The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Medical Legislation.


To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
1 wish to call the attention of the public and
especially of our legislators to the relative mer-
its of two bills now before the Legislature. Re-
ferring to these bills it viii be seen that the one
introduced in the Senate contains no provisions
calculated to elevate the standard of medical
science or protect the people of the State from
the imposition of incompetent doctors It sim
ply provides that all persons practicing medicine
within the State shall have diploma from some
reputable medical college, Or shall have been en-
gagged in the practice of medicine for period of
ten years. or shall have attended enc course Of
lectures with an additional experience of three
years practice.
A little investigation ought, think, to con-
vince any thoughtful person of the insuficiency
of such law. 1t would amount to nothing more
than a legal Endorsement of almost every pre-
tended physician within the State without re-
quiring in return any real evidence of compe-
tency. 1t would be shield of protection not
only for the most ignorant and unworthy of this
State but of that class also who are immigrating
from other States in consequence of our having
no law in Indiana requiring substantial evidence
&c competency
it requires of the medical practitioner
no standard of excellence; charity for ignorance
and incompetency seem to be the leading char
acteristics of this proposed law. The travelling
quack the advertising charlatan and the ubiqui-
tOuS ''old woman" with her mustard drafts and
onion poultices, are, by the provisions OF this
bill, made peers of the best informed physicians
Such a law would obstruct rather than advance
the interests of State medicine. 1t would be a
discredt to our State and be regarded evil
dence of legislative stupidity.
The House bill, introduced, believe. by DIR.
Shiyely, of Wabash, though Objectionable In
some of its provisions, contains much to recon.
mend it to public and professional favor L viii
only refer to the most important paragraph,
which provides for the appointment of compe-
tent examining board to pass on the quallfica-
tons of all practicing physicians within the
State. This, in the opinion of the writer, is the
| only method by which we can hope to legally re-
strain the incompetent and unworthy BY its
| provisions ''age and experience must be backed
| by a substantial professional standing. The
| fatulent advertiser. whose superior professional
| skill and unprecedented success" has placed
| him above the average practitioner, will have
| an opportunity to sustain his claims to supe-
rioiity before competent tribunal The itinerant
whose miraculous cures" of cancer, consumption
| and other chronic diseases have gained for hi IN
| a world wide reputation" will be granted this
legal privilege to give some reason for the hope
that is within him." And then there is that in
rural districts of Indiana, the Jack of all
trades ''the doc" the physician and veter-
| mary surgeon" who intultively diagnoses all
| diseases Of man and beast and suggests the rem
edies, without ever giving to his ''trade" an
| hours honest thought or study, who if this bill
should become II law, would be compelled to sur
render his deluded patients to less assuming but
| far safer hands.
| of course. it is understood that it would be
unjust and impracticable to favor by legislation
| any school of medicine. Neither can it be ex
| pected that all competent practitioners are ex
| perts in the details of anatomy, physiology,
medical chemistry, etc, but it would be the duty
| of sucn board to require of all applicants n
substantial, general, professional knowledge
| BY the enactment Of such law the State would
be, to degree at least, spared the affection
and humility of the positively ignorant and
| disqualified assuming the name and prestige Of
| legitimate practitioners.
| The citizens of Indiana, including the better
class of the medical profession, want a law reg
ulating the practice of medicine bat they want
one that will discriminate between the ignorant
and the well informed. j. A. LovETT, NJ. D.
KOKOMO Feb g