SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTIVITY AND ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION IN NINETEENTH CENTURY MEDICINE.

Changes in the relative "productivity" of the medical sciences in France, Germany, Britain, and the United States from 1800 to about 1925 may be explained as a result of the various degrees of competitiveness of the academic systems of these countries. The German and the American systems were competitive (because they were decentralized); the French and the British were not. Academic competition forced upon the German system, and later the American system as well, decisions which, according to contemporary expert opinion, were premature or unnecessary. These decisions, concerning the recognition of specialized disciplines, creation of research facilities, and expansion of scientific training, led to the emergence of regular scientific careers, and proved eventually to be decisive for the acceleration of scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]