NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
Washington
Founded 1836
U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare



             Public Health Serrice 
 
 
Jfrf.Ij—,
AN ENQUIRY
 '   <L_
\j
INTO
THE PRESENT SYSTEM
or
  MEDICAL, EDUCATION,



                 IN THH



         STATE OF NEW-YORK.



RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE


    MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
BY AN OBSERVER.
.<*r
<».'.\
         ALBANY:

PRINTED BT WEB8TEK8 AND SKINNEBS,


           1830. 
 
AN ENQUIRY,  $c.
  For, several years past, attempts have been made, td get the
legislature to modify, or entirely to change, the established system
of medical education in this state.   We propose,  briefly to exam-
ined this important  subject.   We shall  endeavour to do so with
impartiality, and candor;  and if we do not furnish sound  argu-
ments in favor of leaving the present system unaltered, we are
willing to acquiesce  in any change, warranted by reason, and sanc-
tioned by the  experience of this, or any other country.   But, if,
on  the contrary, the arguments brought forward in favor of alter-
ing the  medical laws, proceed from the speculative views of  per-
sons who delight  in change,  and neglect the warning of experi-
ence, or from motives of a less respectable kind, those of self in-
terest, we trust the legislature will see the propriety ofj leaving
matters  as they are.
   It is acknowledged on all  hands that the  medical profession in
this state has, within the last ten years, made rapid  progress in
every thing tending  to its respectability and utility.  Students are
now generally in the habit of attending lectures at the different me-
dical colleges, and are every  year showing greater proficiency in
general  knowledge.  They are, therefore, compared to those that
went before them, generally speaking, liberally educated, and pre-
pared before they  enter upon the active duties of their profession,
to discharge these duties with credit to themselves, and with safe-
ty to their patients.
   No system of medical education in this country, is so admira-
bly calculated to promote the respectability of the medical profes-
sion, and to secure  the public against  ignorant pretenders, as that
at present established in the state of New York.   Indeed, it might
be said, that in its general plan, it is not surpassed, if equalled, by
that of any country.  If a defect  exists, it does not lie in the too
great severity of the requisitions of the medical  law, but in their
not being severe enough. 
4
  We cannot however all at once, adopt such regulations as are
enforced in most European countries ; but we have made gradual
ii;i,.i.).«mtmt8 ; and if left undisturbed for a few years longer,  the
medical profession in this state, will  be as well educated, and as
well qun lined in all respects, as that of any other country.  Of this
improved state  the public at large would reap the benefit, without
any  additional expense.   For it is a  mistaken notion, generally
prevailing, that if the profession is to  become  more learned, fees
would become  higher.  The most ignorant, generally charge as
much as the more liberally educated.  There is no proportion be-
tween qualification and compensation.  The fees of physicians are
not higher now than they were twenty years ago, when very few
medical men had any other professional education  than that ac-
quired  at the office of some  private  practitioner ;  which was no
education at all, compared to what is now acquired by most stu-
dents of medicine.
  If then the medical profession is every year becoming better and
better educated, and the  public has the benefit of the services of
better qualified practitioners, without incurring additional expense,
would it not be both imprudent and  improper to disturb the pre-
sent system  ? and would this not be more obviously so, if it should
appear that the changes asked for, would,  agreeably to past expe-
rience,  tend to send the medical profession back  to where it stood
twenty years ago ?
