Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-15
Regulating Medical Practice la tho
 West.
lFrom the Chicago Times.


 While persons of wealth, learning and leisure in eastern cities bother their brains over the questions that interest the welfare of society, the practical citizens of littie towns on the western frontier resort to measures that settle them at once. During the past few months discussions have been going on in all the cities where medical col leges are located, in respect to getting bodies for dissection, regulating the practice of medicine, eleSa;ing the standard of doctors and diminishing the number of physicians. Many papers have been prepared on these subjects and a la. ge number of resolutions passed. Nothing practical, however. has been accomplished They manage things differently out on the border. A month or so ago an alleged doctor located in 8 small town near Denver, Cobra 10. He hung out his shinsle and it was not long before he was summoned to visit sick woman. He called on her and prescribed some medicine which the patient took Shortly afterward she died. The doctor was asked what the drug was, but he could not tell. He was also una ble to state the complaint the woman was troubled with. On being asked to show hi- diploma he admitted that he had none. The friends of the deceased held . consultation, as doctors often do, and decided to hang the unfortunate practitioner to the nearest tree, which was net far off, With the enterprise and enesgy that characterize western men, they strung up the adventurous practitioner till he was as dead as his patient. Had there been manufaotory of doctors in the vicinity the body would have been turned over to it without the formality of asking the permis- sion of the county commissioners. As there was none they allowed the bnzzards and wolves to devour it. There is an opening for courageous doctor in the place. but he must take the chances. There wRs not particle of evidence to show that the medi- cine prescribed by the quack doctor caused the woman's death. Most women are much addicted to calling doctors, and few of them are entirely happy unless they are taking medicine of some sort. For woman to die immediately after taking medicine would not be thought singular circumstance in great city where high-prictd doctors are numerous. In country where other than natural and Indian doctors are very scarce the circum- stance was regarded :As more than suspi- cious. As the practitioner was not able to produce g license to kill, duly signed by the faculty of 8 medical college and indorsed by the members of State board of health, they .strung him up without judge or jury" after the manner of a horse-thief. This heroic treatment will have more salntary effect in regulating the practice of medicine in Cobra do than all the laws the Legislature could pass during the entire session. If like practice were generally introduced in all the States and territories the medical profession would soon cease to be crowded. If the bodies of the lynched practitioners were all turned over to the medical colleges, they would have all the material" they wanted for purposes, Of illustration or private dis section. The people of Colorado have evi- i dsntly discovered the true way of elevating the medical profession.