The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-16
Over Two Thirds Have Com
piled With the Law.
Some viii Have to Take an Examina-
tion Before Qualifying.
The "Quacks" WIN BE weeded Out
at Once.

Today was the Goth day after the pass
age OF the law by the General Assembly
reqlring physicians in practice i'm this
State TO register at the Office OF the State
Registrar. DIR. Gardner T. Swarts has
been busy for some time with this new
work OF informing members of the medi-
cal profession of the provisions of the act.
The regular physicians were very we'll
pleased with the final passage of the
measure, for this city ana State have
proved fruitful field for the quacks, and
this has more or less hurt the doctors,
who, by thorough education in the in
tricacies of their profession. have qualified
themselves to perform the very delicate
and important duties pertaining TO ii.
The people of the State at large will be,
in the opinion of those best informed,
even more benefited than the doctors,
for the lax laws in regard to the practice
OF medicine here have caused many inn
posters to rob the poor and ignorant OF
their hard earned money without giving
them any relief.
1t is estimated that there are about 600
physicians in this State and about two
thirds of this number have complied with
all the requirements of the law A num-
Der of those who have not yet qualified
according to law reside out of the city
and have not had time TO come here and
bring with them their diplomas that
hang in their offices. State Registrar
Swarts will visit Woonsocket, Pawtucket
and other places within the next few
days in order to inspect the diplomas
there, and also inform himself in regard
to some of the persons who practice medi-
cine in the different localities.
About one-sixth of the number of those
who have registered will be required to
produce more satisfactory evidence than
they have already done that they were
engaged in the practice of the profession
of medicine previous to January /, 1892,
or they will be obliged TO take an examin-
alton.
The requisites for registration are that
the person seeking 1t must have diploma
from some medical college OF first-class
standing or have been in practice previous
TO January 1, 1892, or in case of not hav-
ing the diploma or begun to practice since
the day named, he must pass an examin-
alton.
The State Registrar has not yet di-
vided the number registered according to
diplomas received or those who will be
entitled to practice on account OF having
practiced before the time limit named.
1t is probable that within very short
time now all the doctors in the State
will have technically complied with the
provisions of the law as they have
already practically done. The num-
Der of persons who have practiced
medicine in this State without being
qualified to do so will soon find their
occupation gone, for the provisions Of the
new law are, as they should be In order
to be of practical value, very strict. The
penalty for the offense is $50 fine, and for
every subsequent offense sl00 fine, or i'm
prisonment, and the fine and imprison-
ment may be combined.
There will probably be no more men
masquerading under the name of doctor
as the onc who brought suit for profess
sional services in the District Court of
this city yesterday, and who did not un-
derstand the meaning Of the word dag
nosis, and described the disease Of his pa
| tient as general ability.