Mr. Buck to Mr. Sherman.

No. 95.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of instruction No. 68, of date the 3d ultimo, inclosing copy of a communication from Dr. J. M. Withrow, dean of the Laura Memorial Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, stating that two women graduates of that college, natives of Japan, have been denied by the Japanese Government permission to practice medicine on their return to their native land, the ground for such refusal being, as alleged, that said Government does not admit physicians from the United States to practice in its territory, unless they have been graduated from some few schools in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

The rule of the Japanese Government in this regard, as furnished by the department of home affairs, is as follows:

  • Article I. Any person who has received a license from the department of home affairs, upon examination, may follow the profession of physician.
  • Art. IV. When a person who has received a diploma of graduation from the medical department of a foreign university or from a medical college abroad, or has received a license to practice medicine in a foreign country, shall make application for a license to practice in Japan, inclosing the said diploma or license, the department of home affairs may, upon scrutiny of the said certificates, grant a license to such person without examination.

[Page 435]

The point involved in the case under discussion, it would appear from the above-quoted regulations, is not that the Japanese “Government does not admit physicians to practice medicine in its territory unless they have been graduated from some few schools in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago,” as stated by Dr. Withrow, but that the right of practice without examination has been denied to the graduates of the Laura Memorial Medical College under the regulations.

The practical question would seem to be how to secure for the said college such recognition of its diploma as will enable its graduates to practice medicine in Japan without further examination; and, as that is evidently a question of privilege rather than a question of right, may I request that I be furnished by Dr. Withrow, with the approval of the Department, such further information relating to the requirements, course of study, etc., of the Laura Memorial Medical College, together with certified copies of papers showing the membership of the college in the American College Association as will enable me to make an intelligent presentation of the case to the home department of the Japanese Government with a view of obtaining, if practicable, the desired recognition.

I have, etc.,

A. E. Buck.