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19 Q Two Medical Education Q His year at an approved preparatory school enabled Peter Edmund Jones to gain entrance into the privately run Toronto School of Medicine in 1862.1 The University of Toronto had been forced to privatize its medical and legal training programs in 1853 because the government believed that the province should not have to support the education of those who wished to enter what they called the “lucrative professions.”2 The University of Toronto’s dean of medicine, however, remained responsible for setting the examinations and granting degrees, and the university ’s medical library was open to the students. The largest commercial school was the Toronto School of Medicine, located near the university, with a faculty providing both basic science and practical instruction. Dr. John Rolph established the school in 1843. Although he later became embroiled in politics and was no longer in charge when Peter Edmund applied for admission, he provided the boy with a recommendation that would have carried considerable weight because he knew Reverend Jones from working with him on a number of past occasions.3 In Peter Edmund’s time these private schools provided reasonably good training. Because the medical profession was not well policed, many final-year students merely fulfilled the course requirements and opened a practice without a degree. A year before Peter Edmund graduated, provincial authorities finally obtained laws to control untrained medical practitioners. The General Council for Medical Education was authorized to regulate medical training, including examinations, licensing, and the right to discipline physicians, but in 1869 the newly formed College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario took charge.4 Importantly, in 1887 the University of Toronto regained the right to offer medical training and adopted an improved curriculum. Within two decades it was considered one of the top medical schools in North America.5 The Toronto School 20 Chapter Two of Medicine welcomed Peter Edmund. He had the necessary premedical training and could pay the fees. He was given a unique opportunity. Generations of Aboriginal lads had attended schools dedicated to assimilating them into the majority population, but only as semi-skilled workers. Bright boys could aspire to becoming a teacher, interpreter, or missionary, but never a physician. Slight of build and modest in height, Peter walked with a limp aided by a cane. He had Native features and could have had problems being accepted by his peers because prejudice ran high among the local population. Well-spoken and raised in Brantford, however , he was at ease with his classmates. Peter Edmund was able to make friends because of his familiarity with the Euro-Canadian community, his scholastic abilities, and his skill at the then very popular game of chess. Unable to take part in sports, he busied himself by becoming a member of various organizations.6 Peter Edmund was not the only Aboriginal attending classes at the Toronto School of Medicine. The other was Oronhyatekha, who in later life seldom used his Christian name, Peter Martin. As far as we know, these two young men were the first Canadian Status Indians to study medicine. They had attained the necessary level of education to apply to medical school, and both had strong links with influential people, which probably helped them gain entry. Unlike Peter Edmund, who had family connections, Oronhyatekha came from a simple background and had to work hard to gain recognition. Also in contrast to Peter Edmund, he was a particularly striking figure: the powerful Mohawk had shiny hair and prominent eyes that topped his two-metre frame. He spoke with a deep resonating voice, was always in fine spirits, and excelled at virtually every sport.7 His confident manner was the result of having overcome unbelievable odds. Oronhyatekha was born on the Six Nations Territory in 1841 and was attending school when a visiting phrenologist, impressed by his large head, recommended him for further education at a Wesleyan academy in Massachusetts. He did manual work, taught school, and acted in Indian shows to finance his education. Joining the militia he became a medal-winning sharpshooter. When he finally gained admission to the Toronto School of Medicine in 1863, he must have been surprised to meet Peter Edmund. Both young men buckled down to work, dressed like the other students in stylish suits under black academic gowns.8 The University of Toronto followed the English system in which students first obtained a Bachelor of Medicine degree, which entitled them to sit the licensing examination...

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