Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-08-09
Oy|[OP AIHS L|h| j
Certificates Granted to Practice
0steopathy," But Not as "Os.
teopathic Physicians"
No Right Given to Prescribe
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Not
Fully Satisfied.
Medical School Must Give Back
Cadaver to Friends
Out $ll0.
ecial 10 Times-Republican.


Des Moines Aug. 9.-The putting
into effect of the new law recognizing
osteopathy and granting certificates to
persons to practice osteopathy has been
done thus far without any friction, but
this is no indication that everybody
concerned is going to be satisfied about
it, About 215 have been granted certi :
.icates. not as .osteopathic physicians
asy they had desired it should be put.
but merely 10 practice osteopathy.
Under these certificates they will not
he able TO prescribe any medicine
whatever or engage in operative sur
gerry. If an osteopath should be caught
prescribing liver pills for patient or a
dose of brandy for the nerves. he will
be liable to have his certificate re-
yoked. If he should dress q wound and
apply ordinary healing lotions he would
transcend the law. The certificates just
issued by the board are worded so tnat
face that they are frauds. For instance
a great many of them recite that the
holder graduated. say June 26. 1907. and
commenced the practice OF his profes-
sion the next day. and the blanks for
terms OF years OF practice is not titled.
In fact they have been in the practice
only a few days at the outside and up
on this are given certificates without
eXamina tion or without inquiry as TO
the standing of the colleges from which
they have graduated. In fact the state
board of medical examiners gave rec
ognition to all the schools of osteopathy
without regard to their methods. This
applies only as TO those whose gradu-
ates ask for certificates on the ground
of being in practice. The board could
not Very well take the time TO make an
investigation of all these colleges IN adj
vance. Under the attorney general S
ruling all were accepted as good In
the future if persons who do not want
10 pass the examination make state
nent that they were in practice prior 70
July 4 of this year they VIII get ceru-
ticates. There is no provision for max
ing a close inquiry as to these state
ments The first batch of osteopaths
are congratuating themselves OIL the
ease with which they are getting their
certificates. But those who apply Tor
examination may not find the road SO
easy. The state board has committee
appointed to investigate the colleges.
Under the ruling OF the attorney gen
eral the board has no business accept
ing the recognition of the Iowa Osteo-
rathic Association as final and un-
This committee will look
carefully into the work being done by
the various colleges. Then applicants
will be required to make an affidavit
that they have done the work in coll
lege specified in the law. This forms
the basis for a further investigation.
They will be examined on these various
subjects supposed to be covered by a
course in osteopathy. There is provi-
sion in the law for licensing itinerant
osteopaths.
When the medical practice act went
into effect Il number of years ago 1T
was required of the board that ii admit
to certificates all who had been in the
practice for five years in Iowa. The
osteopaths got better terms, for one
who has been in the practice one day
only gets in without examination. I'm
der the medical practice act about 500
doctors We're admitted to practice med
icine without examination. Thus far
only the 275 osteopaths have applied
for certificates without examination. A
number of others are expected. AT the
last examination one of the persons be-
ing examined for a physicians certiti-
cate had studied osteopathy. He failed.
He gave ii out that he would apply for
an osteopathic certificate and begin
practice on that.
A peculiar controversy arose here
over a body for dissection at the osteo-
lathy college in this city. The cadaver
mad been brought from Carroll and sold
by an undertaken to the college. Yes
terdi.y relatives of the man from Chi
cago arrived and claimed the body. The
college wanted $ll0 before giving up the
Euiy. The relatives would not pay it
ard sought out a lawyer. This much
Was developed, that the law makes no
provision for Il college getting its money
back or making Il charge for giving up
q dead body. The state board of health
has fixed Il rule that undertaters and
others who have the legal right to dis
pose of certain bodies to colleges can
rot charge the colleges more than $l5
each. Then there is a Sc fee for ship
ment and the express charges. The
todies. therefore, cost the colleges from
SO to $50. But those who have a legal
right to claim Il body need not refund
this amount. The undertaken usually
makes the refund Some colleges are
willing to pay more for good subjects.
Formerly they We're being charged from
$50 to SIS each. The law requires that
. body shall be kept Il certain time be
fore it can be made use of i'm the class
room Last year Il Des Moines college
commenced dissecting just one day be-
fore the time limit was up and got
caught at it by friends who claimed the
fody and made Il fuss about it. But
this doesn't happen often.
The removal of the law department
of the now deflinct and merged Bur
lington, Cedar Rapids & Northern To
the law department of the Rock Island
Il. fI<~VN