Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-02-26
Lrnr Tho nxmrl pcmocrat. |

.ur. Edi0r.-Thc bill for the promo
/ ton of Anatomical Science il again be-
fore the Legislature; and it is To be
| hoped that every member will give the
! subject that candid consideration which
I il deserves. Several Physicians have
met the Committee of the Judiciary and
/ given their reasons for the enactment oi
such Bill DR.. lew ksbury there stated
Il refer again Ia the oppressive siiua-
/ ton in which the medical profession are
placed hV our laws. On another page al
our statute books. the practicing physi-
/ clan is made liable Ia all concerned. Tor
all damages arising directly or indirectly
! from his want of knowledge and skill.
\ The State furnishes no aid, means or ma
I tcrial for becoming good anatomist or
surgeon, and the courts punish him II he
( i "A bad one. So the State first compels
/ him 10 bc ignorant, compels him 10 be a
! hungling surgeon. and then compels him
to be- fHed."
| DR.. Foster said
The second section prohibits the
sending OF subjects for dissection out OF
/ the Stale. and confines the obtaining OF
7 them 10 ply sieianS. surgeons and instruct
ors who can give bonds for their proper
Use.
I Bv the three last sections of the bill,
YOU cannot fail 10 see how thoroughly
/ the public is protected from every out
/ race that nigh, serve to shock the Sensi-
Lilities OF the most fastidious community.
/ The worthy poor cannot be troubled
/ by this bill We do not ask YOU 10 pass
4 yet4y,r diSSectiMg ball. We ask You
/ for that only which can be better given
than withheld and which il given will
\ benefit alike both rich aud poor. BY
granting u this bill, YOU will place the
medical profession of Maine OH equal
/ footing with that OF other States, and you
will remove from our medical college
and school one of the greatest obstacles
Ia their future success and usefulness"
/ The bill which has received the sane
/ ton of medical men in this Stale and is
recommended TO the Legislative Com
mittcc is rs follows:
/ SECTION |. The oyersecrs of the poor
/ of any city or town containing not less
! than five thousand Inhabitants by the
census of the United States then next
preceding; the Warden of the State
/ Prison; and the keepers of the several
! iailS in this State, may give permission TO
any physician or surgeon preference
being given 10 instructors and medical
schools established by law) upon his re-
quest. 10 take the bodies of any such
person diving in their city or town or in
/ the State Prison, or in a Jail as are re-
qaired To De buried at the public expense,
/ 10 be bv him used within the State for the
advancement of anatomical science.
| SIC >. Every person before receiving
any such body shall give bonds To the
officer surrendering it, with sufficient
sureties, that such bodies shall be used
only in the State, and for the promotion
/ of anatomical science, and in such manner
rs in no event to outrage the public; and
that after the use allowed by law, the
remains thereof shall be decently buried.
SEC. ). No such body shall be sur
rendered if the deceased during his last
sickness, of his own accord, requested TO
| be buried. or if within twenty-iour hours
after his death any person claiming to be.
and satisfying the officer or officers
aforesaid. that he is friend of, or kindred
To the deceased, asks to have the body
buried. or if the deceased was traveller
or stranger who suddenly died. In other
eases described in section one, 1t shall be
the duty of the officers aforesaid to sur
render such body on request, as in that
section provided.upon receipt of the bond
provided for in section two.
Sea. Any person knowingly sur
rendering or knowingly receiving any
such body for anatomical purposes,
contrary to the provisions of this act,
shall be punished as provided in section
twehty-six of chapter one hundred and
twenty-four of the revised statutes.
For the honor of the State for the we'll
fare of the community and the interest OF
the Profession, hope it may become a
law. SCIENCE.