The American medical school is now well along in the secondcentury of its history. It began, but for many years continued to 1exist, as a supplement for the apprenticeship system still in vogue 2during the 17th and 18th centuries. The likely youth of this period, 3destined to a medical career, was at an early age indentured to somereputable practitioner, whom his service was successively menial, 4pharmaceutical, and professional; he ran his master's errands, washed the bottles, mixed the drugs, spread the plasters, andfinally, while the stipulated term drew toward its close, actually 5took a part in the daily practice of his preceptor—bleeding his 6patients, pulling their teeth, and obeying hurried summons in the night. The quality of the training varied within large limits with the capacity and conscientiousness of the master. Ambitious spiritssought, therefore, a more assured and inspired discipline. 7Beginning early in the 18th century, having served their time athome, they resorted in rapidly increasing numbers in the hospitals 8and 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 ofthemselves. Return to their native land, they sought opportunities to 9share 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 idealsimpelled the youthful enthusiasts, who bore their lighting torches 10safely back across the waters.