The writer of a recent article in _Lippincott's Magazine_ (Dr. H.C. Wood) on "Medical Education in the United States" seems to have been so lost in admiration at the methods of instruction followed in European medical colleges as to be utterly blind to the good in the system of medical education as it exists in this country--a system the _necessary_ result of our political, social, financial and territorial conditions; a system which, though in the abstract may not be the best, is certainly, judging from its results, the best _possible_ under our peculiar circumstances. This much abused system of medical education (only greatly improved in its extent and thoroughness--improvements developed by the constant advances in knowledge) is the same system which has produced the great medical men of the United States during the past seventy-five years--medical practitioners whose success has been surpassed by none in Europe; surgeons whose skill has been, and is, world-wide in reputation; authors whose works are standard authorities everywhere. It is the same system of medical instruction--I quote verbatim (italics mine) from this article that holds it up to scorn--which "accomplished such _splendid results_ during the late rebellion." The writer says: "The great resources of the medical profession were proved during the civil war, when there was created in a few months a service which for magnitude and efficiency has rarely if ever been equaled. Indeed, military medicine was raised by it to a point _never reached before that time in Europe_ and the results achieved have, in many points, _worked a revolution in science_." After this frank declaration of the inestimable value and glorious results of American medical education, the writer draws the _logical_(?) sequence that it (American medical education) is responsible for a case of most heartrending malpractice, which he relates, compared to which the Japanese hari-kari were merciful mildness, and approaching more nearly the tortures by crucifixion as administered by this same _kind-hearted_ people. With about as much reason and justice might he conclude that the _American system_ of Sunday-school education is lamentably inferior to that of Great Britain, _because_(!) Jesse Pomeroy was a possibility in that most respectable town of Boston.