The independent., 1903-07-09

law of the land, and no civi, power is
strong enough to deprive the citizen
cf it's exercise. He may indeed select
healer of doubtful reputation or con-
ceded incompetency, but that is his
affair, just as much as his choice OF
minister or attorney. His action may
prove injurious, possibly fatal to him.
self or some member of his family.
IT is better SO than to delegate to any
tribunal the 20 -er to say, Thou shalt
rot employ this man, Thou shalt not
employ that man. That this bill pro-
duces such results indirectly makes it
ttsie more Objectionable. 1t is not the
cutspoken and aggressive assault up
on individual liberty that men should
fear. but the indirect and resultant
blow that Is masked and falls unex-
pectedly.
"This bill, like all kindred forms OF
paternalism, assumes that the titizen
cannot take care of himself. The state
must lead him as little child lest he
fell into trouble unawares He must
he guided and chided. limited here and
licensed there. for his own protection
Such system. born of the union OF
the church and state. crrmbled INTO
ashes in the crucible Of experience. II
cannot flourish though disguised in
the garments of alleged necessity. The
privilege of chosing ones own Lhvsi-
can is a positive essential to the pub
/ lie health. Confidence Of the patient
IN the healer does more to restore hlm
than all the drugs that ever meiicined
man. Give the sick, physicians OF the
greatest ability; without that Trust
which links one to the other. their
acts are apt to fail. Give the SICK
lvf1ysiefans of mean capacity; IT tn"
bond of sympathy exist between them.
its influence will find EXPRESSION
through the remedies suggested. Yet
this bill assumes to thrust the coarse
machinery of the criminal law into
one of the most sacred relations or
human life; to drag the chosen ply
slcian, if unlicensed, from the SICK
room to the prison cell and to snbstl7
tf,te for him one who, however ex-
allied and honorable, may not COM
mand the confidence or secure the
sympathy of the patient" ;"
Every word of which is true, and
applies to the law found upon our
statute book in Nebraska. In the
highest and truest sense the success
full physician is self-made, whether
he has gained his knowledge in
medical college, physicians ofhce,
or at his own home.
The practice of medicine is an art
rot a science Science is truth: truth
is the same yesterday, today and for
ever. Medicine is constantly chang
ing. A remedy lauded today Is set
aside tomorrow and methods OF treat
ing disease are as unstable and cnang-
able as the sands on the sea shore.
lhe practice of medicine is largely ex-
Eerimental. The same drug will re-
lieve one patient in given case. While
under apparently the same conditions
in-a another. it will utterly fail. Scien-
tific medicine, as popularity applied, is
misnomer. Experience gained at
the sick bed is the only teacher which
can make the successful physician.
There are no fixed Interchangeable
methods of treatment, applicable in all
cases, even though the disease may be
the same. Each case must be treated
according to the conditions and symp-
tens of the particular patient.
With what consistency can the state
punish labor unions even when they
go to the extreme and use force to
prevent non-union men and women
from working, when it incarcerates
in prison or imposes heavy fine up
on worthy and competent people who
exercise their God-given right to earn
an honorable livelihood by the prac-
tice of medicine?
The state law protects those who
Rave diploma, by issuing them a
! certificate but refuses certificate
and imprisons others who attempt to
practice.without any reference to
their qualifications. If this Is not
class legislation pure and simple,
what is it? The law simply says a
medical trust has been formed which
shall regulate the practice Of medicine
lin Nebraska, and the legislature has
furnished the appliances whereby this
! trust shall become effectual
The medical profession is noble
one. 1t has done much to cure all
ments, to alleviate suffering and to
| prolong life. It's ranks are filled with