The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-01-08
SENSIBLE SUGGESTION.
A Subject which Commends itself
10 the Legislature. s
Editors Herald:

Editors Herald: Z eg
L would like to have you, with al
others interested, urge upon oul
coming Legislature the necessity of
passing law governing and regu-
lating the practice of medicine in
this Territory, at least to pass a
law to create mixed board of
examiners to enquire into the quail
locations OF every person proposing
to practice medicine or surgery, in
any speciality. or all of its depart
ments, in this Territory. As it is,
we are subject to be most WOefully
imposed upon by unqualified bilks.
Let every one who proposes to prac-
tice pass a board of examiners: let
that examination be of an elemen-
tary character, sufficiently strict to
test the applicants, qualifications
whether he or she possess
a diploma or not, to deter
mine if they are truly qualified
to practice medicine and are worthy
of the confidence Of the people.
Illinois, California and other states
have passed laws making it crimi-
nal to practice medicine or surgery
without the necessary qualifications:
The Illinois state board, mixed, con-
slstS OF seven members. In 1878
the board examined and issued
certificates to 1880 physicians and
mldwlves; examined $3.50 applicants
for license; rejected 221; has driven
1920 unqualified practitioners out of
the state; and refused to accept or
recognize the diplomas of eight
medical schools. Such being the
case, what assurance to the people
is a diploma without the necessary
qualification of the holder. We have
most likely got our share of cheap
diploma gentlemen driven out Of
Illinois. Such a diploma is a wall
to hide behind, to slip out of the
meshes Of the law and cover Up
their criminal acts. No matter
what he does, if he has a diploma;
that is the end of the contro-
yersy; he is a gentleman. l
would suggest that mixed board
of the three so called schools of
medicin be appointed to examine
into the qualifications Of applicants,
to Issue sthe licence; reetct ali
unqualified applicants; make it
criminal to tamper with the lives of
the sick by unqualified pIetenders.
We have plenty of established ply
sicians whose skill and ability is
above reproach to select the board
from; all Of the so-called schools are
represented in this Territory.
The reason suggest that a mixed
board be chosen is that it would not
be just to have those of one school
decide upon the merits of another.
As they all disagree on therapeutics,
an atomy, physiology, surgery, pa
thOlOgy, Obstetricks, and other
branches are taught in all
classes of medicine from the same
standard authors, so there could be
no difference in that respect. The
board could unite in their examina-
tions of applicants on the above
named branches; each school could
examine their own in therapeutics.
l would suggest that every one
practicing, be compelled to come
before the board and be examined,
and obtain license. and have it
recorded in the county records
where he may propos5 to practice.
Make it hot for ignorant pretenders
and itinerant vendors of Quack
nostrums and cure allS; / think if
this process was strictly applied
there.would be ailargeIaddition tOithe
farmer, and6ack-plane club. think
law to that effect would GER ainly
meet the approval of the Governor.
1t is certainly law we are all inter
ested in when sick. To whom are
we to look for protection, but the
press and Lawmakers against such
abuses. HILLINGER.
Jan. 18th, 1882. Hc1 fas