Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-26
Afternoon Session.

a recess was then taken until $3.50
o'clock.
Afternoon Session.
The first paper i'm the afternoon was on
the subject. What Shall BE Done with
Illegal Practitioners I'm the slater" and
was read by Or. r. 5. Martin secretary
Of the Medical Examining Board of the
state The answer TO this question. Or.
Martin asserted I'm the outset wac plain
enforce the law-but this, he said. was
not always easy 10 do. I'm many in
stances the county officers were not in
sympathy with the law. and i'm many
cases the people refused to make COM
plant
DR.. Martin cited a case in point which
occurred at Brldgewater. Va, and read
a letter from Or. Miller of that place
urging the State Society to endeavor 70
have stringent laws enacted prohibiting
the operations Of fair curists. quacks. and
others of their ilk.
Continuing with his paper Or. Martin
said that the Illegal practice OF medicine
was msdemeanor. and as such. came
exclusively under the cognizance of mag
istrates. the majority Of whom were not
capable OF passing on such cases. The
attorneys for the Commonwealth refuse
TO interfere with the cases because they
do not interfere with cases not regularly
I'm courts of records. and hence. DR.. Mar
tin believed it essential that the society
should endeavOr 10 have the viOlators Of
medical laws Of the State raised 20 the
degree Of felony 50 they would come
within the cogni2ance of the courts Of
record.
QUACKS EVADE THE LAW.
4 Of
Dr. Martin. He cited one case i'm which
a country quack" was practiclng re-
gardless Of a license. eyadins the law
by the statement that he made no charge
for his services. merely charging for
the use Of his horse and buggy The
laws In force i'm various States bearing
upon Illegal practitioners were cited and
the Roman law I'm force in Louisiana,
and providing that illegal practitioners
should be proceeded against in the civil
courts. and If found guilty. should be
made TO pay damages TO the plaintiff
was alluded 20 as a good one. This law.
he hoped. would be given careful atten-
tion by Vrglnia's Acknowledgement.
whom. he hoped, would endeavor TO have
such n law placed on Virginia's statute
books.
Or. Martin urged upon the society the
necessity for changing the laws Of the
State bearing upon the Illegal practice Of
medicine and asked each physician in the
society TO bring the matter TO the
attention Of their respective member Of
the Legislature. and urge upon each the
re-enactiOn Of the present laws.
Or. Drake. Of Hollns, discussed the
paper ana made a vehement address,
urging legislation preventive Of quackcry.
Or. \. $. Priddy. Of Charlotte. told of
individual efforts he had made for pun
ishing breakers of the medical laws. Tie
did not think the legislatures of the past
twelve years We're properly chargeable
with the laxness Of medical laws. They
had given tine medical profession all it
had ever asked for
MORE WORK; LESS TALK.
DIR. Landlord. of Norfolk. urged the fell
lows Of the society To talk less and worl;
more. The key TO the situation was I'm
their hands. and II they would ask the
legislators 10 pass more stringent laws
they would do so.
Or. Hugh NJ. Taylor moved that 81 com
mttee Of three be appointed TO cO-operate
with tho society's legislative committee
I'm endeavorlng 20 secure the passage of
such laws ass would entirely prohibit char
latanry.
Or. Riddell. OF Richmond. spoke on the
means or securing laws In the past. and
Dr. Paul Barringer. Of the University OF
Virginia. seconded Or Taylors motion.
advising that the Legislative Committee
as augmented by DR.. TaylOrs motion. be
instructed TO draft such law os the So
ciety might desire, and report 10 the
body. SO that each fellow when he went
home could work intelligently upon his
respective legislator.
DR.. Nen suggested that the president OF