   We presume that it is unnecessary at the present day to prove,
that the safety  of the public  requires, that medical men should
receive some professional education ; and should be required to go
through some course of study, and  give  some evidence of their
proficiency,  before they ought to be entrusted with the care of the
lives of our citizens.   We all know that to become a good watch-
maker,  a good carpenter,  a good tailor or  shoemaker,  requires
years of application and practice.   Can we for a  moment suppose
that an  equal length of time is not required to  understand the me-
chanism of  the human  body, and the  manner of remedying its
disorders?  Such is the business  of the medical man.  We know
that watchmakers and other mechanics of the present day are a
great deal more skilful  than those of former ages.  From  what
has this arisen ?—From this simple cause ;  that every year, eome- 
5
body has made a little improvement, with  which the rest of the
trade soon became acquainted ;  and the  collection of such im-
provements in the course of ages has brought the several mechanic
arts to their present perfection.   So it is in medicine.   The ac-
cumulated experience of ages is imparted by the teachers to the
student.   There is therefore the same difference between an educa-
ted student, and one who attempts to  practice physic without ed-
ucation,  as between a carpenter who is self  taught, and one who
has been  instructed  under a  skilful  master.   The work of one
is rude and clumsy—that of the other neat and elegant. - The one
spoils  good materials—the other makes the most of them.   So in
medicine.  The skilful surgeon saves  a limb or a  life—while the
ignorant spoils the one, and often destroys the other.
   Taking it therefore for  granted, that the  community at  large,
are duly convinced of the propriety of having educated medical
men,  in  preference to  ignorant  and untaught  practitioners, we
shall endeavour to  ascertain  what  degree of education is most
useful to the public interest, and most compatible with the existing
state of society.   It is evident, that if  a sufficient supply of medi-
cal practitioners can be obtained, to meet  the wants of the commu-
nity,  at an expense not above their  means, the  better educated
these practitioners are, the better for the public.   It is better to have
no physician  at all, than an ignorant  one.   Let us then enquire
whether the present requisitions are higher, than is absolutely ne-
cessary for die safety of the community,  and whether they  are so
high  as to deprive the public of such a supply of physicians as
the exigencies of the state require.
   By  the law at present in force, every student is required to prove,
before he can be admitted to an examination, that he is twenty-one
years of age, and has studied medicine for four years.  If, howev-
ever, he has attended a full  course of medical lectures,  at some
regularly incorporated medical institution, or has a classical educa-
tion, he can be examined after having studied only three years.—
Candidates for license are  examined and  admitted by the medical
societies.  The medical societies are of  two kinds.   1st. Every
county has a medical society,  established by law, of which every
medical  practitioner in the county must be  a member.   Each
county society has a power of examining candidates and of grant- 
6
 ing licensee.   2d.  The  state medical society, consists of dele-
 gates from the several county societies, and a few individuals elect-
 ed by these called  permanent members.  This society is by law
 authorised to make any  regulations  for the  government and im-
 provement of the medical profession, that are not inconsistent with
 the laws of this state, or of the United States.   Appeals are made to
 the state  society,  whenever differences  exist in any of the coun-
 ty societies, or when candidates for license have been rejected by
 the censors of these societies, and feel themselves thereby aggriev-
 ed or unfairly treated.
   By the peculiar organization of the  state society, consisting of a
 member from every county in the state, we  are  enabled to as-
 certain the general state of public  health ; what are the prevailing
 diseases in different parts of the state ; and what are the most suc-
 cessful modes of treating them.  Information of the utmost import-
 ance is thus rapidly diffused, and a spirit of enquiry and improve-
ment awakened, which might  otherwise lie dormant for ages.    In
no part of the world is the organization of the medical profession
so admirably calculated for procuring the most correct and  the
most  speedy  intelligence of the state of public health, within  the
whole bounds of the government, as in this state ; or so well calcu-
lated to throw light on the nature and treatment of diseases, and
consequently to alleviate the miseries of mankind.   It will be asked
what good has it done ? What great discoveries do we owe to  the
medical system of the  state  of New-York ?   Many important  im-
provements we owe  to  this system.   Is it a  small matter that  in-
stead  of an ignorant profession, we have now, in  consequence of
 this organization, in every part of the state,  intelligent, well edu-
 cated practitioners ? Is it a small matter, that in consequence of this,
 the discoveries made in the  most remote parts of Europe, and  the
 improvements in all parts of  the world,  are  diffused  through  the
 state ? Is  it a  small matter that  the doctrines taught, and the dis-
 coveries made, in London,  in Paris,  and in Vienna, are within a
 few months after their publication, taught at a small expense, in
 the interior of our  state, even to  the humblest student within  our
 widely extended bounds ?   Such  are a  few of the  fruits  of the
 medical system of the  state  of New-York ;  and as the profession
 becomes better educated, we shall see more of its advantages. 
