University of North Dakota - Dacotah Yearbook (Grand Forks, ND)

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Views in Medical Department

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Medical College N 1887, the Legislature of North Dakota appropriated $1,000 for the sup- 1 port of the Medical College. The Trustees of the University felt that it was impossible to organize a school 011 so meagre financial basis, but decided to appoint a Dean for the Medical School and if possible inaugurate some of the Medical work Further consideration of the problems involved led to the conclusion that it would be impossible to make a beginning with so inadequate an appropriation. This was the end of the Medical College of the State Univer- sity until 1905, when the Trustees decided that the time had arrived for the organization of a Medical College which should Offer the first two years of the Medical College curriculum. There is good reason for offering so much of the Medical work as that contained in the flrst and second years, because the sub jeet matter is distinctively laboratory and largely provided for in the work of the various departments of the College of Liberal Arts XVith keen appreciation of the inadequacy of clinical facilities at Grand Forks. making advanced professional work during the last two years of the College course impossible, and with the knowledge that the equipment of the various scientilie departments of the institution would permit thorough work in the first and second years of the Medical curriculum, the management of the institution was charged with the problem of so adjusting the institutional work that her legitimate equipment might be utilized for training prospective practi- tioners of medicine, and not do violence to the ethical and scientitic standards which have been developed in the Medical Schools of America. The solution of this problem found expression in the formation of a four years! course, two of which are strictly academic, and two professional, leading to the B. A. degree. Upon the completion of this course the University confers the B. A. degree and gives a certiheate stating that the two years of the Media cal course have been completed. This certificate may be presented by the holder for admission to the junior year Of the Medical Colleges with which the Univer- sit3 is articulated Over flfty men and women, desiring to do Medical College work, have been compelled to leave their own co1111110nwealth hitherto in order to secure the first and second years even of Medical Training. If it were possible to offer them as thorough and complete work in the first and second years as they could secure away from home, and save from $200 to $500 apiece each year, it was not only proper, but it was imperative, that the University organize so much of the Medir cal College work as her equipment would justify her in undertaking. The Medical College offers instruction in those studies which legitimately belong to the first and second 3ears of technical Medical Schools. The four

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studies which far exceed all others in time and attention, are Anatomy, Biology, Chemistry, and Physiology. These subjects are taught by the laboratory method, and are supported by laboratories which are well lighted and ventilated. Provi- sion is made in separate laboratories for dissection When there are mixed classes, i and an abundance of material is supplied through the operation of the State Anatomical Law, providing: ttThat all unclaimed bodies of patients at County and State institutions be turned over to the Medical College of the University i i of North Dakota?y In addition to liberal provisions for dissection, there are ample collections of skeletons, portions of skeletons, excellent models, nianikins, and charts. The work in Physiology is presented according to the most modern methods, and arrangements are made for laboratory work, in conjunction with careful and extensive study of the best modern texts upon Physiology. In Chemistry, Physics, Bacteriology, Histology, Pathology, and Hygiene there are well equipped laboratories, and thorough courses of instruction are offered in each subject. In addition to the above courses, work of a preparatory character is given in Surgery, Morbid Anatomy, and Medicine. The last State Legislature established a Public Health Laboratory at the University. This will offer rare opportunities to our students of Bacteriology and Pathology, by reason of the material and problems which will be dealt with in this State Laboratory. The action of the University in establishing her Medical College is receiving very cordial commendation from the members of the medical profession through- out the state, and fronithe leaders in educational work. A suggestion of how it impresses those of liberal training and wide experience outside of the state may be gathered from the following quotation, which was taken from the letter of the Secretary of the Board of Medical Examiners of one of the largest states in the Union, who wrote as follows: ilI am sure that this Tioardi will feel that any stud- ent that has had his first two years in your College will have had better training than the average of medical colleges give. I want to congratulate the citizens of your state for their fairness in affording their young people an opportunity to ob- tain a part of their medical education at home. Many of the states discriminate against our profession. They educate lawyers, pharmacists, teachers, engineers, cheese and butter makers, and farmers, but afford no means for our young people ' to get even a start in the profession of medicine. In order to merit the generous approval of those who have expressed them- selves regarding the opening of the Medical College at this institution, it is the desire and the determination of those in charge to give a thorough and exacting course in each subject, and it will be the constant endeavor of each instructor in the Medical School to impress every student matriculated in the Medical College with the feeling that the spirit and purpose of the work offered then was fittingly expressed by Dr. H. Newcll Martin, who was professor of Biology in the Johns Hopkins University, and of Physiology in the Medical Faculty of the same insti- tution, and the father of human Physiology in America. Dr. Martin said at the inauguration of the Biological work at Johns Hopkins University: NLet us, then, each work loyally, earnestly, truthfully, so that when the time comes, as it Will 31