Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-17
The Medical Association and the
BOARD Of Health.


At q recent meeting of the Medical Associa-
ton of the District Of Columbia resolutions were
adopted in relation to the regulations OF the
Board OF Health to secure a full and correct
record of vital statistics. The resolutions have
a preamble which recites tn in certain of the
regulations II IL believed the board has exceeded
its authority, and Imposed upon physicians
duties and requirements which ought not to be
fulfilled" and has, through its secretary and
registrar, exceeded the scope of its own pub
lish6d regulations, in that ii has tire stened to
withhold "burial permit for the interment OF
the bodies OF persons attended during their last
sickness by any physician who may have failed
or refused N comply with regulation eighth,
Notwithstanding the cert ficate of death may
have been made, signed, md delivered by such
attending physician, aecoI ding 10 the form pre-
scribe, by re gulation fourth.
The resolutions declare that to comply with
| the regulations relative to reporting births
would coL7pel the rIedical attendant TO make a
public record vi the history of every new born
infant; TO expose the hereditary and cOngenItal
disc ases and deformities of unfOrtunates, many
OF which are remedial; to inquire into and re
cord the vices and crimes Of illegitimacy; to
publish the secret physical history of every
family; TO expose to public examination infOr-
nation which he derives from his confidential
relations to his patient; to make him the chan
mel through which calumny or revenge could
ne propagsted, recorded and promulgated, By
compelling him TO furnish the name of any N an
whom the mother of an infant born out of we'd
lock might choose or be subsidized to declare
WAS the father of her iliegtimate child; to de-
grade child through life with the record Of an
luDDy and slander yIrtuous parents whoss first
child might be born previous to the completion
OF the ninth month of their married life, since,
by regulation second - .. each MARRIAGE GER
emory soltmniZed" must be recorded in the
same Office :" within A. hours thereafter"
That the regulation making it the duty of
every physician, accOucheur. midwife, under
taker, sexton, or superintendc nt of any ceme-
terry, or other person having charge OF the same,
practicing medicine or doing business within
the District OF Columbia. to register his or her
name in a book OF books at the office of the
board seems to recognize the right of any per-
son who may choose to register "a a physician,
aceoucheur, or midwife to practice medicine in
this District, and is, therefore, a violation of
the laws of Congress incorporating the Medical
Society OF the District of Columbia, and the
Washington Homeopathic Society, "besides be-
ing wrong in spirit, degrading to the profess
sion, injurious TO the well being of society, aud
contrary to the teachings accepted by all intel.
ltgent people, that none but persons specially
educated therefor shall be allowed to practice
the science Of medicine, or are competent to
make a proper mortuary report" That the
profession cheerfully accept the law in all its
proper and legal requirements and will unite
with the Board Of Health In every reasonable
and practical effort "to secure full aud cor.
rect record of vital statistics, including the
registration Of deaths and the interment OF the
dead" and to that end they hereby pledge
themselves to report to the registrar of said
board the birth of every child at which they
may attend, advise, or assist, giving all useful
and proper Information concerning the same,
but in no case furnishing the names of the pa
rents or the physical condition of the infant.
That while denying the power of the board to
require any physician to register in the office of
the registrar OF said board, while the names aud
addresses of all legally qualified practitioners in
this District. who may be members OF this asso
citation, will be cheerfully furnished by this So
ciety on application TO its secretary, the indi-
vidual members will not object to registering in
the office OF the registrar OF said board, pro-
vided proper precautions be taken to proven.
unqualified persons from registering, and that
no mortuary or birth certificate will be received
unless signed by some one OF such registered
qualified to sign sucn certificate.
The following committee of five was appoint
ed to present copy of these resolutions to the
Board of Health; Drs. johnson Eliot, w. w.
Johnston, John W. Buckley, S. g. Busey and j.
W. III. LoyejOy.