The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-17
He Uses the Lash of Hot
RidicuIe.
Continued from First Page.)

upon the word medicine is identical with
the definitions by these leading authori-
ties. So the assertion is not true that
it essayed to change the meaning found in
every dictionary Now is it true that a
different meaning can be found in any
dictionary? Do you suppose Justice
Clark has in his possession dictionary
defining the word differently than above?
IF not why di>- he make this assertion?
There is no half way about it, it is either
true or false Why did the Chief Justice
of our State deliberately put forth a
statement that any school boy can see is
untrue. | will tell you. he had to make
that statement or all his laborious work
for the charlatan would have gone for
naught. He had to make it or else adj
NIT that his threat made to the Legisla
ture year ago had been made in vain.
The amendment by the Legislature had
driven him into corner from which there
was but one avenue OF escape.
1t was a last desperate chance, but he
took it and by it has won a victory for
his side-at least temporary one. The
immediate effect of the decision will be
to draw hundreds of quacks from all
over this country to our State; driven by
a Legislature enactments from one State
after another here for time at least will
be their haven. And what motley ag
gregation it will be, Osteopaths, Oleo-
paths. Vitapaths, Mentapaths, Clairvoy-
ants, Spiritualists, Vibrationists, ct cetera
eft Nauseam.
Now we all know Chief Justice Clark
to be a man of great legal acumen; we
all believe him to be man having at
heart the best interest of the people.
What then must have influenced him to
render decision that sets the State back
half century in medical legislation? 7
do not know but 1 believe I am aware of
one factor that entered into the result.
For many years he has been a contribu-
tor to socialistic magazine, whose col
umns are open to fads of every descrip-
ton. Within its pages during the past
fifteen years can be found the vaporings
of more diseased imaginations than ever
fell to the lot of magazine in modern
times.
Nearly every ism, every pathy, every
Dlogy born in a monomanic's brain dur
ing that time has found ready acceptance
in the columns. But over and above
every other thing has the editor in sea-
son and out of season applied the lash to
the regular medical fraternity.
I have read many of Chief Justice
Clark's articles, and they were all
worthy of commentator, but does it not
seem likely to you, Mr.. Editor, that dur
ing all these years he has unconsciously
absorbed from this journal its contempt
TOR what he and the editor call 'tthe Al
lopathic branch of our medicine" 1t Ger
tainly seems plausible. A fatorite
topic with the editor is Estate
system of medicine" This is the
same phrase used IL the deci-
sion What would you understand by
the term? Does it not imply that the
State selects certain system of medi-
cine which all must follow? But what
has that to do with the case in hand?
Our State through the Legislature gives
the fullest license to any man or woman
to practice whatever they please. 1t
simply says TO the people if you wish to
treat diphtherla prove to us that you
know what diphtheria is and then you
may treat it by your own system. If
you want to reduce a disiocated bone,
prove to US that you know what manner
of bone it is. and what is its function.
If you want professionally to advise peo-
pie what to cat prove to us that you un-
derstand the physiology and chemistry of
digestion.
Nowhere in the law from beginning to
end can you find one solitary command
that they must practice a State system
CT any other system. But says the Court
they must be examined by "Allopathic''
doctors Well what OF it? They are
not examined in allopathic CD practice.
They are examined, however. on the
diagnosis of diseases, because a mistake
here with an infectious disease may bring