Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-25

We do not know that there should be- any
objection TO Dr SiRnett'S house bill for med
icating the state Of Ohi0-that i. to the sub
stance and object of it-pTOvided there We're
only one system of practice. But there are
several. The bill itself recognizes three.
and provides for mixing them up proper
tionably in the board which it provides for.
The proposition il Ia enact that no man.
however expert he may be in hygiene. anatC-
my, physiology. pathology. chemistry. sur
gerry, and obstetrics. shall practice medicine
in this state unless his materia medica and
therapeutics shall conform 10 oneor another
of the three systems of medical practice
recognized by the three state medical Socit-
ties"
This is preposterouS. II there may br
three different systems Of curing disease
why may there not be- half dozen? In
fact there are. Are the practitioners who
disagree with all of the three Just a. the
three disagree with one another-to be- put
out of patients and run out Of the state by
these predominant and intOlerani three"
having the same thing done with the other
two if ii had the power 10 pass bill Ia that
effect.
The fact is. there is nn established author
ity in medicine, no fixed scientific rule OF
practice. The proposed composition Of
this board Of examiners admits that adj
nit> that there are at least three radically
different methods of trying 1" c"r, the
sick.
And this admission gives the bill away
Where is the equity of allowing sickness in
Ohio 10 be practiced upon in Just three ways
and no more, since two of those ways must
in every case necessarily bt a. wrong aS
a fourth. fifth, or a dozenth way would
be?
The provision for six Of one school.
tive of another, and one of a third /" con
Stitute this board of nine examiners il
luStrateS how the value ot >y~-
TEN of medicine is Il question
Of majoriteS. We are willing 10 bet a dose
Of calomel as big a. a hat that the author OF
this bill belongs t" the school that would get
the six members Of the board. But i there
not a fourth school somewhere large enough
/" be entitled t" y a member"
seriously, the attempt of this bill to for
bid anybOdy that does not belong Ia one OF
aputher Of these three different schools to
suggest, recommend. prescribe. direct. OF
employ. a. a matter of business. OF FAR
fee. for the Use of any person. any drugs,
medicine. appliance. apparatus, OF other
agency. whether material OF not materia!
saying Of cabaliStic words. laying-on Of hands.
and even prayer. for the treatment. cure,
relief. OF palliation Of any real "r SUPPRESSED
ailment or disraS,. of the mind OF body. OF
tor the treatment cure. OF relief "f amy
wound. fracturr or bodily injury. OF nhrm-
ity. or defonnity ty"-tlrc attempt. We say, t"
forbid all this to everybody that has not
passed or can not pass an examination ia
the system of practice taught 10y one or an
other of these three schools i an attempt /"
monOpulizt the privilege of experimenting
om the human system. Ii is unjust to the
rest of the eNperimenters Of the state.
But the definition of legal practitioner,
in the 18th section. is especially objectionable .
in that it might operate palpabIe injustice
To be legal practitioner" one must have
practiced ''in this state for the ten consecu-
tive years last past" SUPPOSE learned