PENNSYLVANIA.

The medical council, a body composed of the lieutenantgovernor, the attorney-general, the secretary of internal affairs, the superintendent of public instruction, the president of the state board of health and the presidents of three state boards of medical examiners, have the supervision of the examination of candidates to practice medicine in the state. These, except the secretary and treasurer, serve without pay. There are also appointed by the governor three boards of medical examiners of seven members each, representing the several medical societies of the state of Pennsylvania, the regular, homeopathic and eclectic, from lists furnished by them. The fees for examinations, after payment of current expenses, are apportioned pro rata to the members of the several examining boards according to the number of candidates examined by each. These boards submit to the medical council a list of questions, from which the council makes up the questions for each examination. The examinations, which are in writing, are conducted by the respective boards and the results transmitted to the council, which issues the licenses to those who have successfully passed.

"A preliminary examination shall be required from all candidates for medical license in the following branches, to-wit: Arithmetic, grammar, geography, orthography, American history, physiology and hygiene, and English composition. The diploma of a college, diploma of an academy, seminary, normal school, or high school; or a teacher's permanent certificate, or a student's certificate of examination for admission to the freshman class in a literary college, shall be accepted in lieu of such examination." Preliminary examinations are held under direction of the medical council in June preceding the examinations by the state examining boards, and in October after the opening of the medical colleges, at Philadelphia and in Western Pennsylvania.

Section 13 of the medical practice law reads: "From and after the first day of July, 1894, any person not heretofore authorized to practice medicine and surgery in this state, and desiring to enter upon such practice, may deliver to the secretary of the medical council, on the payment of a fee of $25, a. written application for license, together with satisfactory proof that the applicant is more than 21 years of age, is of good moral character, and has obtained a competent common school education, and has received a diploma conferring the degree of medicine from some legally incorporated medical college of the United States or a diploma or license conferring the full right to practice all the branches of medicine and surgery in some foreign country. Applicants who shall have received their degree in medicine after the 1st day of July, 1894, must have pursued the study of medicine for at least three

years, including three regular courses of lectures, in different years, in some legally incorporated medical college or colleges, prior to granting of said diploma, or foreign license, and after the first day of July, 1895, such applicants must have pursued the study of medicine for at least four years, including three regular courses of lectures, in different years, in some legally incorporated medical college, or colleges, prior to the granting of said diploma or foreign license. Such proof shall be made, if required, on affidavit. On the making of said payment and proof, the medical council, if satisfied with the same, shall issue to said applicant an order for examination before such one of the state boards of medical examiners as the applicant for license may select. In case of failure at any such examination the candidate, after the expiration of six months, and within two years, shall have the privilege of a second examination by the same board to which application was first made, without the payment of an additional fee; and it is provided further, that applicants examined and licensed by the state board of medical examiners or state boards of health of other states, on payment of a fee of $15 to the medical council, and on filing in the office of the medical council a copy of such license certified by the affidavit of the president and secretary of such board showing also that the standard of requirements adopted by the said state board of medical examiners or state board of health, is substantially the same as is provided by sections 11, 12 and 13 of this act, shall without further examination receive a license conferring on the holder thereof all the rights and privileges provided by sections 14 and 15 of this act."

Licenses must be registered with the prothonotary of the court of common pleas in the county of residence; fee $1. The law contains a reciprocity clause, but only certificates of New York are accepted, and (until recently, New Jersey). The usual exemptions of government officers, outside consultants, border practice, etc., are made in the law. Secretary, medical council, Hon. Isaac B. Brown, Harrisburg.

PORTO RICO.

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE

ORGANIZATION OF A BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS.

Be it enacted by the legislative assembly of Porto Rico: SECTION 1. The governor, with the advice and consent of the executive council, shall appoint five learned, skilled and capable physicians, who shall have been residents of the Island of Porto Rico for not less than five years preceding their appointment, who shall constitute the board of examiners for the purpose of this act. The physicians so appointed shall hold their respective offices for five years; provided, that all vacancies occurring shall be likewise filled by appointment by the

governor, by the advice and consent of the executive council; provided, also, that the first appointments under this act shall be for the period of one, two, three, four and five years respectively.

SEC. 2. The board of medical examiners shall procure a seal, and on the first Tuesday of April of each year elect from among their members a president, secretary and treasurer. Three members of said board shall constitute a quorum. The president and secretary shall have the power to administer oaths and the board to take testimony in all matters relative to its duty under the provisions of this act. The board of examiners shall hold meetings for examinations at the seat of government on the first Tuesdays of April and October of each year, and at such other times and at the same and other places as the board may determine. The board shall keep a record of all proceedings thereof and also a register of all applicants for a certificate, with the age of the applicant, time spent in the study of medicine, and the name and location of all the institutions granting to such applicant degrees or certificates of lectures attended in medicine or surgery. The register shall also show whether such applicant was rejected or has received a certificate under this act; such register shall be prima facie evidence of all the matters therein kept.

