The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-27
Legal Status Of osteopathy.


A great deal of interest has been ex-
cited in the medical fraternity in the
state over case pending in the courts
at Parkersburg. the result of which is
to determine the legal status in this
state Of the newest medical fad, osteo-
pathy. This so-called school Of medI-
cine had It's origin in Missouri, where
one A. e. still claimed that he had
made some wonderful discoveries,
whereby all diseases that flesh is heir
TO were to be cured without medicine.
On the strength Of Stills representa-
lions, a number Of people organized an
Institution for impartlng instruction in
the methods of the new faddlst. The
board Of trustees consisted OF A. T.
Still, the "dlscoverer," three sons and a
daughter. The faculty" consists OF
more than a dozen men, but one Of
whom is product Of any medical COLI
iege. Their course Of instruction is
completed In two years instead of four.
a. now required in almost all scientific
medical schools.
The state board OF health of Ken
tucSy sent committee Of eminent ply
siclans to Kirkville, No. where this
school is located. to investigate it's
methods Of teaching, and determine
whether its graduates were worthy Of
recognition. That committee reported
that the school had mo dissectIng
room, or physiological laboratory, and
were informed that the students were
not accorded the privilege Of dissecting
the human body with the necessary ac-
cruing benefits OF such work, There
was no pathological laboratory, no
pathologlc specimens. bacterial cultures,
charts or diagrams available for teach
ing pathology and morbid anatomy.
without disecting room, with
out the privilege Of seeing and handling
the muscles. vessels, nerves, glands.
ana internal organs Of the human
body" the graduates Of this institution
70 forth to practice on a gullible public,
with little or no knowledge Of the body
whose diseases they pretend to cure. not
by medicines, Of which they are taught
nothing. but by manipulation alone.
To the mind even unframed in the
mysteries of medical science. It would
seem but reasonable to require that
those who claim to cure by manipuia-
ton alone, should know accurately the
shape, size, location, mode Of action Of
muscles, bones, nerves, vessels. But
in the practice of osteopathy ignorance
seems 10 be blIssfuI. since 1t results In
the bringing in of ducats InnumerabIe.
It seeing, however that the bliss is
considerably limited by the harsh ac-
tIon OF the cruel courts. But four or
I'VE states in the whole country have
thus far authorized or permitted the
ogteopath to practice his calling. The
last decision OF the courts was deliver
ID in the circuit court Of Jefferson
county. Kentucky. by Judge s. b. Tom
~, IN the case Of Harry Nelson. an os-
keopath, VS.. state board Of health This
was q suit TO enjoin the board Of health
from institutlns criminal prosecution
against "D1." Nelson for practiclng oa-
Eeopathy without diploma from a re.
putablS medical college. The learned
Judge. afte. most thorough investiga-
tion Of this case, rendered a decision
against the osteopoths which viii pre-
vent their Dractieins in Kentucky, at
least until they comply with the re-
uulrements of the law, and prepare
themselves as all other practitioners
are required to do.
The Judge decided that the "fiIrkyIIlo