The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-07
THE PRACTICE OF MEDIcINE.

Legislature, and should be thoroughly
considered before any change is made
in the existing law or other bills. on
the subject come to a vote. In reply
to a recent article on this matter,
which was itself an answer to this
correspondent. we have received the
annexed communication:
To the Editor of The Herald:
am glad to acknowledge the liberal
spirit you manifest in devoting so much
of your valuable time and space to
bring the subject Of medical legislation
before the public, in all its phases.
Thanking you for the courteous man
ner in which you have made your
comments upon my communication, at
/ the same time giving your views upon
the demands and rights of the public.
Allow me to state, as briefly as posi-
! Bile, my views taken from another
standpoint.
There is no one more willing than
II to acknowledge that our individual
rights and liberties should be en-
croached upon as little as possible.
But it is an incontrovertable fact
that there is nc law so just that it
will not inf1ict a seeming hardship in
individual cases.
This is undoubtedly the case in the
laws governing the educational in
stitutions for the instruction of our
children.
There is probably no country in the
world which does more for the instruc-
ton of its youths than ours.
The individual is taxed for the in
struction Of the masses. The individual
with large means and no children
may deem it hardship to be thus
taxed, for which he receives no direct
benefit, but the law evidently intends
the greatest good for the greatest num-
bers.
The individual with no means and
la large number of children, is in this
case benefited, by the individual of
large means and no children. The law
evidently intends to make education
compulsory in order to make better
citizens of our children.
Education is in this case, made
practically compulsory No individual
has a right to say, l do aot believe
in education and insist upon keeping
his children out of school. che law
demands an education, and he must
obey its dictates.
Why should not the law demand and
insist upon an education of our prac-
ticing physicians in order to better
qualify them for their calling, and
thus protect the public against imposi-
ton?
I do not mean this to apply to indi-
viduals, who prescribe simple remedies
in their own household, or as a char
ity or neighborly kindness; but to all
and any who announce to the public
that they will attend to calls in case
of sickness, for pay. For in this case,
it will be found that the more limited
their education, the more far-reaching
and infallible will be their remedies.
It is all well enough for one to know
DR. Herbalist. Il know he has no di-
ploma and no general medical educa-
ton, but 1 believe in his remedies and
wish to employ him and no other
But does not doctor. as soon as he
hangs out his 'shingle" announce
himself as a public servant? And is
every one who employs him supposed
to know that he is simply skilled in
the employment of simple remedies
and that he is utterly ignorant upon
the fundamental principles of medi-
cine; that he has never received a
thorough training in a good school of
medicine where students are brought
in direct contact with disease in all it's
phases, and where they receive prac-
teal training under skilled instructors.
to qualify them TO make a correct dag
nosis?
No! A medical education is usually
taken for granted, and my view is
your assertion to the
contrary-that the public expects and
demands this. Your insinuation that
the regular physician is by no means
infallible, | viii not even attempt to
deny. But will claim that the good
education will make him far less fali-
BILE
Through the universal dissemination
of knowledge, medicine is making vast
strides towards perfection.
When | say medicine, | do not wish
to be understood to mean the mere adj |
of drugs, but wish to in
clude also the means and methods
pursued in the prevention and stamp |
ing out of diseases.
Now the question, in my mind. re- |
solves itself to this: Will an education
in all cases better qualify a man in |
the practice of medicine and will it |
make him less liable to err?
II 1t is admitted that it does, then it |
naturally follows that the public has |
a perfect right to demand this educa- |
ton, even at the expense of encroach- |
ing upon isolated individual rights.
say let US apply the doctrine of |
prevention and thereby diminish the |
necessity of prosecution for maIprac- !
tice.
Not One of the Favored Few.
We print the foregoing on this page
because it relates to matters that have
here. and because the writer
approaches the subject in an intelligent
and fair manner from his standpoint
There is very little in what he saws
that we are disposed to dispute. we /
agree with him as to all the advantages
that education imparts, and also as f. |
the right of the public to expect, in
professional physician, all those Quail
fications which would be necessary to
obtain a diploma, or pass a successful
medical examination before a CONNIE
tent board. So far there is no contro-
1ersy.
But we maintain the right of the
public to make their own choice of a
person to wait upon them in sickness.
n t. do without such help altogether
( they so elect. We do not believe
! legislative body has any legitimate
power to deprive them Of that right.
As we have shown, that is done indi-
'ectly By the law as it now stands.
The compulsory common education
avs, which our correspondent uses as
IN illustration, do not cover the ground
# the argument. Under our law
here is a saving clause which sup
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