7
  Such is the mode of getting licenses.   There is  yet another
class of practitioners, of whom a more extensive course of study is
required: namely,  thooe  who aspire to  the degree of  doctor of
medicine.  Candidates for this degree, are required to attend two
full courses of lectures at some regularly established college, to un-
dergo a public examination,  and to write and defend a discourse
upon some medical subject.   If they have complied with all these
requisitions, the professors of the college at which they have studied,
recommend them to the regents of the university, and  the  latter
confer the degree.
  From  what has been stated, it will be perceived,  that if a stu-
dent be  poor and  unable to  attend lectures,  he can be admitted
to  an examination for a license at the end of four years, without
any other advantages than a private office affords.  If he has attended
a course  of lectures, he is only required to study three years before
he  is admitted to an examination.   If again, he has had  still great-
er  advantages, has attended two full courses of lectures, and had a
 good preliminary education, he can apply for the degree of doctor of
 medicine.  To provide for  the first class, every practitioner has a
 right to teach pupils, who at the end of four years are entitled to an
 examination before the censors of the state or county society.   For
 the benefit of those who wish a more extensive, and a more com-
 plete course of instruction in the several departments of medicine,
 and branches connected with it,  the legislature has established
 two medical  schools—one in the city of New-York, and  another
 at  Fairfield.  In consideration of the greater advantages these in-
 stitutions afford for the  improvement of pupils, over what can be
 obtained in  an office, one year is deducted from the term of study
 of such as have attended one or more full  courses of lectures.   A
 student has  therefore his choice, either to study four years in an of-
 fice, and attend  no lectures ; to attend one course of lectures, and
 study only three  years; or to study three years,  attend two or
 more courses of lectures,  and get  the degree of doctor of medi-
 cine.  He has it also in his  power to attend lectures in the city or
 in. the country, or in both, according as his means or his inclination
  dictate.   One would suppose that here, there was latitude enough
  to satisfy every reasonable  person ; and facilities afforded to sup-
  ply the public with practitioners of every quality that the wants of the 
8
 community could require: from the  lowest degree of intelligence
 and acquirement to that of the  greatest accomplishment and re-
 finement.  And that if there was any thing to find fault with,  that
 fault lies in affording facilities too great, to fill the ranks of the  pro-
 fession, and not  that the requirements of the law are too severe.
 Under the operation of this law, the character of the  medical  pro-
 fession in this state, has rapidly  improved, and if it is allowed to
 continue, there  is every reason to believe, that it will be steadily
 progressing.   The poorest student, if industrious, can get into the
 profession ; while the wealthy, and educated candidates,  have op-
 portunities afforded them of  getting as complete a course of pro-
 fessional instruction within our own state,  as this country affords-
 This is as it should be.   Every class  is provided for.
   Let us see how much  the state and the profession could be  ben-
 efited, by the changes prayed for.  Some half a dozen individuals
 ask  a charter for  a college,  with full powers  to themselves and
 their heirs, to teach the different branches of medicine, and confer
 degrees, without troubling the regents of the university, or any
 other body. Another more numerous class, in the city of New-York,
 wish the present system to be entirely done away with, and that all
 should be allowed to teach, whether qualified to do so or not.   As
 this  last class, seem to  be a little too much imbued with Miss
 Fanny Wright's principles, to receive much attention, in the pres-
ent state of society, we shall confine our remarks to the application
 from the city of New-York, for an act of incorporation, upon prin-
ciples altogether different from those which  govern the other  medi-
 cal schools of the state.
   This application comes  from what is  called Rutgers  College.
 We  shall first give a brief history of this  school, and then exam-
 ine the  arguments for and against the application for granting its
professors,  a charter.
