Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-26
M EDiCAl PRACTICE
A Hearing Be ore the House District Com.
mittee on the Subject.
Doctors of Different Schools Present
the Grounds of Their Opposition
to the Pending BILL.

hearing today upon the medical bill. This
bill has been explained in The Star here
tofore, In the hearings before the Commits
sioners.
DIR. Custis, representing the homeopa thic
school of medicine, said the proposed bill
does not satisfy any of the schools of
medicine. The Homeopathic Society, how
ever. think they have solved the question,
and have therefore presented a bill In the
Senate. No. 2645. and they hope the House
will adopt it. The health officer has tried
to suit everybody. When the new schools
are regularly organized and equipped they
should be given protection. As the case
row stands, however. there are only three
schools entitled to practice and teach
medicine. The pending bill is likely to de-
ceive the committee, because it seems to
recognize all the schools. Each school
should have its own board Of examiners.
because they only are fit to pass upon the
qualifications of applicants to practce
under its provisions. DIR. Custis then eX-
planned the provisions Of the Senate bill
offered as substitute, which has been
published in The Star.
Dr. Custis held that as long as each So
ciety keeps up to the recognized standard
it is entitled to protection, but If 1T fails to
do this the charter of that society should
be revoked. The substitute bill, he said
makes 1t possible for each school to watch
the Otner ScnOOiS ana tHeTcDy SthS Tic
various schools to emulation.
The Rendezvous of Quacks.
DIR. Busey said that forty-four states OF
this country have adopted medical acts,
and their passage has driven out the class
of men whom it is desired now to drive out
of the District. The District has become
the common rendezvous of all quacks and
frauds. DIR. Busey said he would accept
DIR. Custis' bill with one amendment He
would accept the medical bill of any state
except of Alabama.
What he wants is that the standard of
education shall be raised and that 1T shall
apply to all branches of medicine except
those involving special systems. There
would be no protection under the separate
examining boards provided for each school.
The most direct way to get qualified ex-
aminers would probably be to take them
from the three chartered societies, except
that the plan would keep out some worthy
men who are ostracised. These men claim,
and with reason. too. that to follow that
close corporation.
The Eclectic School.
DIR. Bland. representing the eclectic
school Of medicine denied that there Is ne
cessty for any legislation. 1t is in the line
OF paternalsm, he said. The proposed leg
islation is an infringement of the rights
science" said DR.. Bland, "and while it is
not we are all quacks. i include myself.
We are entitled to guess" All such laws
as the one proposed are the bastiles Of
science and imprison progress.
The Physio-NIedicnl School.
Dr. Nelson Calvin Page. representing the
physio-medcal school, said his school
would some day conquer the world He
demanded recognition for the physo-medi-
cal school, and said that no ltinerants
would get in through his school.
He opposed the bill. he said, because he
has no diploma on paper. but he has one
in his head.
Health Officer Woodward Explains.
DIR. Woodward, health officer of the Dis
trict, appeared in behalf of the bill. He
said he had modelled 1t after the laws of
Pennsylvania and New York. He explain
ed briefly the outlines of the bill.
Dr. Magruder said DR.. CuStfs' bill would
make three separate license and registra-
tion boards while it is desired to have but
one.
DIR. Custis said this objection can be met
by rules, and he would accept the sugges-
ton to provide one registration place
Dr. Hubbell. representing the White Cross
University of Science and the vivo-pathic
system, appeared. He opposed the Dill De-
cause it proposes to establish medical
MONOPOLY DIR. Hubbell devoted some time
to description of his sy stem.
DR.. Hubbell said that up to this time his
university has granted only one diploma,
and that was to one who came with a di-
ploma from the eclectic school.
Mr.. Heard asked him how many pro-
fes sors are employed in his university. DIR.
Hubbeil replied that his college is not un-
der way yet. Besides, his system is so
simple that 1T does not need SO much teach
ing.
DR. Ward read an address to the commit
tee calling attention to the defects in the
bill from his point of view. His principal
objection to the bill was the unjust dis
elimination against physicians not men,
bcrs OF medical societies.