SEC. 3. Every person hereinafter wishing to practice medicine or surgery, or any of the branches thereof, or midwifery, in any of their departments in this island, shall apply to said board for a certificate or license so to do. Applications from said candidates shall be in writing and accompanied by proof that the applicant is a graduate of a medical school or institution in good standing and legally organized, and duly approved by said board of examiners. If the diploma is found genuine, which fact the said board of examiners shall determine, and if the person presenting and claiming said diploma be the person to whom the same was originally granted, at a time and place designated by said board, or at a regular meeting of said board, said applicant shall be required to take an examination embracing those general subjects and topics, a knowledge of which is commonly and generally required of candidates for the degree of doctor of medicine by respectable medical colleges in the United States. The examination of those who desire to practice midwifery or any of the branches of medicine and surgery, shall be of such a character as to determine the qualifications of the applicants to practice them. All examinations provided for in this act shall be conducted under rules and regulations prescribed by the board, which shall provide for a fair and wholly impartial method of examination. After examination such board shall, if the candidate has been found qualified, grant a certificate or license to such candidate to practice medicine and surgery or any of the branches thereof or midwifery in Porto Rico; which said

certificate can only be granted by the consent of not less than three members of said board, and which said certificate shall be signed by the president and secretary of said board and attested by the seal thereof. Provided, however, that all physicians and surgeons who hold certificates granted by the now existing board of medical examiners shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.

SEC. 4. The board may refuse to grant a certificate on account of unprofessional, dishonorable or immoral conduct. Before a certificate can be refused for such cause the board shall serve in writing upon the applicant a copy of any charge or charges against him, and appoint a day for hearing, at which the applicant or any witness in his behalf may appear and give testimony in refutation of such charges. In case the board after such hearing shall refuse a certificate to the applicant, the decision specifically stating the grounds upon which such refusal was made, shall be reduced to writing and the copy thereof delivered to the applicant upon demand of the applicant. Upon a like hearing the board may refuse a certificate to any one who may publicly profess to cure or treat disease, injury or deformity in such a manner to deceive the public. The hearing provided for herein shall take place within twenty days after the service of the copy of the charges upon the applicant, unless further time is granted to the applicant, and the decision of the board shall not be later than ten days after the day of hearing. The board shall have power to revoke a certificate or license in case of unprofessional, dishonorable or immoral conduct. Before revoking any certificate or license a written complaint specifically stating the charges against the person whose certificate is to be revoked shall be delivered to all the members of the board and a copy thereof shall be served upon such person twenty days before the time fixed by the board for the hearing of said charges. The board must fix the time, and the person whose license is to be revoked may produce testimony in refutation of such charges. After such hearing the decision of the board shall be specifically stated in writing, and a copy thereof delivered, on demand, to the person under charges.

SEC. 5. Every person obtaining a certificate from the board must, within sixty days from the date thereof, have the same recorded in the office of the secretary of Porto Rico and in the office of the superior board of health. The secretary of Porto Rico and the president of the superior board of health shall endorse upon the certificate the date of record, and charge and receive the usual fees for such services, the fees to be paid by the applicant.

SEC. 6. Applicants who possess diplomas from reputable medical colleges, and who have been licensed by state boards, may, upon the payment of a fee of twenty-five ($25) dollars, be licensed by the board of examiners without examination if

the board of examiners so decides. Medical officers serving in the Army and Navy of the United States or in the United States Marine-Hospital Service are exempt from examination, but are required to be registered by the superior board of health and to pay a fee of five dollars.

SEC. 7. Any person practicing medicine or surgery or any other branches thereof, or midwifery, within the island contrary to the provisions of this act, shall, for every violation of the provisions of this act, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars nor less than fifty dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than ninety days nor less than thirty days, or by both said fine and imprisonment, as the court may determine. Any person shall be regarded as practicing within the meaning of this act who shall append the letters M.D. (for Medical Doctor) to his or her name, who shall profess publicly to be a physician or surgeon, or who shall recommend, prescribe or direct for the use of any person, any drug, medicine, appliance, apparatus or other agency, whether material or not material, for the cure, relief or palliation of any ailment or disease of the mind or body or for the cure or relief of any wound, fracture or bodily injury, or other deformity, after having received or with the intent of receiving therefore, either directly or indirectly, any bonus, gift or compensation.

SEC. 8. The fees for examinations and for a certificate shall be as follows: Ten dollars for an examination in medicine and surgery and five dollars for a certificate if issued, for all other practitioners five dollars for an examination and five dollars for a certificate if issued. For an examination in midwifery five dollars, and three dollars for a certificate if issued. All fees shall be paid in advance to the treasurer of the board of medical examiners, which fees shall defray the entire expenses of said candidate for examination before said board of examiners. Any one failing to pass the required examination shall be entitled to a second examination within six months without fee. And the moneys so received shall be turned over to the treasurer of Porto Rico by the treasurer of said board, to be by him deposited in the medical board fund, as hereinafter provided.

SEC. 11. All laws, acts, orders and parts thereof in conflict with this act be and the same are hereby repealed.

SEC. 12. This act shall take effect from and after May 1, 1903. Approved March 12, 1903.

Secretary board of medical examiners,

Sec

retary superior board of health, Dr. Wm. Fawcett Smith, San Juan.

RHODE ISLAND.

Section 1 of the new law requires the town or city clerk to