Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-10-14
Secretary Kennedy of the State
Board of Health Discusses
the Question
PHYSICIANS BLAMED
Their Legal Right to Offer and Give
Protection to Travelling Doctors Will
Be Tested in the Iowa courts-ken-
nedy Makes Some caustie Comment
on the Subject.
Special to Times-Republican.


Des Moines, Oct. 14.-The fact that
Iowa people are the greatest suckers"
in the world when it comes to buying
patent medicines and that the ques-
ton may soon be tested in the courts
how far a regular practicing physi-
clan is allowed by law to spread his
protection over a quack who has no
license are assertions made by Dr. j.
r. Kennedy of the state board OF
health in the Iowa Health Bulletin,
which has just been issued by the
board of health. DR.. Kennedy says:
I'VE are not posted as to conditions
of medical advertising and quackery
in other states, but we are inclined
TO think that Iowa has larger num-
Der of Suckers and proves a more
profitable field for the successful ex-
ploitation ~ medical humbuggery
than any other we know of. Let a
company of pretenders come to any
town in Iowa-especially from some
point outside the stats-and claim
phenomenal gifts as kaleidoscope
cialiy If they have band and vau-
deville attachment and have money
enough to substitute the press, and
there are few halls that will hold the
crowds that flock to see and hear them,
and once at their entertainment a large
per cent are led to believe they need
medicine and under the excitement and
influence of an oily tongue they are
led to make contracts that are Bit
terly rued as soon as the swindling
aggregation has gone. Over and over
again we are implored by these suck
ers" who have been thus caught to
help get them released from obliga-
tions they assumed hastily, without
due consideration and which they were
in no way able to meet financially ex-
their loved ones Of needed food and
raiment. 1t is bad enough to have this
done legally, but when done in viola
ton of law it is not only crime
against the individual signing such
contracts but against the state as
we'll"
DR.. Kennedy says that Boone county
is the cleanest county in the state in
this regard though Marshall, Clinton,
Lee, Warren, Page and Polk are fall
ing in line and, continuing, says:
THE greatest difficulty in enforcing
the law often comes thru the protection
afforded by impecunious and unpro-
fessional physicians who are them
selves legally qualified. For revenue
they spread their protecting wings over
these would-be doctors and when they
are prosecuted they come into court
and swear that they are practicing UNI
der their immediate supervision.
1--WE might give many instances.
We were once called to Sioux City. A
magnetic healer who was without a
certificate was cutting wide swath
We knew the party personally and
knew that he was ignorant Of the first
principles of medicine. AS the trial
developed a physician holding our GER
tificate came on the stand and testified
that the defendant was practicing un-
der his immediate supervision as
nurse and assistant. The case was
dismissed"
He adds further: "It is a question.
that may soon be tried in the courts
as to what extent licensed physicians
can protect unlicensed. parties in the
practice Of medicine"