746 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIX. No. 1012 



dation of chemistry so desperately needed in medi- 

 cine, permits of but one modern language (because 

 of limited time) , and yet both German and French 

 are required at Johns Hopkins and needed every- 

 where, and if the student attempts to take both 

 chemistry and biology during these two years he 

 can carry physics only at the expense of loading 

 with three sciences at the same time — questionable 

 in college. This plan doesn't allow for general 

 culture. 



' ' How much better to have the student of medi- 

 cine splendidly prepared in all the fundamental es- 

 sentials of his profession by three years in a col- 

 lege atmosphere with a little time for broader cul- 

 ture. Many who are not willing to spend four 

 years for a college degree or three years as indi- 

 cated would do so if they were to be rewarded 

 with such a degree after the first year in the med- 

 ical school. The standard of medicine would be 

 raised and colleges themselves hold their students 

 longer than at present. A few who now take four 

 years might stop with only three, but this would 

 be more than made up by the two-year students 

 who remain for three years. 



"Of course the state universities and some 

 others have an arrangement for granting the B.S. 

 to their own men after three years in college 

 courses and one in their own medical school but 

 what we need is a uniform standard for a large 

 number of colleges, a standard that forces full 

 training in the essentials. We save a year and 

 gain much. 



"Since I am not a biologist, I leave the details 

 of that subject to be filled in by the rest of you. 

 The laboratory time is measured, not by any 

 credit system, for that varies, but by actual re- 

 quired periods of work. The electives possible 

 should not be permitted in science or mathematics. 

 This insures a broader training. If we get a score 

 or more colleges to agree to this arrangement we 

 may persuade the American Medical Association 

 to publish a list of ' Class A Plus Pre-medical Col- 

 leges. ' Why not ? ' ' 



The following is Professor Holmes's schedule of 

 the three years' work: 



FIKST YEAB 



Chemistry, General: — At least 72 hours of lectures. 



At least 144 hours of laboratory. 

 Physics: — Same as chemistry. 

 German: — At least 144 lectures. 

 Mathematics : — Algebra and trigonometry, at least 



72 hours. 

 Rhetoric: — At least 72 hours. 



SECOND YEAR 



Chemistry: — Must include some qualitative and 

 quantitative analysis. At least 72 lectures and 

 144 hours laboratory. 



Biology: — Similar to chemistry. 



Germ-an: — At least 108 lectures. 



Elective: — 108 hours outside science and mathe- 

 matics. 



THIRD YEAR 



Chemistry: — Must include organic: lectures, 72; 

 laboratory, 96 hours; any other chemistry lab- 

 oratory, 48 hours. 



Biology: — Similar to chemistry. 



French: — 144 hours. 



Elective: — 108 hours outside science and mathe- 

 matics group. 

 Note. — Hours refer to the entire year. The 



above is merely the minimum and in many cases 



could be increased slightly. 



The results of the correspondence are inter- 

 esting, not so much because so many institu- 

 tions responded, as on account of the nature of 

 the responses. As is usual in such instances 

 those who were really interested continued the 

 discussion, the uninterested dropped it. This 

 again is of interest because evidently from the 

 letters, there are some very much needed re- 

 forms. 



One institution took faculty action on the 

 resolution, and returned the follovring: 



Be it resolved, etc., 



1. That we are glad, in so far as it is possible, 

 to arrange our courses in biology, chemistry and 

 physics so as to meet the admission requirements 

 of the best medical colleges. That we are now do- 

 ing this is evident from the fact that our gradu- 

 ates are readily admitted to the medical school of 

 Johns Hopkins University. 



2. That we will cooperate with the medical 

 schools in every way practicable to eliminate 

 duplication of work in college and medical school 

 whenever such duplication exists. 



3. That we do not regard a year in a medical 

 school as having the same purpose or being in any 

 sense equivalent to the senior year in college; that 

 we regard the two fields of education as essen- 

 tially dififerent and distinct. We are therefore op- 

 posed to any plan whereby the bachelor's degree 

 shall be given upon the completion of less than 

 four years of college work. 



One would only remark in commenting upon 



