The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-17
Prehistoric Medical L.ws.

10 the EDITOR OF lne News:
Sir-l have at sundry times criticised
the medical practice law, as we'll as Its
promoters, aiders and abettors. l believe
no law is above criticism, since absolute
wisdom does not govern statuts, or even
constitution makers. If any law is IL unded
on wrong. the sooner IL is rspea.ei the
better, for n bad unjust law tomas TO q
disrespect of all law. Believing the pres
ent restrictive law bad unjust, invasive
OF personal right. am forced as good
citizen to oppose 1t and seek It's repeal. /
claim that / have natural right To q
free choice OF physician, and belonging
10 an orthodox school, an unorthodox
one, or to no school at all. 1t is nobody's
business to Interfere with me, or to
throw obstacles in the exercise OF my
choice. have passed over long stretch
of years, more than seventy, in close re-
lations with the activities OF the commu-
mites In which l have resided. hare
been \ close observer of men and things,
have for more than 60 years distrusted
the efficacy and spfety OF the allopathic
school of practice, SO much SO. that for
that length of time though desperately
sick three or four times would not yel-
nit an allopath to minister to me. i have
consulted olairvoyants and botanics,
have come to my slst year quite hale and
hearty, whereas IL had put inyself in tho
hands of regular, l am satisfied 1T
would have been either lingering sick
ness or death. So under the law as It
stands | cannot call to 10y aid an unor
thodox practitioner without putting him
In peril, subjectinR him to a penal enact
ment, carrying with 1t line or imprison
ment Call you such law as this
just? The response Of q healer or prac-
titioDer to tho summons OF the sick Is
perfectly innocent involving no wrong
whatever to the individual or the COM
munity. Yet the law says no has COM
mitted crime and sets the judicial
machinery I'm motion to punish him.
Such law with Its outcomes is a inockery
of justice; the quintessence OF dt sp ltism.
Natural rights are sacred and when as
sailed under the forms OF law, there is
treason against the integrity OF human
nature When harmless act, through
the foolishness OF legislators, is called
usurpations which shall jeopardize the
body polite I'm all ita parts.
Practically the allopathlc regime is
supreme In Khodo Island, having n Board
Of Health to have care that unorthodoS
healers and practitioners shall not poach
OH the allopathic fields. For NOR, than
twenty years tho restrictionists bullied
and lobbied tie Legislature, be
fore they succeeded in injecting their
poison into the laws. And why were they
made custodians OF medical practicep
Surely not for any special qualifications,
great skill and much learning.
Said a gentleman to me the other day
torsY' | replied: mot half ss hard as
they are in warning OH unortaodox rrar-
titioners, thereby invading the rights OF
the people, their nullifying tho free oboise
OF the citizens in tho selection ~ n ply
sician. My contention Is that In no sense
Is the allopathic practice scientific. The
great lights OF tho profession have la
numerous ln-JtnCes tTltlClscu IL HOft
sharply than its opponents. They were
mon OF large experience, OF world wide
lame, Of an ability far above the averags.
with such testimony the lesser lights
l,ale into insigniioance. NouT own ex
perience and observation must satisfy
you that we nre right Ia resisting the nj
lopaths in their endeavors to monopolize
medical practice by cutting the throats
Of all others. Let me call to your nina
two cases Of scarlet fever in your neigh
borhood, ono iroated srcundum artem
under tho orthodox mode the other Nv
on tinurthudox practitioner. The ur th"d,x
treatment lett The chilli deaf and invalid
Ell, while tLr other thuush lie disease
was al severe upe. went through
safely, coming uut safe aud sound An
other ease you are familiar with. n lady,