   A few years ago, a dispute arose  between  the professors  and
irustees of the college of physicians and surgeons of New-York ;
 they carried  their quarrel before the  regents of the university,
 but the latter being  unable to get the parties to agree, the profes-
 sors threatened  to resign their offices, if the trustees opposed to
 them, were not  removed.  It appeared  that the regents, even if
 they had the  inclination, had not the power, to remove trustees 
9
 when once appointed.  In consequence of this, the professors ten-
 dered their resignation, which was accepted.   Most of the profes-
 sors, however,  soon repented of their rashness, and applied to be
 re-instated ;  but the  regents  did not see fit to grant their request.
 Another set of professors was appointed to fill their places.   This
 was no sooner done,  than the former  professors began to organize
 a school in opposition to that of the state.   A connexion was estab-
 lished with a  literary institution in New-Jersey.   The trustees of
 the  latter  agreed, for a pecuniary consideration, it is said, to con-
 fer the degree of doctor of medicine  upon their pupils, in despite
 of our state authorities.   Thus arose Rutgers medical  college in
 the city of New-York.  During the subsequent  session of the le-
 gislature,  a law  was passed to prevent  the interference of foreign
 institutions with our  internal  affairs,  which rendered the diploma
 of Rutgers college of no avail to the  holder, within the bounds of
 this  state.   Being thus again reduced to difficulty, the professors
 of Rutgers college, applied to several of the colleges of this state,
 praying to be taken under their auspices.  By two of the colleges
 their application was rejected ;  but another was found not quite so
 scrupulous.  Disregarding the expression of the feelings of the
 legislature, Geneva  college  took  the professors of  Rutgers un-
 der its auspices, and  agreed to confer the degree of doctor of me-
 dicine on their pupils.  As the legislature had established schools
 for the  express  purpose of teaching  medicine, and had given to
 these schools a  peculiar  organization, and as it  had never been
 contemplated that the literary colleges, under the  general powers
 granted in  their charters,  should establish branches wherever they
 pleased, another law was passed, declaring degrees conferred by
 those colleges upon students in branch institutions, null and void.
   Thus  again checked in their career  of ambition and opposition,
 the professors of Rutgers  college applied to  the legislature for
 a  charter  independent  of the  regents of the  university and  a
board of trustees.  Attempts have been made to  excite  prejudi-
ces against the  regents of the university, in order  to forward  their
views.    The regents have  been represented  as aristocratic and
 tvrannical, and, as a body, altogether inconsistent with a republican
form of government.  If such be the  case, it is very remarkable
that such a body should have been formed subsequently to the revo- 
10
lution, and should have comprised among its members,  the most
distinguished men of all parties this state has produced.  How is
this aristocratic  body constituted ?  We should suppose from the
manner in which it has been spoken of, that it was such a body as
Rutgers college  wants to be—a body  having a charter and  vested
rights, above the reach and authority of the legislature.  But upon
enquiry, we find  it to be no such thing  ; but on  the contrary, deriv-
ing all its power, all its authority, from the legislature, and liable
to be altogether destroyed whenever the latter sees fit. The regents
of tho university are appointed by  the legislature, with  a general
power of superintendence  over the incorporated  academies of the
state, and are entrusted with the  distribution of the literature fund.
They have also a slight authority over the literary colleges ;  and
the entire  controul of the medical schools.   They can appoint
professors, and turn them out, when they please.  They receive no
fees for their services.   We may now  ask, what is there so aristo-
cratic in this body 1  Nothing  whatever.  We might as well say
that the senate and  assembly  were  aristocratic.   All these are
alike constituent parts of the  government.
   Why  then this  clamor against the regents? Have they  ever
used their power oppressively ?  Have they ever turned out a pro-
fessor without a just cause % We know of no such instance,  and we
challenge the enemies of the regents  to furnish one single case of
that kind.   Beyond the power of removing professors, neither the
regents nor the trustees of medical schools have any other  author-
ity, than that of seeing that the laws of the state are duly complied
with. It will therefore be time enough to complain of the power of
the regents, when  they are  found to abuse it.  At present we  have
no cause to believe,  that any need fear the power of that  learned
body, except such as by their misconduct deserve to feel it.
