Evening journal., 1905-02-28
FIGHT
ON MEDICAL BILL
Main Contention Is Over
Right of Opticians to Use
Title Doctor"
TILTs BETWEEN THE LAWYERS
specIaI . The Evening Journal.

Dover. Feb. 2s.-The most spirited
fgnt of this session of the Legislature
was made in the hall of the House or
Representatives late yesterday after
noon over the consideration of the med
ical bill.
DR.. r. S. stephens. president Of the
Delaware Opthalmic College, made an
active fight in behalf of the doctors OF
refraction whom his college graduates.
He was represented by seven attorneys,
all OF whom were stationed in different
parts of the hall, which was crowded.
The argument was opened by Dr. lr-
wine NJ. Flinn, Who said the bill had
been amended 20 meet all reasonable
objections. 1t does not interfere with
the legitimate business of druggists, or
with the mechanical application OF
glasses for the correction of errors OF
refraction, nor does IL prevent the prac-
tice of chiropody, but it does deny TO all
of these the right to use any title which
might lead the public to regard them
as educated physicians.
Title of Doctor the Contention.
"In consulting q number of opticians
we find all they want to do is to nj
glasses to correct errors of Fefraction,
NeNf1NAN"t
is over the desire of some refractionists
to use the title Doctor
Frank H. Davis, of counsel for DR.,
Stephens, dwelt upon the fact that
while the DILL aegalizes corn doctors
bunion doctors and Christian Scientists
yet persons who go to a college and
take a prescribed course are prohibited
from using the title"
I - ot,ov-oI TIarfaar-f II
Ward, representing the physicians. said
1.-THE title OF doctor means to the pub
ilic at large the administration Of drug:
Ito relieve diseases of the body. 80 fai
as 1 know" said Mr. Ward. every op.
ltician OF Wilmington who adjusts
and fits glasses IS here and can be call.
ed upon. to say that they do not desir'
ito use the title Doctor or to administei
medicine, or to deceive the public. Th'
lonly simple. plain question before yol
now is whether you will premit peopl'
to graduate persons from a school L
Int glasses and to use the title OF Doc
tor to deceive the public"
John B. Hutton, Of Dover, oppose'
the bill and DR.. j. A. Ellegood, of WA
mington, declared 1t would be bad pol
10y to allow opticians TO use the title o
doctor"
Lawyer Days Claim.
Lawyer A. NJ. Daily said the title o
the measure should be changed to read
"A bill to destroy the business OF Di
r. S. Stephens, OF Dover. Doctor o
Refraction."
Senator Artenias Smith, who is
lawyer, pointed out that the Opthal
mic College is incorporated under tn
laws Of Delaware to confer the degre
of Doctor OF Refraction." He aske
/. Mr.. DAILY whether the Legislature coul
deprive the college of the right to con
fer the degree Doctor of Refraction-"
Mr.. DAILY gave his opinion that tn
Legislature could not by enactmen
take away from the Opthalnic Co
, lege the charter right to confer the de
gree Doctor of Refraction."
j. Harvey Whiteman regretted tina
personalities had been injected into tn
controversy over the bill. He denie
that the amended bill ds aimed to IN
: jure DR.. Stephens, and challenged an
man to point out in any way how tn
bill would prevent DR.. Stephens froi
o adjusting or hitting eyeglasses. h
= submitted a letter written by DR.. St,
lphens, signed 'R- S. Stephens, NJ. d
( LII. D."
+ James II. Hughes defended the rigl
t Of the optician to use title Doctor ,
s RefractiOn."