Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09
THEY EVADE THE LAWS.

How the Falxir Specialist Succeeds In Ply
ing His Traffic Unmolested in Pittsburg
Some of His Methods Exposed-There
Is More to Follow.
Of all the enemies to public life and safety
the fakir specialist is the most dangerous.
Against the confidence man, the burglar and
the highwayman, society succeeds in pro-
tecting itself in some manner. But against
the fakir specialist the only practical pro-
lection the public of Pittsburg has, in spite
of our laws, lies in that indignation and con-
tempt which is always aroused after his
tricks are exposed, his pretenses laid bare.
The fakir specialist is more dangerous
than others of the criminal class to which be
properly belongs, because he preys upon the
helpless and unfortunate. The highway
man and burglar
STAKE THEIR LIVES
in their desperate game. There is often
certain manliness and even bravery about
their crime. The fakir specialist preys
upon the pathetic longing for life and health
that exists among invalids past recovery.
He relies upon that singular popular ere
dulity which is almost a disease in itself.
One would think that his claims, which are
always absurd and preposterous to the in
telligent and normal mind, would be be-
ieved by no one. One would say: ''His
claims are SO absurd that no one would be-
Geye him. He is not physician; ne is
fakir, ignorant, unprincipled, contemplate.
Let him alone. He will soon be found out. "
This sounds sensible enough, but it's de-
feet lies in that it fails to take into consid-
GRAFTON that vast number of sick and dis
eased, who have long hoped against hope,
who have suffered for years without relief,
who are in the position of drowning man,
catching at a straw" who are ready to
listen to the voice of anyone who will prom
ise relief or cure.
"But we have
LAWS IN PENNSYLVANIA"
Another says claws of medical registration,
laws requiring that man who comes to
Pittsburg to practice medicine shall undergo
a rigid examination before the faculty of one
of our medical colleges before he is allowed
to practice here. What is the need of these
remarks about Fakir Specialists"
"Yes, we have laws and good ones. Penn
sylvania should be proud of her medical
laws, but Pittsburg should serutinize more
closely the ways in which they are evaded
and disregarded within her limits"
A fakir comes to Pittsburg, hires cheap
doctor to satisfy the laws and plies his trade
unmolested. To the patients who come to
him the Fakir is the .physieian. He con-
suits with them, prescribes for them and
extorts their money from them. To the
officers Of the law, in case an Investigation
is made, the cheap doctor presents his GER
tifcate of registration, and here investiga-
tion ceases and the Fakir continues his
traffic unmolested.
We have positive information Of three or
four fake concerns that have in this way
evaded the laws and in this way imposed
upon the public
We think this kind of imposition has
gone on about long enough 1t is time to
present a vigorous challenge, and if the
authorities are unable to protect the sick
and afflicted from ignorant and unprincipled
pretenders to medical skill, to let in
LITTLE WHOLESOME DAYLIGHT
on the subject. We welcome competitors
We are proud of the fact that every year
sees more and more men of recognized abil-
ity and standing in the profession adopting
We are proud and glad of the fact that most
of the heavy advertisers in the daily papers
in large cities to-day are regularly educated,
regularly qualified physicians But for
their protection, for the public protection,
and for our own protection, it is our duty to
expose and denounce the limitations of un-
principled fakirs, who without the slightest
pretext Of medical training and experience,
without the courage to publish their own
names, and openly defy the laws hire cheap
doctors to protect them from the police,
copy the style of advertising Of reputable
physicians and insolently ply their illegiti-
mate traffic in our midst. We shall have
more to say on this subject. Facts are stub
born things, and We propose to deal in facts.