10

14

18 Maryland Agricultural College.

19

24

28

30 Rutgers Scientific School (New Jersey).

35

CHAPTER XXIV.

[Containing tables 83-95b.]

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS.

GENERAL VIEW.

For the school year 1906-7 the number of theological schools reporting to this Bureau was 162, with 1,236 instructors, 8,644 men students, and 534 women students. The value of buildings and grounds was $15,070,400, of permanent endowment funds $24,601,600, while reported benefactions were $1,067,300. The number of students with a scholastic degree was 3,003.

The number of theological schools reporting to this Office for the school year 1899-1900 was 154, with 994 instructors, 7,828 men students, 181 women students, and 2,338 students with a scholastic degree; the value of buildings and grounds was $14,101,214, of permanent endowment funds $19,979,565, of benefactions $1,123,802. While the increase in students is 1,169, or 14.5 per cent, since 1900, the increase in the number of students having a scholastic degree is 665, or 28 per cent.

In the school year 1899-1900 the number of schools of law reporting was 96, with 1,004 instructors and 12,516 students, 151 of whom were women. In the year 1905-6 the schools reporting numbered 98, with 1,274 instructors, 15,235 men students, and 176 women students. In 1906-7 the number of schools was increased to 101, the number of instructors to 1,209, the number of students to 16,700, of whom 440 were women-an increase in women law students of 150 per cent over the preceding year. Students with a scholastic degree in 1905-6 were 2,578; in 1906-7, 3,311-an increase of 733 students, or 28 per cent. The number of schools of law reporting a one-year course is 3; a two-year course, 25; a three-year course, 69, and a four-year course, 4.

In the 152 medical schools of all classes in 1906-7 there were enrolled 23,720 students-a decrease of 1,204 from the previous year, and a decrease of more than 3,000 since the year 1903-4. It is evident, therefore, that this decrease is not an accidental one, due to ordinary fluctuation, but is to be attributed to some general and continuing cause or causes. There has been a decrease of about

1,000 students each year for four years. Proceeding backward by years from 1906-7 the number of medical students runs as follows: 23,720; 24,924; 25,835; 26,949; 27,062. As to the causes of this constant decrease, opinions would probably differ. The regulations of the various States governing the practice of medicine are frequently changed, being made more stringent; and they are being more rigorously enforced. The medical colleges, too, find it necessary to increase their demands on the students, in order that no reflection upon them may arise from failure of their graduates to pass the examinations of the State boards. A few years ago the diploma of a reputable medical school was the only requirement for a license in a large number of States. Now it simply enables the applicant to appear for a strict examination before a State board, and in many of the States the applicant must satisfy the board not only as to his professional, but also as to his general education. Consequently a large number of young men hesitate to undertake a course under such conditions, while others are led to take the shorter course required in law, with its less rigorous admission requirements. The number of graduates in medicine, too, shows a constant decrease. Going backward by years from 1906-7 the numbers are: 4,783; 5,400; 5,544; 5,702. In 1906-7 one-fifth of the whole number of students completed the course and received diplomas.

Although the aggregate of endowment funds of medical schools, so far as reported, is small, being only $2,744,243, it should be remembered that only a few years ago they had no endowment funds. The amount, too, is increasing.

The value of grounds and buildings of medical schools reported is over twelve and one-half millions of dollars, and this does not include several of the largest schools, which were not reported or whose property could not be separately estimated.

In the 71 schools reporting the number of students having a literary degree there were enrolled 10,821 students, and only 1,591 (or about 15 per cent) of these had received a collegiate degree. In the schools not reporting this item it is probable that the percentage of college graduates was much smaller. The small number of college graduates among students of medicine would seem to indicate one of three things that medical students do not consider the acquirements implied in a literary degree essential to a proper understanding of medicine, or that they are unwilling to devote so many years to preparation for their work, or that they have not the means for support during such a length of time.

In the 57 schools of dentistry there were enrolled 6,919 studentsan increase of 43 over the number of the previous year, but 1,500 less than in the year 1902. The number of graduates was 1,754-an

than the number in 1901. Although the statement has been made. that one or two dental schools have endowment funds, no report of them has been made to this Office at least as to any fund specially for the dental school-although it is to be presumed that in some of the universities the dental department can share in the benefits of the general university endowment.

In the 71 schools of pharmacy there were enrolled 5,047 studentsa decrease of 98 since the previous year. The number of graduates was 1,386-a decrease of 277. Only one school reports any permanent endowment fund.

The number of veterinary students shows a considerable increase, the total number of students being 1,692 in 1906-7 and 1,445 in the previous year. The increase is probably due in some measure to the greater demand for veterinarians in the inspection service and other branches of the General Government.

Distribution of medical students.—An examination of medical college catalogues shows that the students do not at all confine themselves to the institutions near their places of residence. In fact, they go from one end of the country to the other, and, in addition, a considerable number come from foreign countries. In 1906-7 Johns Hopkins University, with a total attendance of 346 in its medical school, had representatives from all the States and Territories of the Union except eight. Jefferson Medical College had students from all the States and Territories except 11, and had 12 foreign students. The University of Pennsylvania had students from all the States and Territories except 13, and had 23 students from foreign countries. Rush Medical College had students from all the States and Territories except 14, and, in addition, had 14 students from foreign countries, viz, Asia Minor 1, Australia 1, Canada 3, Egypt 1, Germany 1, the Netherlands 1, Persia 1, the Philippines 5. Harvard Medical School had students from all the States and Territories except 22, and had 13 foreign students, viz, from Bulgaria 1, Canada 4, China 1, India 1, Italy 1, the Philippines 1, South Africa 1, Syria 1, Trinidad 1, United States of Colombia 1. Howard University, Washington, D. C., in its departments of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, had 46 students from the British West Indies and neighboring territory. In all the medical schools of the United States there were about 600 foreign students.

NOTES FROM THE ANNUAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, ETC.

MEDICAL SCHOOLS.

University of Alabama.-The legislature of Alabama passed an act, approved March 4, 1907, appropriating $45,000 for improvements and equipment of the Medical College of Alabama, now a department of the State university, and also making an annual appropriation of $5,000 to the same institution to cover the cost of instruction of one needy student from each county of the State, the title to all property of the Medical College of Alabama first to be vested in the trustees of the University of Alabama.