The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-10-17

when the steamer does not come ths way w
seem to be out of humanity's reach. The mail man
from KAWaihae happens along according to the state
Of the weather, and then a favored few get a news
paper from Honolulu. l. W
Ma. EDIroR AS to the licensing OF physicians
! our law reads thus at shall not be lawful Tor
any person TO pr. ctice in this kingdom as a physi-
clan or surgeon. for compensation or reward, unless
he shall have FIRST presented to the Board OF heailh'
or to such examiners as said Board may appoint
for that purpose. satisfactory evidence OF bis pro
iessional qualifications, and good moral character
and obtained a certificate OF approval from said
Board, and a license from the Minister Of Interior.
Have the Chinese physicians, licensed, and prae-
ticing in our midst, presented this satisfactory ert-
deHce Of professional ability
II so we are constrained To wonder what these
mystical requirements might be and more so,
since common sense would lead as to believe that
competency in the science Of diseases and their
cures. should be made to rest on a knowledge OF
the human machine. and the relation (philosophic-
ally considered) OF organ to organ in all their
functional dependencies, together with their rela-
tions to the external world. as expressed in disease
and the influence OF our so called drugs. And all
this. as taught not according 10 heather practice
but according to the modern scientific principles OF
the ciuaized world. But We have been taught our
mistake as to the estimate We had made OF the
principles actuating the Board OF Health, aud are
given to understand, by the licensing OF these men.
that the results of enlightenment and science, aceu-
mulated from the devoted and untiring research OF
this and preceding ages, are worthy OF no more
consideration than the anfounded claims OF heather
practice, that makes not the ghost Of an attempt to
fulfill the requirements Of our law, az regards
either professional qualifications or good
moral character
AS a palliative against this objection, we are
told that these men possess certificates OF compe-
tency from their own land but, as it wonld be
useless to oppose such powerful reason, il must
remain unanswered.
Now the Board of Health is a body with whom
is entrusted the care and supervision of the public
health, and have the power of direction in all
matters pertaining thereto and they have clearly
indicated in certain other cases, that they have no
intention to encourage in this direction the banetui
effects of empiricism. Were this idea applied con-
sistentIy. and without regard TO other considera-
tons. there could be no ground for the otherwise
we'll founded complaintof Partially in their actions
II is hard to be reconciled 20 the idea that Justice
Is like kissing aud should 20 by taUof. But so 1t
seems the Board would make il, IN this particular
case.
IzaIW Why empiricism from China should be legally
protected, and empiricism from Europe aud Amer
lea should be legally prosecuted, is certainly a
proposition that would require peculiar reasoning
to affirm, without first assuming the mutability Of
justice.
It is certainly no more than the public have a
right TO expect that il the Board have any standard
by which they Judge Of professional qualifications
in certain cases, that all should be judged accord
ingly and that If they have no standard, then no
distinction should be made, whereby justice IL
made injustice, and the very object OF the law II
peryerted-for considerations, Of which the public
have no knowledge. Seen in its real light, this
licensing OF Chinese physicians, is an injustice to
the public at large, who certainly ueed all the pro-
lection that The law allows Tor health 1t is an
Injustice to other ignoramuses who percbance have
travelled hitler from as distant lands as their
heather brethren OF the license, reasonably expect
ing to share the sp0ils, but for reasons known only
to the Board of Health, are compelled to forego
the privilege and lument over their mistaken sup
position of equal rights. And moreover it is a
direct injustice to the regular certidcated physi-
clan, who has become such by a thorough and
extensive edncation-aud an insult TO science and
civilization.
But, that physicians (~properIy so eailed) should
remain mute upon a subject that so directly con-
Germs themselves and the public, Of which they
form a part, is strange indeed.
.. Can it be that their " enough and to spare " is so
7 easily gained, that Abe pecuniary consideration is
without weight, and their degenerate public spirit
asks no more? Or, that in stirring up the matter oil
competency, is there an inkling that a want might
be shown in others than the " heather Chinee3
Poor people lwhom the law would protect in
this matter, were its meaning carried QUIT want the
worth Of their money, especially when they spend
Ii In the purchase Of remedies in sickness, and
which they will seldom find in the inert compound
and superstifious rites of Chinese medical practice
Even treaty stipulations, demand for the peoPl'
OF those nations with whom we have treaties, equa
riqhts with others of the most favored nations
But what is said to this singular preferment Of th'
subjects Of a nation with whom no treaty exists?
~ ff-tE EQUITAs.
3 ~, Ervr,,. 4 urifer fp vour last dispoursinG