The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-08-09
THE MEDICAL BOARD.

IeSScu Intent VI WHICH ls W PiefehI quaeAoiy, IN
position, &C., in the practice of medicine in this
State. As the law now is, (passed at the last ses-
sion of the Lesislature,) every person who comes
into the State for the purpose OF practicng medi-
cine is compelled to go before this Board and be
examined as to his qualifications for practicing,
although he may have at the same time diploma
in his pocket given by the faculty of the college at
which he graduated.
\ correspondent of the Fayetteville Observer
speaks of the matter as follows
FAYETTEVILLE, July %, 1S59.-Messrs. e. H.
Hale d. Son Allow me through your columns
to bring to the notice of the Medical Profession,
and to those who may have the future framing OF
our laws in their hands, some of the evils, as
conceive of an Act passed by the last Legislature.
''Thc title is can Act to incorporate the Medical
Society of the State of North Carolina, and for the
establishment of Board of Medical Examiners.
The portion of this Act to which would call at
tention is that which relates to the establishment
of the Medical Board, their powers, &c. The
Board have ri CHIT hereafter to decide who is
fitted for the practice of medicine IN North Caroll-
na..
Now the strength of every power must be even
tually in its worth.
The stability of every principle must be in its
truth.
The ultimate success of every undertaking must
depend upon its practicabty and utility.
No body of men, however Jealous, no laws,
however stringent, can bolster up permanently
any doctrine or practice in itself without worth
These remarks apply with fully as much force
t. the legitimate practice of medicine as to any
other system. The act above referred to purports
to be for the benefit of the Profession at large.
The Board, by the Act was to be appointed by
the Assembly, or in they do not choose to ex-
ercse the right, by the Medical Society.
l do not intend to question the ability Of that
Board to pass upon the merits of young men who
have diplomas in their hands; but [ would ask,
Why should they do so? Cui bono? Is it pro
bono puJlico, or pro bono medico? And if for
either purpose, is the adopted right in prin-
ciple or expedent in practice?
First. Is it to benefit the public? How? The
answer suppose, by calling in the aid of Legisla-
tive enactment to keep them from being imposed
on by quacks. Nothing is better calculated to
subserve the interest of these very quacks than
the cry of persecution; ana the course pursued by
that portion of the medical fraternity at whose
instance this law was passed is the surest means
of giving apparent justification for that cry.
Quackery cannot be put down by legislation. If
the people will be deceived, they will be deceived.
Is it to benefit the profession? How? BY
saying to the world, you wish the ri ght to exclude
from your rank all that you think unworthy?
Who is benefited by professional skill Certain
ly the public and if so is not that body the best
Judge after their instructors, of the qualifications
of the young practitioner?
Is it to benefit the profession by saying further,
you cannot bear to be brought in competition with
quacks and charatans, who pander to popular pre-
judce and in ure by underhand measures!
The medical practitioner who is conscientious in
the discharge of his duty, should shrink from no
competition, should shun comparison, for the
strength and truth and worth of the science in
themselves will vindicae his cause
To benefit the profession Why, are no. these
young men with diplomas in their hands your
equals in right to practice? Are they not posi-
bly, better yersed in the new discoveries OF the
day?
Have the Medical Examiners been before a
Board of Examiners, and do they hold more of
license to practice in their hands than the man
who presents himself before them for examina-
ton!
How then does it benefit the profession to ex-
clude from practice man who holds the same Ii
cense those who examine?
And now how can the medical fraternity recon-
ellie the reception in their ranks, as equal in all
respects, of the man who has practiced five years,
whether he has diploma not, (see Constitution
of State Medical Society," Art 6, Sec. p with the
non-recepton of one who has diploma from the
best authority in the land Which is most COM
retent, man who has never attended on the means
of instruction and knows all he does know from a
five years experience; (Which may have been
worse than nothing,) or one who has passed three
years of stndy under respectable practitioner,
has walked the wards of the Hospital, and has
listened to the lectures Of the most experienced
teachers OF this country, and it may be Of Europe?
Then too, where is the justice of compelling
young man with means, possibly, nearly exhausted
to travel from Currituck (perhaps) to Morganton,
bearing his own expenses, run the risk of rel ec-
ton from hasty examination, and if not rejected,
compelled to pay in part the expenses of the
Board-(by the Act the expenses are paid out of
the moneys paid in by those examined) Is it
just? Is it liberal?
No, No. If there is to be reform, let it be in
the ranks of the profession as it now is. Appoint
if you can, Board to re-organize the whole medi-
cal profession. Throw aside the quacks in your
ranks-those who really pander to public caprice
in every way-who, in solemn compact, under
charge-who take advantage Of position to decry
their fellow practitioners-wh degrade the pro-
fession by degrading themselves.
Do this and the end is gained. Public estima-
ton will already have fixed its standard so high of
the necessary qualifications for Doctor, that no
unworthy man can enter or having entered can
succeed.
The time will soon come when the whole State
will cry aloud for the repeal of this act 1t Is lib
cral. 1t is unj ust. [ had almost said tyrannical
1t is injuring and still must injure the cause of
legitimate medicine.
Justly too must any position be censured which
is SO full of selfshness and eeotism as this. The
passage of this law and its practical results will
give terrible impulse to quackery>
hon 10 no Ix, K ri.