The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-13

NEW PROVISIONS
In the Interests of state Medicine Pro.
posed for the Constitution
of l.OnlalA0A.

RvSoW lUF INC GVHstALUbfOA
Of louisiana.
On April II, 1879. committee OF the Or
leans Parish Medical Society presented to the
Louisiana State Medical Society the follow
ing recommendations for adoption by the
Louisiana constitutional convention OF 1879
stating that these recommendations had been
revised by and had received the hearty APP
prevail OF every lawyer to whom they had
been submitted; among these lawyers there
were four OF the most eminent judges and
iurists in the State. That the only discourage
ing criticisms made were: That these rec
concentrations could be provided for by the
Legislature, and that they were at least fifty
years In advance OF public opinion In LOUISE
ana. In reply to these objections 1t was
urged that the recent constitutions OF Texas,
North Carolina, etc, presented precedents
| justifying the adoption Of these recommends
| tions by Louisiana; and that II embodied In
our constitution public and legislative opinion
| would be thereby solicited to, and 50 gradu-
ally enlightened upon these important inter-
ests OF the people. After due consideration
these recommendations were Endorsed unan-
imously and emphatically by the Louisiana
State Medical Society, which further resolved
that an auxiliary committee be added to the
standing committee OF the Society on State
Medicine, for the purpose OF urging these
recommendations on the constitutional con-
vention.
| DR.. s. E. Chaille, of New Orleans, was ap-
pointed chairman OF the standing committee,
DIR. John p. Davidson, OF New Orleans, chair
man of the auxiliary committee, and the
1 rnanyn rnpndafjnns are aa follows.
| STATE MEDICINE
! ART. The Legislature shall provide for
| the interests OF State medicine In all its de-
partments for public hygiene or preventive
medicine; for medical education; for institute
tions for the sick and intirm, and for medical
| jurisprudence; for the establishment and
maintenance OF State Board OF Health and
Vital Statistics for the whole State, with par
ish or municipal boards subordinate thereto :
for the protection OF the people from all con.
tagious and Infectious diseases, and from all
ipreventahle causes OF disease and death; Tor
I the protection Of the people from unqualified
practitioners OF medicine, surgery, wild Wiiery,
pharmacy and dentistry; for the malnte-
nance Of the University Of Louisiana, and III,
three departments Of literature, medicine and
law; for the care education and maintenanee
81 the destitute, sick and afflicted, Of the
bind, OF mntes, of idiots and feeble-mfEdeq
children, of the insane and of inebriates, III
hospitals Or asyiums, constructed with
pr oper regard to health as well as comfort
and interests OF morality, such institutions
being rendered as nearly self-supporting as Is
consistent with the purposes OF their creation !;
for the protection OF confidential COM
munications made by patients to physicians;
/ for preventing the advertisement and sale OF
all foeticidal drugs or instruments, and OF all
| drugs detrimental to the interests OF health
and morality; for the adequate compensation
Of scientific experts In all cases; for the
| separate trial OF criminals alleged to be In
and that adequate time and opportunity shall
be given to medical experts to test the ques-
ton OF insanity. No persons shall be allowed
| to testify as expert witnesses to matters Of
| scientific opinion, except those recognized as
competent experts In such matters by their
own profession, as organized under the laws
of this State. Only qualified practitioners
| shall be expert witnesses in the courts to
| medical facts; the legal duties OF coronerS
shall be assigned exclusively to experts In
law, and their medical duties exclusively to
experts in medicine.
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION TO THE COMMIT
TEE,
| IL any article Of the constitution Of 1879 pro-
vides that privileges, to have effect against
third persons, must be recorded, the follow
| ing proviso should be made:
| Provided, that the fees due physicians
and surgeons, the wages of nurses, and the
bills OF druggists and apothecaries, for pro-
fessional services rendered, and medicines
| furnished during Il g1ast illness, shall enjoy
4 the privilege con Erred by law, even as 10
third persons, VI bout recordation.
!
| Sons OF Lei kiana in full blast to-day ut the