   Why then do the gentlemen not ask for a charter under the gen-
 eral controul of the  regents, like the other medical colleges ?  If
 they object  to a board of  trustees, that may be dispensed with ;
 some substitute might be found.   The regents might appoint del-
 egates annually to see that the  students were properly  examined,
 and that the professors obeyed the laws.  There could be no  hard-
 ship in this.  The other colleges do not complain because they are
 obliged to comply with the  laws.  Ought tho medical system of 
11
this state, which is so excellent,  to  be abolished, because  a few
individuals would rather have their own way, without responsibili-
ty or controul ?  Was there ever such extravagant power granted in
any civilized  nation, to a few individuals,  as is asked for by the
professors of Rutgers college 1 We venture to  say there  never
was.   We know of no half dozen  medical men in any part of the
world with such powers.
   We are now told by these philosophers,  that mind should be free.
There should be no monopoly of any kind.  By parity of reasoning,
every body ought to be allowed  to  practice law, that felt  so inclin-
ed ;  every one should be allowed to preach, and be eligible to the
charge of a congregation, who felt  himself fit for the office.   Every
association of individuals, who, like the professors of Rutgers col-
lege, erected  a building, no matter whether with the consent of the
legislature or against it, should be allowed to commence banking
operations, or issue policies of insurance,  without the aristocratic
anti-republican trouble of getting a charter.  Every man ought to
be permitted to speak in the assembly and senate, who  felt quali-
fied to do so ;  in short, according to their refined notions  of liberty,
every one should be allowed to do just as he pleased.
   With such notions of the rights of citizens, the gentlemen, should
have  applied for a repeal of the medical law, and the abolition of
the charters of the existing colleges, instead of  asking  for a new
charter,  an odious monopoly, as they term such powers.*  A  mono-
poly too, much more odious than any former ones of the same kind,
in as much as it would be " accountable to nobody" for what it did
or " neglected to  do."  This is not, however, the first instance of
inconsistency in the gentlemen's conduct and opinions.   It is but a
few years, since they were the staunch advocates of monopoly, in
the strictest sense of the term.  Then, the doctrine was,  that there
ought to be only one great medical  school in  the state,, upon
which its liberality should be showered.  But they then  were pro
fessors  in the state school; now  they have lost  their  offices, and
 like many others in similar circumstances,  are greatly dissatisfied
with the existing order of things.
   " While these pages are passing through the press, we find that theie gentlemen
 hare actually  signed a petition to this effect.  Matchless consistency!  What opin-
ion must they entertain of the body^hoy nre annually petitioning? 
12
   It may be useful, as illustrating human  nature, to quote a few
paragraphs from a memorial sent to the legislature by the college
of physicians and surgeons of  New-York, of which college, four
of the present  petitioners for  Rutgers  college,  were at  the time
professors.  The memorial runs thus :  "The memorial of the col-
lege of physicians and surgeons, &c. respectfully sheweth, that your
memorialists would not at this  time intrude on your time  or atten-
tion, unless  the duty they owe  to the legislature, under whose act
they constitute a corporation,  closely connected with the public
health,  had,  as they conceive, indispensably called  upon  them to
expose  the reason  why  the interests of medical science in  this
state would be injuriously affected if the prayer of a certain memo-
rial and petition, presented to your honorable body, by Archibald
Bruce,  M. D.  and  John Watts, M. D. and certain other gentle-
men, their associates, should unhappily obtain your sanction. Once
already  your memorialists were under the  necessity of addressing
you against a similar petition ; and they hoped that the luminous
report of the senate which condemned it, would have forever prevent-
ed a renewal  of the like attempt; nevertheless the associations of
physicians, denominating themselves  the  medical  institution  of
New-York, address you again for an act of incorporation.   But the
practice of all nations shows  the impropriety of incorporating two
medical  schools in  the same  city, and that the  advancement  of
medical science is best promoted by the establishment of only one.
In the great cities of Edinburgh, Dublin,  London,  Paris, and Vien-
na, &c. there is but one in each.  The history also of the medical
school of Philadelphia, which never flourished until the  two op-
posing schools  united  into one, as they are at present,  affords a
further and a  striking illustration of the same principle ; and lastly,
it is proved by the  rapidly growing importance of the  college  of
physicians and surgeons  of New-York,  since its  amalgamation
with the faculty of physic  of Columbia college."
