The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-06-12
IsOGUs MEDICAL DIPLOMAs.

For - or Is years, says special dispatch,
Philadelphia has been the seat of number
of medical colleges that flooded the country
with spurious diplomas. The Legislature
of Pennsylvania tried, in 1872, to suppress
the institutions, but failed, and they have
been run ever since on legally issued char
tcrs. The authorities declared themselves
powerless to stop it. Six month ago the
city editor of the Record, John Norris, called
the attention of Attorney General Palmer
to these concerns, and the grave necessity of
their suppression. But the State had no
evidence against them, and the Attorney
General had no money with which TO pro-
ceed. Then the Record offered to advance
the money to the Commonwealth upon
promise Of reimbursement by the State Leg
islature, and the work was begun. Wednes-
day it eliminated in proceedings which will
probably wipe out five spurious medical
colleges, and in the arrest of John Buchan-
an, Dean of the American University at
Philadelphia and the Eclectic Medical Col
lege Of Pennsylvania. He was also Presi-
dent of the National Eclectic Medical Asso-
citation, which issued diplomas, and under
the alias of James Murray, D. D., he acted
as dean of a concern issuing its diplomas as
the Livingstone University of America
Two others of the faculty, Charles S. Polk
and John j. Seggns, We're arrested, and six
others Of the faculty are still at large, ap-
parently out of the reach of the police,
The Record of Thursday published ful
expose. Its city editor has prepared evi-
dence which it is alleged will show the sale:
OF lorty-two diplomas to various persons. He
| gives the names of eleven others to whom
/ the diplomas were offered, and the name:
Of eleven agents who were acting for Blu.
chanan. The Record man himself set the
trap which resulted in Buchanan's arrest
/ For $50 he obtained three medical diplomas
one in English from the Eclectic Medica
College of Pennsylvania, a regularly char
tered institution, one from the American
University Of Philadelphia, in English, anC
another from the National Eclectic Medica
| Association.
Qpe feature of the proceodingis that Will
the last named concern was organized il
1879, its diploma to the newspaper man il
dated 1878. All purported to show that tn
newspapes man, under the name of Dr. Johl
flaming, of Tippecanoe City, Ohio, studie,
medicine Tor three years, had attended tw
full courses Of lectures, and had passed
satisfactory examination in each OF the sew
en- branches Of medicine. Not satisfied will
this evidence, he sent letters under IN
name Of DR.. Geo. a. Dawson, apparently be
longing to Chester Court House, S. c., ask
ing for degrees. For $3.50 he obtained fv
degrees, two of Doctor of Medicine, on
Doctor of Divinity one Doctor of Laws, an
one Doctor of Civil Law. The final letter i
this transaction passed through the mai
DR.. Buchanan receipting for it, He also de
/ posted the diplomas in the mail to be de
, liyered to the spurious doctor in South Care
lima. Special Postal Agent Barrett, Chief,
Police Given, a Deputy United States MAJ
shal, and the newspaper man walked int
Buehanans place Wednesday afternoon, al
rested him, and then captured about half
ton Of spurious diplomas, with n macs Of col
respondence, showing the traffic in dipl,
4 mas and the sale Of about 3 1000 sheepskin
Hearings were held Thursday, and proceed
q cccdings started by the Record through IL
4 Attorney General to wipe out Eve of the co
a leges.