Hon. Raymond F. Blount 

Secretary-Treasurer 

Opinion No. M-703 

Anatomical Board of State of Texas Re: Is a college of osteoUniversity of Texas, Medical Branch pathic medicine chartered 

Galveston, Texas 77550 and located in Texas entitled to be represented 

by membership on the Anatomical Board of Texas 

under provisions of 

Dear Mr. Blount: 

Article 4583, Vernon's 

Civil Statutes? 

You have requested an opinion from this office concerning 

the above question. Your statement of facts reads, in part, 

as follows: 

"Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine has 

obtained a charter from the State of Texas, copy 

enclosed: a faculty has been employed, all of whom 

are on active duty now; and the students for the 

first year have been admitted and have accepted. 

“Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine has the 

approval of the Texas Association of Osteopathic 

Physicians and Surgeons, and receives development 

funds from this organization; also, Texas College 

of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the American 

Osteopathic Association - copy enclosed - the agency 

recognized by and designated by the Federal authorities for this function. 

-3401- 
c. ., 

Hon. Raymond F. Blount, page 2 (M-703) 

"For the first year the College will be located 

in an entire fiopr of the Fort Worth Osteopathic 

Hospital and adjacent areas. 

"In summary, Texas College of Osteopathic 

Medicine is now an accredited operating medical 

college in the State of Texas. 

"We are now informed that as an accredited medical 

college in Texas we may become eligible for membership 

on the Anatomical Board of the State of. Texas..." 

Yourquestion is: 

"Does the Anatomical Law of 1907, Section 1 

include a college of 'Osteopathic Medicine' along'with 

the 'usual medical schools', and this entitle it to 

representation on the board?" 

Article 4583, Vernon's Civil Statutes, is the law applicable 

to this question and states in pertinent part as follows: 

"The professor of anatomy,and the professor of 

surgery of each of the medical schools or colleges 

now incorporated, and of the several medical and 

dental schools and colleges which may hereafter be 

incorporate~d in this State are constituted a board, 

to be known as the Anatomical Board of the State of 

Texas . .." 

It is the opinion of this office that a College of Osteopathic Medicine duly incorporated and located in Texas is 

entitled to have the professor of anatomy and the professor of 

surgery of such institution accepted as members of the Anatomical 

Board of the State of Texas, upon the presentation by such 

professors of anatomy and professors of surgery of credentials 

designated by Article 4583. 

-3402.- 
Hon. Raymond F. Blount, page 3 (M-703) 

This office has previously concluded that an osteopath is 

a practitioner of medicine within the meaning of the law 

(Attorney General's Opinion No. v-1024 (1950)). and the practice 

of osteopathy has consistently been held to be within the meaning of the phrase "the practice of medicine." (Attorney General's 

Opinion No. O-1298 (1939)). See also Articles 4590e and 4510, 

Vernon's Civil Statutes. 

SUMMARY 

A college of Osteopathic medicine duly 

incorporated and located in Texas is entitled 

to be represented by membership on the Anatomical 

Board of Texas under the provisions of Article 

4583, Vernon's Civil Statutes. 

C. MARTIN 

Atto&y General of Texas 

Prepared by Sam Jones 

Assistant Attorney General 

APPROVED: 

OPINION COMMITTEE 

Kerns Taylor, Chairman 

W. E. Allen, Co-Chairman 

Ivan Williams 

Ken Nordquist 

David Longoria 

John Banks 

MEADE F. GRIFFIN 

Staff Legal Assistant 

ALFRED WALKER 

Executive Assistant 

NOLA WHITE 

First Assistant 

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