  The above memorial was presented in 18i 3, at which time four
of the present professors of Rutgers college, were connected with
the college of physicians and surgeons.  To show that the same
sentiments prevailed down to the very  day they ceased to be con-
nected with the state school,  we shall  make two more quotations-
As late as 1824, Dr. Hosack remarks in his introductory lecture, 
IS
that the state of New-York " cannot be blind to the obvious pro-
priety of contributing to one institution that support which can
alone make an adequate  return to the community, instead of wast-
ing her strength in various and comparatively  unimportant  county
institutions."  The selfsame  year Dr. Francis,  in a letter to ono
of  the regents of the university, says, " Medical science  will  be
ruined in this state if the regents augment the number of medical
schools."
  With what grace then, can these very gentlemen now come for-
ward in  the face of  such declarations, and ask the  legislature for
a charter ? What has taken place  since 1824, to make it expe-
dient to have  two medical schools in  New-York 1  Nothing,  ex-
cept that the gentlemen, by resigning their offices, have lost their
public stations  in the state school, and that they are desirous of
getting new  ones.   Edinburgh,  Dublin,  London and Paris,  are
very much as they used to be.  Each has one institution and only
one that can confer degrees ; indeed London  has not even one in-
stitution that has the power of granting the degree of doctor of me-
dicine.   What is called the  London University, has no such  au-
thority.  All the other schools of medicine in that city, are private
ones—just as if the physicians and surgeons of the New-York hos-
pital, almshouse and penitentiary, were each to open a school for
teaching  students.   The faculty in New-York has as much  au-
thority to teach as that of London or Edinburgh, if they choose to
do  so;  but the  power of leaching and that of conferring degrees,
are two different things,  not necessarily  connected,  nor indeed
ought they to be.  We are now told, however, (since the argument
answers their purpose) that Philadelphia and Baltimore have each
two medical schools, and that the city of New-York has grown so
prodigiously  that two schools are also required in it, although in
1824, one was enough for the whole state ! ! Let us  examine the
matter a little.
  As early as 1820,  the number of  medical students attending the
college in  New-York,  amounted  to  about  two  hundred.  The
number gradually diminished untill  1824, when  four of the present
professors of Rutgers college resigned their  offices  in the state
institution.  Since that time we have had the benefit of two medi-
cal schools in  New-York, and we  are told, that  the aggregate 
14
number of students at the two schools is greater than it ever was
when there was but one  school;  thereby  conclusively proving,
according to these logicians,  that two schools are more advanta-
geous than one.  To us, however, this is not quite so clear.  We
are told the city has grown a great deal, and we know that the coun-
try has increased  in population; we  also know, that students are
more in the habit  of attending lectures than  they used to be ; we
therefore are inclined to the belief that the increase in the number of
students in New-York, within the last four years, notwithstanding
the attraction of two schools, has not been commensurate with the
increase of the population.   The  aggregate has never exceeded
two hundred  and  thirty or forty ; and we have already shewn that
in 1820, there were two hundred, although  there was but  ono
school, and students were much less  numerous, and much less in
the habit of attending lectures than they  are now.  The school at
Fairfield,  since  1820, has  increased from 40 to 171 pupils.—
Ought  the school at New-York to have been stationary during tho
same time ?  We think not.   To us, therefore, it appears, if there
was but one  school in New-York, and that well managed, there
would have been, as there ought to have been, by this time, a much
larger number of students in that city,  than  there is  at present;
and that the existence of two schools has  been rather injurious than
beneficial—thus showing, agreeably to the "practice of all nations,
the impropriety of incorporating  two medical schools in the same
city."
   Let us'now enquire how much medical  science has been  pro-
moted in Philadelphia  and Baltimore, by having two schools in
each :—
   In 1824, the school of the University was  the only medical in-
stitution in Philadelphia.   That year there were 424  medical stu-
dents in attendance.  Next year Jefferson college was  established.
