Colonial America turned to an age-old solution, as the medical profession relied on the apprenticeship concept for second and third generation doctors, and continued this practice well into the 19th century.  The procedure was simply.  A boy interested in becoming a doctor apprenticed himself to the community physician.  This entailed the youngster serving, for all intents and purposes, as a servant, for he lived with the doctor, swept the barn, took care of the livestock, and performed the needed household chores.