The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-21

strong Saab american degrees are not more
conscientiously verified, az indeed the impu-
nifty which 50 long attended the practice Of
holders Of DR.. Buchanan's degrees amply proved
to be the case.
It is humiliating that the detection of sec-
ond form of medical-degree fraud should ba
made, like the first, by a private individual.
For the suppression of DIR. Buchaaan's trada.
the public owes heavy debt OF gratitude 70
Dir. White. For the present warning it is in
debted to a Swiss beadle. And there IS q GER
tain interest in observing the consequences OF
the second revelation of the fntility Of cur
present arrangements for regulating medical
degrees and protecting che public from fraud
in matter Of life and death.
THE STATES NEGLECT.
As to che Immediate consequences Of Herr
Henke's revelations. that also is matter of inter-
est. lt IS perfectly possible for the state gov
ernments 20 leave the matter to the enterprises
OF the press, which cln supply itself with Herr
Henke's statistics. az the moderate price u
fifty cents per copy, and, by privately invcsti-
Caring the diplomas of practieing physicians,
can learn which soealled Zurich degrees are
forged and which are valid. This would fur
nish a lucrative scandal especially If pushed
so Jar as to secure dozen prosecutions 10
would also cause discomfort among such ether
fraudulent practitioners rs. escaping this time.
are liable To undergo similar treatment when
ever IN the future the energy Of an American
minister or the chance upr. ghtness Of . swiss
beadle may make their especial form Of ini-
guilty public But there IS an objection 10 this
method OF procedure; for, 50 far ~ the press
IS Intrnsted with the sole administration Of tina
function Of Investigator Of fraudulent practi-
toners, just so far does the State eon6de one Of
its own important functions TO the keeping of
an irresponsible power. The press has a duty
IN the matter, withou. question, but net tho
duty of assuming the Initiative Primarily
and always tho press should be the critic Of
the government never its deputy; bat 60 IN
trust to the press the duty OF defending the
public from murder at the hands OF fraudulent
practitioners, IS emphaticaliy 70 make the press
the deputy Of the government.
There is another method Of action possible
also in the present ease. TIE melical societies
of the various States feeling themselves in dan
ger Of imposition at the hands Of holders Of
forged degrees. may investigate the matter in
their own interest and undertake the work Of
prosecution. Bat there IS a grave objection to
this method also; for 50 Tar a. 8 medical so
eiety IS drawn away from It's legitimate seien-
titc work, and compelled TO secure for ITSELF
through courts of law, that defense which the
State should seeuTe for IT, so FAR is it crippled
for action properly its own, and so far does the
public lose its proper service. The state medi-
cal societies have rendered vast service in
urging and even framing legislation AID Il IS
impossible to oveFestimate the Importance of
their junction IS advisers in questions Of health
legislation But the initiative in the prosecn-
ton of fraudulent practitioners IS a burden
which should never for m0ment be imposed
upon them
Worst of all conceivable methods Of dealing
with fraudulent practitioners IS the present
one which leaves their exposure TO chance and
their prosecution TO private initiative. The
widest practice Of holders OF forged degrees is
presumably among the ignorant people who Of
the whole community, NEST need from the
State that security against fraud which their
Ignorance prevents them from obtaining for
themselves. But, in any ease. that theory is
preposteTOus which undertakes to leave medical
malpractice to private redress through courts
OF law. II man money IS fraGdulently taken
from him, a court of law mas secure him resti-
tuition; but If his child'5 life is stolen away
Will the court then command reStitUsion2 Or,
viii the court have him reimbursed IN money,
perhapsa The duty Of the State IS 70 prevent
such crime; and SO far as the State fails in the
suppression of chariataas 80 far is il an accom-
plice IN their crimes.
HOW TO DEAL WITH TIE EVIL
The only reasonable method of dealing with
the present offenders is that .or which provision
should have been Immediately made upon dis
eoveEy of DR. Buchanan aud the evil which DO
represented. The public is in duty bound %
secure prompt legislation, making it not only
certain that holders of fraudulent degrees shall
| be punished when found, but also certain that
( physicians shall be so e0E8prshensiveiy regis
tered that fraudulent practitioners shall always
be found
| Medical practice is not private, but pub
lie, interest, for which the State has already
assumed certain measure of responsibility IN
/ bestowing upon medical schools charters and
power to confer degrees. Interference with the
/ integrity OF medical degrees IS public, not
private, ofiense, and as such should be dealt
with vigorously.
| Grave as IS the importance Of the assumption
| by the State Of the work of guarding completely
the integrity of medical degrees, tn is IS yet only
one OF wide range Of fractions which the
/ central government administers IN the older
/ civilized countries; which the state govern
mentS in America must sooner or later admin
+ isteF; which, IN a fragmentary and inorganic
/ way, they are already administering For m
stance. the three legislative provisions sug-
i geSted above imply registration carried TO .
much higher point of completeness than re
! have YET the machinery Tor under our STATE
I gOyeTnmentS; Inspection By state Otneers. .
branch of administrative government IN which
we are iudiereasIy behind the European cuun-
tries and State supervision Of professional ed
ucatiOn q function which certainly IN Penn
/ sylvania is yet undreaInad Of Yet there IS no
one OF these three functions which the state
/ does not IN some way concern Itself with. and
it Is clearly the task OF the present generation
to create simple and orderly meth0d By which
the State governments, having recognized and
| formulated their duty in the work of asiminis-
/ tration, may proceed effectively to perform e.
In vague way We are Striving towards t'fiS
end IN our struggles after purer l0eal politics
( and reformed civil service; but these are on.y
means. not ends in themselves. The real end
is the protection Of the citizen in MS eai0yment
/ of his right to life, liberty and the pursuit. OF
happiness an Important part OF which protec-
/ ton is the defense of the citizen against hold
ers of forged medical degrees. FIX.
General sherman's Thanks.