificates of qualification should be required to pass an examination before the State Board. The objections to this provision as an amendment to the present law could not be urged as it was urged when proposed as a provision in the law when it was first enacted, for then it was justly contended that such a provision would discriminate in favor of the recent graduate fresh from college. But now only that class is under the necessity of making application. Those whose qualifications are based upon years of experience are in possession of the legal right to practice.

Through such judicious reciprocal arrangements as could be effected with other States under a law with provision of this kind, no qualified physician of another State would be barred from practice in Indiana, nor would our own practitioners be embarrassed by the forms of law when desiring to locate and practice medicine in States having such relations with us.

Again, the law should be so amended that the Clerk of the Court would be required to file in his office all certificates of qualification presented to him by applicants for license to practice. The certificates can serve no legitimate purpose in the hands of