Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-29
REGULATING PRACTICE
Physicians Consult With the Commission
ers on tho Medical Bill
One Doctor Presents q Conhictfng and
New Observation-Disclosures Prac-
titioners withdraw the Bill.

The need Of q law regulating the practice
Of medicine In the District Of Columbia
was fully set forth by q committee from
the Medical Society before the Commission
ers this morning.
At . recent meeting of the Medical 3D.
ciety the bill was discussed and finally
adopted by that body. The full text Of the
bill was printed at the time in The Star.
DR.. w. w. Johnston in the absence OF DR..
Busey, the chairman of the committee.
explained the provisions Of the bill.
The object Of the bill, he said, was to
regulate the practice Of medicine in the
District. 1t hardly seemed necessary to
urge the importance of the bill upon the
Commissioners Its needs were apparent to
everyone.
Before pilot or engineer was allowed to
take charge of boat they were required
to pass an examination, yet men were al
lowed to experiment upon the delicate ma
chinery Of the human body without having
one question asked as to their qualifica-
tons. Every one who desired to practice
medicine should be passed upon by a COM
keep a guard over the welfare Of the citi-
zens.
Washington is behind in this matter
Other states have tried laws regulating the
~ ASSASc VI MeQiclne, anu tne BeieTd YER
diet Is that they are highly successful
Pennsylvania has just passed a law. The
great trouble that has heretofore existed
IN passing laws Of this kind has been due
to the different schools Of practice. The
present bill seeks to unite the different
schools, SO as to admit to the practice OF
medicine only competent men. The bill
provides for board. composed Of FIVE
the homeopathic school and one from the
eclectic school. This is a fair proportion.
There are $50 practicing physicians of the
regular school, so Of the homeopathic and
a few Of the eclectic school.
Dr. Johnston explained that in some states
there had been an effort to have separate
ards. but these had not proved successful
Joint examinations on subjects which the
schools agreed upon would be held. but
when It came to treatment. the members Of
the board would examine the applicants
from their respective schools.
DR.. W. e. Woodward stated ne had given
the subject much thought. The bill before
the Commissioners was modelled after the
New Jersey bill. ana he read q letter from
the secretary OF the board. In which tine
latter estified TO the success OF the law.
Dr. q. wythe Cook said the Medical Soci-
ETY. did not desire TO be understood as die
tating what school should be preferred
The object was to keep out the "Quacks"
who are driven here from other cities. The
society wanted to protect the community.
DR.. Robert Reyburn also testified to the
had already legislated on the subject.
Wants a Test.
DR.. William Wheeler Hubbell, who claims
to be the president of the White Cross
University of Science, OF the vivo pathic
system. entered a strong protest against
the bill. He maintained that all physi-
clans other than those who practicsd his
school were frauds. He had practiced for
twenty-four years and had never lost q
case, while other doctors were numbering
people every day. He rallied at the other
schools Of medicine until the Commissioners
reminded him that he must confine himself
to the bill.
In reply to q question. he stated the
White Cross University of Science had no
pupils and had graduated but one man.
He was from New York. He had told the
nett and the latter had marveled at its
excellence and said he would immediately
adopt II.
When asked what he would propose. he
submitted q bill as q substitute for the one
proposed by the Medical Society. which pro-
vided penalties for the administration Of
poisons by any physician, and appropriated
100000 for competitive test OF the DIFF
ferent medical schools. under the direction
Of the Secretary Of Agriculture.
DR.. Hubbard was about to continue the
discussion when the committee from the
Medical Society arose and stated that II
had nothing further to communicate and
DR.. Hubbard continued however, and was
followed by DR.. r. A. Bland on behalf of
the Eclectic Society.
The meeting adjourned with the promise
under advisement
Those present included Drs w. w. John
ston, @. Wythe Cook, w. c. Woodward
Robert Reyburn. Jno. s. McClain and z. T.