In 1825 the University had 487 students of medicine, and Jeffer-
son college about 100 ; thus  showing the great advantage of hav-
ing two medical schools in the same  city.  But unfortunately this
apparent  advantage was of short  duration.   Jefferson college has
since been nearly  stationary, while the  University has been grad-
ually, but steadily, going down. 
15
           In 1826 the University had 440 students.
              1827                   441
              1828                   419
              1829                   362*
  In 1S29 Jefferson college 112—this added to the  362 at  the
University, makes the aggregate number  of  medical  students at
Philadelphia 474 ;  being less by 13 than what attended the Uni-
versity alone in  1825—and more than a hundred less than  atten-
ded the two schools the same year.  Thus showing the " improprie-
ty of incorporating two medical schools in the same city."
  When  there was but one  school  at Baltimore, the number of
medical  students had reached as high as three hundred ;  now by
the benign operations of two schools, the whole number of students
at both does not much, if at all,  exceed two  hundred.   Thus show-
ing what  sort of benefit is to be derived from the rivalship derived
from the operation of " two schools in the same city."
  These facts 'tend to show, that there would  be  as much impro-
priety in  granting a  charter to  two medical schools in the same
city now, as there would have  been in  1816, when the memorial
above quoted was  presented ; and it would be  more creditable to
the consistency  of the gentlemen, and more in accordance with ex-
perience,  to return to their old opinion, than to become the apostles
of Utopian notions,  of liberty and the rights of man.
  It has been used as an argument,  to  induce the legislature to
grant a  charter to Rutgers college, that, in consequence of  the
disabilities that school labors under, students, rather  than go to
the state  school, left  the city entirely and went  to Philadelphia.
By referring to Hazard's Pennsylvania Register, we find that in the
session of 182S—9, there were at the University six, and at Jeffer-
son college  two students, from the whole state of New-York It A
mighty number truly !  We presume there is as many attending the
schools  of this state, from Pennsylvania.
  * Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, vol. 2, p. 112—vol 3, p. 202. This work
is in the State Library.
  f Vol. 3.  p. 202.  In twelve years, (from 1817 to 1828 inclusive) (hn number of
rnedical students attending the University from all New-England, New-York and
Canada, was 169, or 12 annually.  Allowing half for New-England and Canada,
there will remain 6 for New-York.  Surely this gives little support to the argument.
, See Hazard's Register, vol. 2. p. 112.) 
16
  In conclusion, we would beg leave to  observe, that if the legis-
lature see fit to grant a  charter to Rutgers college, on any condi-
tions, a dozen other associations may be formed in the state, having
equal claims ; and equally well qualified  to teach.   From  the mul-
tiplication of medical schools  the  inevitable consequence will be,
that students will be less carefully instructed, and less  rigidly ex-
amined ;  that from the number of institutions being increased, pub-
lic  patronage will be so divided, that none of them can  flourish'
or take a standing equal to the  schools of other states ;  and that in
consequence, many students will leave the state, and receive their
education at  larger and more  respectable institutions, elsewhere.
A few schools may for a while continue in operation ; but will final-
ly be abandoned ; and when reason and common sense resume their
influence, we  shall again return to a system  such as at present
prevails.
  Experience, now sufficiently ample, shows that such is the opera-
tion of multiplying medical schools too much. To the weight of this
experience we have the  testimony of the very individuals who now,
from selfish motives, wish to make the public believe that their for"
mer opinion was incorrect. Should the legislature yield to arguments
adduced  under such circumstances, it will furnish matter for for-
eign nations to laugh and sneer at; to convince them that here there
is nothing stable.  That with us, laws are made and repealed when-
ever a few  selfish and  designing individuals  raise a  clamor, and
preach up liberty and freedom of action in every thing, to answer
their  private ends ; and that reason and experience are  only con-
sulted when  ruinous consequences  are  the palpable results of the
measures pursued.
   I therefore trust that before the legislature disturb what is as-
certained by the experience of years to be exceedingly useful to the
public, they will pause, and consider, who are the persons most ac-
tive in desiring a change, and what would be the consequences of the
change demanded, if the principle should be fully extended. 
 
 
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