Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-22
Allegheny County Medical Society
Will Hold a Meeting and Make
an Appropriation
TO PUSH A NEW LEGISLATIVE ACT.
Physicians and Surgeons to Receive
Licenses From State fIam-
lining Board.
COLLEGE DIPLOMAS WILL NOT SUFFICE.
Hssy Fines to Be Inflicted Upon Inthngsn Of the
New Law.

A special meeting of the Allegheny
County Medical Society will be called
within few days to provide for an appro-
priation Of funds to properly present before
the Legislature and have passed an act re-
quiring that all physicians or surgeons
wishing to practice in this State be exam
ined by board appointed for thar purpose,
and must receive license, somewhat on the
plan as that required by pharmacists.
The subject was to have been brought up
at the meeting of the County Medical So
ciety held yesterday, but was pushed aside
by other business. The proposed act has
been fostered by the Pittsburg practitioners,
and will receive the support of the profes-
sior all over the State. The fight against
quacks and incompetent practitioners has
been waeed fiercely, but it has been found
impossible under the present laws to correct
the evil. The act referred to is expected TO
remedy the whole matter
1t will be remembered that at the meeting
of the State Medical Society, last June,
committee composed of the presidents Of all
the county medical societies was appointed
10 look up the matter of proper legislation.
In turn the general committee appointed
one of seven members, who have drafted the
bill to be presented.
Necessity of a New Law.
As an introduction, the committee says:
Gas to the necessity of the passage of a law
regulating the practice of medicine in this
State, it is no longer necessary to argue;
when we eonside- the fact that many Of our
sister States have adopted such laws, and
that 20 per cent of applicants for license
before those boards have failed, it must be
patent to all that we receive more than our
just proportion of those who are incompe-
tent to practice medicine"
The bill is entitled IAN act to regulate
the practice of medicine and surgery, to es-
tablish State Board of Medical Exami-
ners and Licensers, to define the powers of
such board, the qualifications of applicants
for license, the manner of licensing and
making appropriations FOR said board"
The whereas" recites the dangers to
health and human life by allowing incom-
peteut physicians and surgeons to practice.
The bill then goes on to provide for cor
rective The proposed State board of med
icai examiners is to be composed o. nine
members, appointed by the Governor, three
to serve for one year and three for two years
and three for three years in the first instance,
and thereafter annually the Governor shall
appoint three members as tie terms of Office
expire" No two members can be from one
county and none shall be connected with
any medical school.
The hill is urittan IN haoouna onara Va or
July l, 1891, the appointments to be made
by the Governor one month after the passage
bf the bill and the board to be organized
within three months after appointment.
Two regular meetings, in Pittsbure and
Philadelphia respectively, will be held
each year, and other special meetings as re-
quired.
A Pretty Stiff Examination.
The applicants will be examined in anat-
omy, physiology, chemistry, toxicology,
pathology, hygieue, materia medica and
therapeutics, principles OF medicine, sur
gerry and obstetrics. The examination pa
pers will be numbered, that the name of an
applicant may not be known by the board of
examiners.
Practitioners, who have complied with the
present laws before the act becomes operative,
will not be affected by the new act. Neither
will it apply to those in the United States
service, practitioners coming to the State to
consult with other doctors or dentists. All
Others who wish to practice in the State must
be p years old, have regular medical college
diploma and must pass the required examipa-
tlon, before they can get license. Discretion
is granted the board regarding the acceptance
of licenses from similar boards in other States
in lien of examination.
The fee for examination is placed at So and
the extreme penalty for practicing without 4
license fine of $500 for each otfense The
fees are expected to pay, in a great measure
the expenses incurred by the board.
II is cited that the proposed act will of neces-
sity raise TIE standard of some medical COLLEGES
as they will literally be shorn OF their powers of
fitting physicians all ready for business, shingIe
and all.
Loopholes in the Present Laws.
1t is stated that the present laws also have
scme loopholes through which practitioners
and quacks from other States can practice in
This State. DIR. w. S. Foster, of Allegheny, is
secretary of the committee which drew up the
bill.
The annual meeting OF the Allegheny County
Medical Society held yesterday resulted in the
following persons being elected for the ensuing
term: President, T D. Davis; Recording Secre-
tary, J. J. Buchanan; Assistant Recording Sec
TeJary, j. w. Mcfarland; Corresponding Secre-
tary, J. 5. Mabon; Treasurer, A koenir: First
Vice President, Z. S. Shaw: Second Vice Presi-
dent, J. Z. Rigg; Censor J. ]. Green. Nine
teen delegates were elected to the American
Medical Association, which meets IN Washing
ton iu May. Thirty-eight delegates were elected
to the convention of the State Medical Society
at Reading in June.
The meetings of the society will hereafter be
held III the Free DIspensary building a room
having been placed at The society's disposal.