Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-19
Are Medical Laws for
the Benefit Of the People .?
Opinion Of Prof James, M D., Of Harvard College, and
Other Eminent Scientists
Observation-Disclosures

In the past the people Of Utah have
taken very little interest IN medical Leg
lslaton. They have not asked for such
legislation. and not suspectIug that the
doctors would ask for laws that were
detrimental to the peoples Interest
they have not thought it necessary TO
oppose any laws asked for Some Of the
best informed physicians seeing the
danger of certain laws opposed them
with an their might until they were ST.
fenced by the organizations Of their
own profession. As a result "a law was
passed which was so ambiguous that
even two members OF the Supreme
court OF Utah were deceived and gave
an Interpretation which was foreign TO
the real meaning Of the law as intended
by the Legislature This position was
recognized by the Utah state Medical
society last October when they petit
toned the Legislature to pass a compul-
sorry vaccination law.
There appears 20 be an Inconsistency
somewhere. The medical society recog-
nized that n was not the Intention OF
the law TO enforce vaccination, and one
wonders by what authority they are
now imposing that upon the people.
During the legislative session. the medi-
cal societies VIII use every means az
their command 10 have "A compulsory
vaccination law passed ana this can be
prevented by the good judgment Of the
legislators and Of the people. The tao
tics resorted 10 In order 20 secure such
legislation So much the same In the
various States Of our country. There
are various reasons given for demand
ing such laws. The public health Is the
excuse In asking for compulsory vac
clnatlOn laws. The pleas for restrictive
medical legislation are the protection OF
the people from quackery. and the adj
yanCement OF science Many physicians
are sincere In asking FOR such loglsla-
ton, but others ask for 1t that they may
be protected from competition with the
graduates OF newer schools OF medicine
Some OF the leading physicians and sell
entists are seeing the dangers Of such
legislation and are making vigorous
protests. Prof VIM. James NJ. D.. OF
Harvard College, author Of the greatest
American text book on psychology, an
eminent scientist on March 2. 1898, ap-
peared before the health committee OF
the Massachusetts legislature and gave
utterance TO the following
Mr.. Chairman ! rise 20 protest
against this bill | come TO represent
no body OF persons with special inter-
o5ts, but simply as private citizen in.
terested In good laws and IN the growth
uf medical knowledge. The medical
profession are urging the bin In the in
forests, as they believe, u true science
Those who oppose 1t. they think, can do
so only In the interests Of ignorance and
uuackery ! hold a medical degree from
Harvard University / belonged for
many years TO the most scientific Of our
medical societies | have taught anat-
omy and physiology, and now teach
mental pathology IN Harvard College.
The presumption Is that | am also in
terested In science. ] am, indeed; and
u Is. In fact, because | see In this bill
talong with some good intentions) a
movement in favor Of ignorance. that
! am here 10 oppose Il.
IT will inevitably trammel the
growth OF medical experience and
knowledge, Were medicine at present
finished science. with all practitioners In
agreement about methods OF treatment,
such bill as this, TO make II penal "a
treat patient without having passed
an examination, would be unobjeCtlon-
able, But II would also be unnecessary.
No one would attempt 10 cure people
without the instruction required.
But the present condition OF medical
knowledge Is widely different from such
a state. Both as 10 principle and as 20
practice our knowledge is deplorably
imperfect. The whole face OF medicine
changes Unexpectedly from one genera
ton 70 another, IN consequence OF wild
ening experience, and as We look back,
with mixture OF amusement and hOr-
ror az the practice Of our grandfathers,
20 We cannot be sure how large por-
ton OF our present practice viii awaken
similar feelings In our posterltg
Each generation adds something. Il
Is 20 be hoped. 10 the treatment that
win not pass away. Few Of us recall
the Introduction OF the water cure, but
many now living can recall the discoy,
cry OF anesthetlcs. Most Of us reCollect
when medical electricity and massage
came In, and We have all witnessed tho
spreading triumphs Of antiscptiC sur
gerry, and are now hearing of the anti
toxins and Of the way in which hyp~
notic suggestions. and all the other
purely mental therapeutic methods arc
achieving cures
Some OF these therapeutic methods
arose inside OF the medical profession,
others outside OF Il"
Speaking OF the attitude Of the regular
profession toward homeopathy, Pro-
fessor James said.
III stands firm I'm lts belief that such
experience is worthless. and that the
whole history is one OF quackery and
deluslon In spite OF the rival schools
appealing 10 experience. their conflict
is much more like that Of two philoso-
pliers or two thologies, Your expert