it practically asserts the truth, that an individual who will not render 

 himself proficient in knowledge so easily accessible to all, will scarce- 

 ly acquire a profound acquaintance with the principles of a difficult 

 and abstruse science. 



The second is more important, and refers to the influence of this 

 delinquency upon the physician himself. The extensive relation that 

 medicine must ever maintain with other branches of knowledge, de- 

 prives a physician who is ignorant of the general principles of natur- 

 al science, of all those instrumentalities which are necessary to devel- 

 ope the resources of his profession ; and it not only disqualifies him 

 from adding to the existing stock of valuable facts, but excludes him 

 also from participation in the benefits of many of those brilliant truths, 

 whose development has so greatly distinguished the modern cultiva- 

 tors of our art. 



Being thus deprived of the only means of attaining distinction in 

 his profession, and uninspired by the lights that physical science throws 

 around his path, he becomes indifferent to the progress, and often to 

 the honor of the profession. 



Regarding this as the basis of most that is wrong in the profession, 

 the committee have appended to this report a resolution relative there- 

 to, the adoption of which they respectfully urge upon the Society. 



Another cause of the depression of medical science in this State, is 

 the commencement, by young men, of the practice of the profession be- 

 fore they are thoroughly qualified. This evil had its beginning at a 

 remote period, when the facilities for completing a medical education 

 were beyond the means of a large number who annually entered the 

 profession. But the praiseworthy multiplication of Medical Colleges 

 has left no good reason for delinquency in this respect, and the habit 

 of young gentlemen commencing practice when partially qualified, 

 with a view of completing at some future time their medical education, 

 should, in the opinion of your committee, be discouraged. Experi- 

 ence proves that they often fail to carry out their intentions — that the 

 extraneous duties which may become incident to a life in the West, 

 as well as the frequent addition of some other business to the practice 

 of medicine, involve them in numerous responsibilities, from which 

 they cannot, without a sacrifice few are inclined to make, disengage 

 themselves. This contributes to lower the standard of acquirement 

 in the ranks of the profession, and alienates the minds of many who 

 engage in its pursuit with zeal and enthusiasm, from its subsequent 

 cultivation. 



If young men who engage in the study of medicine with respecta- 

 ble preparatory acquirements, would make everything secondary to their 



