The American medical school is now well along in the second

century of its history. It began, but for many years continued to exist, as 【M1】_________

a supplement for the apprenticeship system still in vogue during the 17th 【M2】_________

and 18th centuries. The likely youth of this period, destined to a medical 【M3】_________

career, was at an early age indentured to some reputable practitioner,

whom his service was successively menial, pharmaceutical, and 【M4】_________

professional; he ran his master’s errands, washed the bottles, mixed the

drugs, spread the plasters, and finally, while the stipulated term drew 【M5】________

toward its close, actually took a part in the daily practice of his 【M6】_________

preceptor—bleeding his patients, pulling their teeth, and obeying a

hurried summons in the night. The quality of the training varied within

large limits with the capacity and conscientiousness of the master.

Ambitious spirits sought, therefore, a more assured and inspired 【M7】_________

discipline. Beginning early in the 18th century, having served their time

at home, they resorted in rapidly increasing numbers in the hospitals and 【M8】_________

lecture halls of Leyden, Paris, London, and Edinburgh. The difficulty

of the undertaking proved admirably selective; for the students who

crossed the Atlantic gave a good account of themselves. Return to their 【M9】_________

native land, they sought opportunities to share with their less fortunate

or less adventurous fellows the rich experience gained as they “walked

the hospitals” of the old world. The voices of the great masters of that

day thus reechoed in the recent western wilderness. High scientific and

professional ideals impelled the youthful enthusiasts, who bore their

lighting torches safely back across the waters. 【M10】_________

【M9】