The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-05-22
MISCELLAN N EO u S

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~ 1t being understood by the medi-
cal profession throughout the parish OF
St. Mary that the Hon. R. H. Day was
one of the special committee on the
practice of medicine in this State, and
this committee having reported adverse
to the interests of regular physicians,
we feel it duty we owe to our worthy
Representative to lay before our readers
his minority report on the subject, which
we copy from the Bee:
Afsnorst4 Report of the Special Commit
tee on the Practice of Medicine in thas
State.
AS majority of your committee, to
whom was referred the bill from the
Senate concerning practitioners OF med
icine In this State, have seen mt to make
favorable report on the same. IN my
Judgment much in opposition to the
wishes or true interests of the people,
and certainly hostile to that enlighten-
ed and liberal sympathy which every
branch Of science should receive from
the Legislature of the country, it be-
Genes nv duty to appeal to this House
from the Judgment of the majority OF
your committee, and to state my rea-
sons why ] am forced to take this
course.
Only few days ago your committee
had similar subject under con&dera-
tion. and after mature reflection. under
spirit of liberal concession, they re-
ported to you bill, which passed this
House, allowing every person, whether
he were an allopathist, hydropathist,
homeopathic, botanist or electrist to
practice medicine In this State, upon
the simple condition of his being quail
. fed in accordance with the peculiar
theories of his particular school. Was
this concession not enough TO meet
eyerv reasonable demand? Must the
adsathly step and vampire stomach of
ignorance still be fed at the crib of
medical science, till all its vitality and
the hallowed associations which cluster
around the prestige of its ancient name
be consumeda Will this Legislature
descend from the high and noble posi-
ton of guarding the true interests Of
the people, and of the enlightened
course of promoting and elevating
science TO the notifying and humilia.
ting attitude of catering to the low and
vulgar pfejudices of the ignorant ?
We should have some respect for the
lives of our citizens, and to the position
in which we place ourselves before the
enlightened nations of Nthe earth.
r. Rr,oxur hof th 10 CT do rd n
medical requirements in this country
is already too low. In consequence o.
this. thousands Of young men are yearly
authorized to practice medicine, who
should scarcely be trusted to compound
a prescription; and hordes of the icdte'
sprouts from the science OF medicine
in Europe are transplanted IN this Tree
and generous land, TO prescribe for ouI
wives and children, who in their native
climate scarcely aspire to veterinary
practice or the occupation OF waiting
in q. doctors shop. The evil of this
thing is apparent throughout the whole
length of our country, and though the
Ignorant may boast of being able tc
employ whom they please, yet we are
Dained and mortified to witness the
..stiused and crooked growth of doctors
fhatviufest every neighborhood, and
that tear from that noble science the
honors and triumphs which our fathers
piaced upon its brow. And nothing in
ravtepinion. contributes more 10 break
sdossn an elevated standard in the medi-
cal colleges, and the industry and use,
fuIness Of medical men, than the want
of ) rigid law guarding the sacred pre-.
cincis of this science. Evil commit
nications corrupt good Manners is an
axiom whose truth is as indisputed in