Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-04-17
published By REQUEST
LEGISLATIVE ATTENTION TO THE STEAM

A f. q
nor, IA ably for tho Botanic cause, could scarce
To- ba found in a legislative body. Now look a
Tho following bold and manly exposition OF thu
,,;ocioIes of Justice and Of common sense, by
Committee Of the Legislature Of New York. il
which SEQ the final triumph OF correct medica
principles. % ,,.
In ASSEMBLY, JANUARY 30, lS4l.
REPORT
Df the Select Committee Petitions Of numer
ous citizens of the State, praying for the pas
.ooe of a La,o authorizing Ihon,sonian Physi
clans to collect pay for their Services
Mr.. Culver, from the select committee To which
was referred the petitions Of numerous citizens
Of the State Of New York, praying for tine pas
sage Of n law authorizing Thomsoninn Physi
cians, under suitable restrictions, to collect pay
for their services: Reports,
The committee have had tho subj Get matter OF
these petitions under considc ion-That the
subject is ono of deep and abiding interest to a
ycry numerous and respectable class OF citizens
OF the State Of New York, IS clearly evtnced by
the long continued, persevcr'ng and earnest i'm
portuniiies with which the petitioners have pres
sed their case before the Legislature. They
seem to have been neither diSma yed III defeat nor
disheartcned by rebukc. Their uniIri"g persc-
verance seems To put the impress o: honesty up
on their designs and objects
They complain that their system of medical
practice is, BY the statute OF this State, under
tagonistic to theirs, having in their "pinion less
Of merit than their own, has endorsed upon il, n
legislative sanction aud recommendation.
Ten years and more have elapsed since the
Revised Statutes went into effect, ntaihing pro-
visions in relation to 1.-The practice Of ply and
SURGERY" at WARMTH the rights and privileges
OF Iudiv iduais, that subsequent legislation has
botted some of the most od,ons features of those
provisions from the statute book.
By the Revised Statutes, II was made both
penal and criminal offence TO practise physic
surgery in this State without being authorized
by law. The authority required by law was a
license or diploma from some medical society or
institution, recognized BY the laws of this State.
Tho offender subjected Ia fine OF $50, TO
no sued for and collected by the ovcrsecrs Of the
poor and, in addition to that, was liable TO be in
dicted and punished for misdemeanor; to be fin
cd or imprisoned, both The people up
and demonstrated against this latter provision.
In 1890 stricken 'u., -e.-'''i"S 'i'~ To..-'
part. A notification of tho penal part was sno-
scauentiy procured. cxemp:ing from It's operation
"a person using the roots, banks and herbs, the
growth or prodaco of the United States"
Bat another provision. and one of which the
petitioners now complain, nnjnst oppressive
and nvdious, is left standing upon the statutes.
Ii is that clause which prevents 'phvsician,
rot authorized by law. from collecting pay tor
his services
The operation of this provision is 10 compel
any wishing to practise phvs,c, To 90 through
a course of study prescribed by the medical
schools pass examination by a board Of censors.
receive "A license or diploma. and thereby compel
led, noicns roeas TO adopt and endorse the svs-
TEN. Or the other alternative IS to be debarreh
tho right of enforcing his claim IL law for the ser
vices rendered.
OF this the petitioners complain.
Your committee, being none of :hcm rf the
medical profession, and none of them practical
hDfn nat
90 into aud discuss the comparative merits nj the
awo systems; nor, If competent, would ttrv tee'
callia on To do So. Elch Of the systems has
its friends and supporters; each its unt,ring as
s,ilanis The committee not disposed IL
III Ike inroads and innovations upon long establish
ed sy stcns and theories; especially when these
systems seem folnIed in truth, md Supported by
fact and scientific experience Bu! the healing
art, like all Others, has been for ages undergoing
changes and improvements, some ct them oil a
fundamental character. And it would he strange
Indeed if this system. an exception To all others
should stand out alone as hlvinG attained the
&C plus ultra of hutnan perfection. The petition
ers think the ''regulrr SYSTEM" called.
crplible of grea, Improvement; and mos, earnest
lv contend (wheiher successfully or unsuccessful
Il, tho committee will not say,) that the Thorn
sonin System" SO called. decided improve
mont and s,mpfc atom Of the former. |, ls cir
cunsu,nce Of M small moment, and one which
The committee cannot disregard, that from 10000
10 10000 ciizens of this State have pressed this
subject upon the consideration Of the Legislature;
that they have knocked at the doors Of legislative
Justice, asking only TINT even handed justice
might be done in tho premises. And, while this
boon has been denied them, they allcge their
numbers and friends and advocates have been
yearly increasing. Like tho Israeli,es of old,
the more they were oppressed the more they
multiplied and grew. Evon tho iutelliren. OF
their enemies, the more candid Of the srccular
professon,'' admit that the Legislative enacimcn,s
so far from eifectuay SURPRISING the Thomsoni.
an practice, has created public sympathy, al.
together conducive to its support and perpe,uiv
Men cannot be lesisla,ed out Of one religion and
into another; nor can the Legislature thrust cal
omel and mercury down n mans throat, while he
wills TO take only cayenne lobelia.
The public nind has been sorely frettcd by
the legal enactments this subject; and the
more So as each revol inc wear has bu, increased