Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-07
From the Wilmington Journal.
THE MEDICAL BOARD. NO. 2.

| was showing in nv last that the runous system
pursued by the medical Colleges in issuing diplo-
mas to disqualified persons, has been bringing the
regular scientific physicians of the United States
into disrepute with the public As one of the le-
ultimate results of this miserable eectioneeringp pol
icy of theirs the chief implements of the regular
physician in his warfare against disease have also
suffered unjustly public estimation. The course
pursued by thus licensing ignorance often combined
with immortality, tends to render the public who are
imperfectly qualified to pass judgment upon the
skill and qualifications of physicians, Hkeptical as
to the regular system of medical science that has
been built the accumulated experience and Obser
walton of all ages and countries for than two
thousand years. Empiricism has taken advantage of
these doubts in the public mind, and has excited
popular prejudice against calomel, blisters, the
lancet and other implements of regular practice,
that many citizens of the United States have been
driven into the arms of the ignorant and the nos
trums of the quack.
The public would have none but competent per-
sons to practice medicine; the parent would intro
duce none other than the honest and gentlemanly
practitioner to the bedside of his sick daughter,
wife, or sister; he would not, if he knew it. toll
crate the presence of the blackleg or bertne at this
sacred shrine of female innocence and virtue, where
his affections cluster in pure and holy devotion. -
But he need not look to a diploma for reliable
guarantee that his physician is either mentally,
morally, professionally competent to minister to
the many and complicated ills of the human sys-
tenn. If he depends the Medical Colleges for
qualified practitioners he will depend upon broken
reed.
Hence the necessity of every State protecting
herself against the impostons of Medical Colleges.
North Carolina has within her own borders, true,
able learned physicians, every way qualified to
pronounce justly and impartiay upon the qualitca-
tons of those proposing to engage in practice with
in her own borders. The action of her Legislature
manifests her appreciation of this truth, as shown
in the triumphant passage of bill to guard aga INST
the wiles to which | have alluded.
The bill providing for the institution of this Med
ical board is measure, WISE salutary and necessa
ry for the welfare of our good old Commonwealth.
1t provides that from and after the fifteenth of April
last, no man calling himself doctor, shall be en-
titled by law to collect his medical fees, unless he
has license to practice from this Medical Board
1t recognizes the State Medical Soclety-the repre-
sentative of the Medical Profession of the Stately
an act of Incorporation and provides that it shall
be the duty of said Medical body to elect said Board
once in every six years unless the Legislature shall
choose to exercise this right. The Board are to
meet in May of each year, and alternately at Ra-
leigh and Morganton. The Board consists of seven
members. They are to make their own Bylaws,
and regulations that may be necessary to carry out
the purposes of their appointment. They are to be
paid, each member four dollars day when on duty,
and their travelling expenses paid. The Board
contempates no expense to the State, but is self
sustaining institution each successful candidate
being required to pay, not twenty dollars, as oppo-
nents assert but ten dollars for license to practice
They are to sit from day to day until all applicants
are examined and to be the judges of the quail
fications of those who may come before them. To
guard against temporary inconvenience, any two
members of the Board may, examination, grant
temporary license, to extend to the next regular
meeting, and no longer; the sum of five dollars be-
ing required for such temporary license to practice
Each member shall be entitled to vote, and four
votes out of seven shall be necessary to enttle the
applicant to alicense. Any one, with or without
diploma, is entitled to examination for license,
nor does the law require that he shall be disciple
of any particular school or system to enttle him to
this privilege but, with the true liberal catholic
spirit of science and Of institutions the doors
are thrown open wide to any and all who willing
to sustain examination. The rugged son of PEN
ury and toll who has been bound down all his life
by the iron chain of poverty and obscurty without
the aid of money the approving smiles of wealthy
and influential friends to second his aspiring strug-
ges will have equal rights and privileges before this
Medical Tribunal of the State with the pampered
children of wealth, and luxury, and aristocracy,
who have enjoyed every advantage of education and
improvement, and walked for years the floors Of
Medical Colleges and Hospitals These are in brief,
the main features Of this Medical Bill and it needs
no elaboration to show that in its nature and de-
signs it is essentially just liberal and republican
But the best men have enemies the wisest meas