University Medical College - Scalpel Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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fession is practically nil, yet there is no man who has more influence, as an individual in his community, than the doctor. It is -strongly urged that all medical organizations have committees composed of their town members, whose duty it should be to watch all legislation, and whenever possible and consistent with the welfare of the community, urge the selection of a physician as a representative of our state legislature. Let the physician be something more than a mere instrument of convenience, utilized only when wanted and seriously wanted, for, as has been said, he is a man of education and training to peculiarly fit him for the exercise of good judgment, and make him a capable and competent adviser in matters appertaining to legislative requirements for the protection of the health of the people of a state, and the care of its sick and in- digent. It is only as a united power that the profession can demand the political recog- nition for which it must now humbly petition. -i1 i.-il Ellyn Ignlire Smrgvun BY W. A. SHELTON, M. D. Adjunct Professor of Anatomy. , HE dangers which attend professional life are many. The road to honor and success has many pitfalls which are at times difficult to see and avoid. At the of very beginning of his career, the young professional man should definitely settle a, few things, such as what is to be his chief aim, and what his standard of success. The old idea, advan-ced by some of our most prominent thinkers, that medical men must shun political life, should be relegated to the past, and the profession urged to enter into the spirit of public affairs, and to advance steps for necessary medical legislation whereby laws for the betterment of themselves and the public in general could be en- acted. VVe cannot expect such legislation by narrowing, our professional life so as to hold ourselves entirely aloof from things political. However, the political life for the doctor or surgeon is the danger signal in the pathway of some and should often be regarded as a pitfall to be seen and avoided. The Police Surgeonship is essentially a political office, but fortunately for the Police Surgeon it does not prohibit him from engaging ssion. Nor would I deem it advisable for anyone, who, having already chosen his particular line of work, to accept any position, political or wtherwise that would thwart, for any period of time, this preconceived purpose, or would lvinder .him in any way from following the course of preparation for such a career. A ke position, with its necessary political environments, when the original aims and .deas are kept well in mind, should aid rather than hinder such a course. in the private practice of his profe

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-o ve' Efhe Bldg nf the lihgairizrn az ez Qliiizrn BY J. PHILLIP KANOKY, Professor of Dermatology. F all the multitudinous demands made upon the time and sympathies of the physi- cian none is more important than that which calls on him to exercise his in- dividual right as a voter and a responsible member of the community in which he strenuous life which usually falls to the lot of the practitioner of medicine the duties of citizenship are liable to be neglected and the privilege of the free-born American relegated to the office seeker and his horde of followers. People generally, and the physician in particular have long labored under the im- pression that the only duty that legitimately belonged to the medical man was the one performed as an attendant to the sick, that whenever the physician departed from this well established rule and took part in any controversy that was n-ot strictly in line with his professional duties, he lowered the dignity of the profession of which he was a mem- he resides. In t ber. This erroneous idea has existed so long that it has become an accepted factor in governing the daily conduct of the physician. Nevertheless, I believe that such a conclusion is erroneous, and detrimental, not only to the physician, but likewise to the community in which he dwells. The physician is expected to be a learned man-a man who, by training and ex- perience, is far above the average in mentality and discriminative judgment. That be- ing the case, he is far better fitted to perform the duties of a citizen than those people less favored. For that very reason the physician would be a safe man in politics. Be- cause of his judgment, his knowledge and his integrity, none are better fitted to deter- mine the questions that confront the officers of a municipality. Furthermore, by tak- ing part in the municipal government of his city, he places himself in a position where he may demand to a far greater extent the respect of the professonal politician, which is not now accorded the physician. I believe the doctor should have a voice in state legislation, and further, that the government of all eleemosynary institutions, hospitals and asylum-s, should be placed absolutely under the jurisdiction of the medical profession. As it is now, these insti- tutions are under the control of politicians, who in many instances have no idea of the inmates' requirements, and who probably care less. All of these institutions should be removed from without the influence of the professional politician. To make this possi- ble, it is necessary that physicians should be elected as representatives of our state gov- ernment, that they may give their advice and counsel in the procurement of judicious leg- islation for the protection of the people. It has been my experience, on several occa- sions, in the legislative halls of our state, at Jefferson City, to learn the insignificant influence wielded by the medical profession. Not even the most ordinary and neces- sary laws for the protection of the human family can be passed without solicitation of the influence of the professional politician. It is not only essentional that the medical profession should be a factor in politics, but also that it should act unitedly on all mat- ters concerning its own welfare. As an organization, the influence of the medical pro-

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an-is -' .' Ao , gl ups- Qeminiarenrez nf the Evan BY SAMUEL C. JAMES, M. D., Professor of Principals and Practice of Medicine and Clinical Medicine. ' HEN asked for an article, with the above caption, I feel like asking you to come with me across the dim vista of the past, and kindly help me to brush away the webs from my brain, as I hardly know where to commence my story or what to say when I do. Must I tell the readers of the Scalpel the truth, the whole truth, and noth- ing but the truth, about your short-comings, the little differences that occurred between you and the dean from time to time? We can't do it, boys, for everything was wiped off 'tOld Dad's memory, when you said you wouldn't do it any more. These stories that you hear around the college about rough houses, stairway rushes, explosive chemicals, attached to the benches by forgetful .students are fabrica- tions-criminal lies. Again when some colleague speaks about the unfinished parades that were suddenly checked by offensive police interfernce, with free rides thrown in, I stand ready to prove an alibi. Show me the man who ever saw disarranged benches, pyramids of chairs, ornamented with detached chandeliers, and I will say to him, You of clean hands speak outj' and not one charge will be made. Again, during my seven years of administration as dean I never saw but one of you enter the doors of a saloon, and when that fact was mentioned from the arena there were only fifteen that acknowl- edged a visit to a similar place and each one had a valid excuse. Vlfe shall not dig up any skeletons, in fact, we do not know their resting place. U. M. C. ha-s her foot ball, sing-sing clubs, her brass band, her Aesculapian, Beta and Delta societies. As of yore our freshmen are ignored, our sophom-ores tolerated, our juniors recognized, and our seniors adored. It is with pleasure that my mind can wander back to the days when you as members of the class of '08 and others visited the deanis office for the first time, some of you with bright expectant faces, full of hope and vigorous determination to succeed, and others seemingly without a thought of the vicissitudes and problems that would confront them. Some in the past, had the coun- sel and careful guidance of loving parents, and later, the advice and watchful care of painstaking instructors. Others were men of mature years who had tried without suc- cess other professions and occupations and turned to medicine as their las-t hope. With it all a large majority of you have 'fproved out and are a credit to your Alma Mater. I have talked to you about yourselves, and now I will have a few words to say about U. M. C. The University Medical College is entering on her twenty-eighth year of school life. This institution opened its eyes and put on its swaddling clothes for the first time in the office of our esteemed friend and honored trustee, Professor Flavel B. Tiffany. From a class of ten or twelve students and an empty treasury it has ad- vanced to a college of national reputation, and today we have a graded class of over two hundred men, largely college graduates, each student forced to meet high pre- liminary requirement before being admittd. Now as to the graduation requirements we are ranked with the best schools of our land, It was only a few years ago that our diplomas were barred by some of the state