The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-02

OF the oi
The bogus diploma basis of practicing
medicine in Illinois has assumed such seri-
Gus proportions that tho state board OF
health is about TO take decisive measures
20 put stop 10 it, It is estimated that
hundreds of men arc posing before the
public as duly qualified physicians on the
strength Of absolutely worthless diplomas
purchased from one or other Of the bogus
medical colleges that ply their vacations
in that section In most, II not all, or
these cases the alleged physicians are ig-
norant of physiology, anatomy, pathology,
materia medica or any other branch OF
medical study
There are two Of these bogus colleges
now domicled in Illinois Up To few
months since there was another, holding
charter from the state of Wisconsin, but IN
consequence of the removal of its headquar'
tiers to Illinois the charter has been forfeit
ed at the instigation of the state officials.
Tho methods of these fraudulent con-
Germs are simple. Their chief harvest is
among the unlicensed practitioners whose
names are recorded in medical directories.
To each of these and 10 all Others who, nc
oording to information they have received,
are likely TO DO in the market for cheap
anu Justly dNlAlINu hlIANiA'"S AAl'g sSA'N
their alluring literature.
The now defunct Wisconsin college Is
sued circular declaring that it was utter
Iy unjust to expect medical students To at
tend any college for given number of
terms before receiving the title Of M. ID.
Hundreds of hydropathists, electric physi'
clans and Others male and female, were
thus debarred. 1t then dilatod upon its
own legal existence, under the charter by
which it was authorized TO teach students
the science of medicine, TO prepare them
to practice as physicians and to confer upon
them after examination the degree of doc
tor of medicine. The circular proceeded
to state that the duty and policy of the "col-
iege" was to point out that medical educa-
ton and diplomas could be honestly ac
CURED by those who neither attended that
nor any other college in person. The total
fees for matriculatiOn, examination and
graduation were placed at $50, but in later
communications the "president of the col
lege'' reduced this to $50, and in TIM in
stance about to be mentioned he agreed TO
take $50. In fact, the fees were decidedly
elastic, and it may be doubted if any rea
sonable offer was ever refused
Among those attracted by the offers Of
this enterprising college" was "a homeo-
pathic pharmacist of st. Louis, who is and
had been practicing medicine without adi-
ploma Some time last year he opened up
d correspondence with tho Wisconsin con-
Germ, and having made his bargain as re-
CARDS terms, he received an examination
blank, containing 81 questions TO be an
swered. The FIRST five questions were pure
ly personal, as to the students name
(Which was to be in printed characters,
Il 4 IL
express Office, whether he had ever studied
medicine anywhere, and, if so, how;
whether he had ever practced, and, if so,
how long, and what school of medicine he
preferred. The balance of the questions
were either childish in their simplicity or
absurdly general. There was nothing in
the lot that man of average intelligence
could not copy from medical works readily
available, or get some obliging medical
friend TO answer for him.
The st. Louis homeopathist, after send
Ing his replies by mail, received in due
course of time u tlattering announcement
of his success.
The diploma of the college," tire
mendous looking affair, in Latin, on parch.
ment, with gold seal and blue ribbon,
was next forwarded TO him, but IL seems
he did not plank down the $50. Instead no
began to inquire whether the diploma
would enable him to register as Il pructic-
ing physician in Missouri. Finding it
would not he tackled the president Of
the college" again, and spicy correspond
snce ensucd. The president fatty declared
that the diploma was Of 10 use at all in
Missouri and denied that he ever said it
could be used here. The end of it was mp.
parently that the Wisconsin institution
neither got It's money nor its diploma.
The most serious part Of tho story fol-
lowed Notwithstanding his knowledge
of the worthlossness of the alleged dr.
ploma, the It. Louis homeopathist at
tempted to secure his recognition on it at
the hands of the state beard of health.
He even presented the recommendation of
q prominent officer of the state institute
(the Homeopathic association of Mssouri).
subsequently tho latter wrote to explain
that no had signed tho recommendation
under misapprohension.
OF course the state board Of health
promptly refused to register the man who
presented the bogus diploma and the rec
ommendation afterward repudiated by
praoticing homeopathic physician. Fur
thermore, and in accordance with the re-
yised statutes of 1889, section 6S73, DR..
raul HdQuln, secretary OF the state DoAru
of health, called upon the applicant to pay
to the board the sum of SEQ for presenting
"a fraudulent diploma. The pharmacist re-
fused to produce the $50 and will accord
ngly be prosecuted under section 6SS1 of
the statutes, which provides that any per-
son practicing medicine in tho state with
out complying with the provisions of the
article shall be deemed guilty of mis-
demeanor, punished by fine OF not less
than $50 nor more than $500, or imprison-
ment in the county Jail for not less than
80 days nor more than 800 days, or by
both such fine and Imprisonment.
DIR. Paul Paquin said of the matter re-
Gently: "Charles G. Parker, son Of the late
Judge /. G.. Parker, is the board of health's
attorney, and he will prosecute all those
who have presented fraudulent diplomas
TO the board We have at least u iDzen of
them. OF course, however, the vast ma
Jority never present their diplomas here.
1.-The state board of health is public
body, invested with grave responsibility.
Its records in these matters must be made
public as matter of justice to the people
of the state Hitherto l have refrained