The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-06-06

| loaded d0Wn with botuea OF tneSe vic
mixtures, kept constantly before the pub.
lie by glazing posters, with pictures to
match.
And thus the ever credulous patient,
graspipg at fair promises with haste, pro.
cures and uses, only 10 find out that the
statements are false, the promises are
frauds, and that his money Is gone.
This state Of things Is prominently
illustrated In our own State. Who among
you does not recognize the counterpart OF
this picture in his own localityf Our
railroad towns, our county towns, and the
larger cities are beset with these travelling
dOctors-these carpet.baggers Of medf.
cine. who steal the livery Of the profession
In which to serve the God Of mammon.
The cause Of this condition OF affairs
nour midst Is an imported question, and
may not suggest one OF. two ofthe most
prominent,
It Is q fact known to you all that
our bordering States have Legisla.
tive enactments on this subject, which
prevent these itinerant vendors from
"plylng their VOCATION and thus
cut off from their thrift, they come
swarming In upon as like the locusts
of Egypt, where they find 10 laws to re.
strain or hinder their trade. A member
Of this Society who lives bordering on the
Ohio river, states that soon after the pas.
sage Of the recent law by the State of
Ohio on this subject, that seven Of the
exCluded'and incompetent Doctors from
that State, found their way across the
river In his county in West Virginia.
What o calamity for one county, SFT1 ~
Another important cause Of this patron.
age Of pretension-is the difficulty,
might almost say the imposslbility, Of the
people judging the qualifications Of their
physicians Perhaps no subject Of such
vital importance To. the community Is SO
little understood as the loss OF their
health and the best means Of curing their
diseases, and hence comes the difficulty Of
distinguishing between the true physician
and the pretender.
The most obvious remedy and the most
radical cure ofthis evil then, would DO
higher standard Of popular education.
For 1t is within the observation OF every
scientific physician that in proportion as
his patrons are educated and refined, in
that same proportion they resist the as.
sumption Of pretenders, and the Difficult.
ties OF practicing among them are remov.
ed. And whenever the people are taught
that medicine is founded in common sense,
and not made up Of the marvellous
or wonderful, or the supernatural, and
whenever the study Of Anatomy and
Physiology is made part OF the curric.
ulum In our common schools, then will
quackery be shorn Of tho right arm Of It's
power. AZ 5
We have more immediate but perhaps
less efficient remedy, in legislation on this
point. And here comes up q mooted
question-here comes the treading oil
doubtful ground, for 1t is sufficiently ap.
parent that some eminent medical men
are doubtful of the propriety Of passing
laws regulating the qualifications Of physI.
clans for practicing their profession
even some Of the distinguished medical
men of our own State share the same
doubts. Yet when we look around US
and hear the demands Of the people for
protection-chiehy among the deceived
and the almost universal enactment oflsws
on this subject in other States, and the
growing tendency everywhere to this
view on the part of the profession, l think
we can scarcely doubt longer its pro.
priety.
Among the States which quite recently
have come to recognize this necessity, Illinois
is prominent, only few weeks ago hay.
ing passed law stringent in its character.
Close upon this comes the State OF
New York, whose Legislature only last
week passed a law perhaps more stringent
in its details, which was sanctioned and
urged by large portion Of the profession
Of the city and State, which law was
drawn up and engineered by distin.
guished medical gentleman, now in the
Legislature Of that State. .s
In the language of an eminent member
OF the profession who has given this sub.
jeCt much thought: "that the principle
involved Is acprrect one, admits of no
doubt, but the application of Legislative
enactments in overthrowing the irightful
evil has It's difficulties. This Is not class
legislation, as suggested by its opposers.
1t is not for the beneftof the few against
the many, but the very opposite. 1t is
not for the benefit of the medical profess
sion, as is so often falsely alleged, but il
aims al direct protection oftfe people against
a hur5al class Of nlen."
The same writer goes on to say CLAWS
are enforced against those who, as thieves
and assasSinS, despoil your property, or
injure your person. Those who by false
pretenses and Tor their own base and sell
fish purposes, tamper with the health and
lives Of the afflicted, belong to similar
class Of criminal offenders against public
policy, and should be- ss promptly dealt
with.
If It is necessary to protect the lives Of
the people by law against ignorant or in
competent druggists not the same
protection against Ignorant or incompe.
tent Doctors. II the qualifications of the
cOnpOunder Of medicines must be regulat.
ed by law (which scarcely any doubt)-I
why not regulate the qualifications Of the
Dispenser in the same wayH
l leave this subject with you, and com.
mend 1t to your careful consideration,
with the distinct understanding that these
sentiments are not deliberate recommen.
dationS, but merely suggestions.
To q subject Of such vital importance
to the tnh0le people aud to the profession Of
this State, it is deemed but just to call
your attention.
The times clearly and unmistakably
indicate that some legislation on this sub.
ject IciH transpire in our State, not very
remote in the future, Ulsthsr the profession
IoM il or not. This Is morally certain; and
| am inclined to the opinion that the pro.
lession should take the initiative and di.
rect, as far as possible, that legislation for
the general good.
And now, gentlemen, Of the Society, in
conclusion, asking your Indulgence and
assistance, allow me to hope that we may
have pleasant, harmonious and profit
able meeting.
The Committee Of Publication reported
| through its Chairman m, pnto, -