The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-05
What Next2

Editor OF The Times-D ispatch:
Sir,-Thcre are two sides to most qnes-
tions. and when any organized interest
appears a., before the law;mnking power OF
own behalf, II behoovcs the public gen
orally, as well as our representation to
inquire into the soundness OF tho reasons
upon which the demand for such legisla
ton Is based. It Is hardly possible to
enact law solely in the interest of any
class or profession without affecting ad-
Nersely the common veal.
books, passed In 1903, through the Or
ganzed influence of the allopathic school
OF practice. erecting around them q
Chinese wall and placing in the citadsl
their State Examining Board. clothed
with fun power to monopolize field and
fees. Neither eclectics. homeopathic, os.
teopaths nor any others. however we'll
cation and training in chartered institu-
tons of any State, can practice the art of
healing In the State of Virginia unless
they hold the sine qua non to be had
and which may be granted or withheld
at the pleasure OF said board. The spc-
cious plea for the enactment OF this law
was that 1t would protect the. people
the ignorant and misgulded-from the
dangers OF charlatanisn. We may he
pardoned fol. doubling the sincerity of
this plea when we see no effort put
forth on the part of the profession to
are made incompetent By proflgate lives.
Once having obtained the boards certifi-
cate no matter how unsafe as n dispen-
ser OF poisons he may render himself by
his addiction to the use OF intoSicantS
or what Is perhaps worse. narcotics. he
may go on and on and not even a word
of protest Is entered by his brethren In
the profession; A very innocent appear,
this act In the running OF hospitals.
II the rules that obtain in all the i'm
portant railway companies and other In
dustrial enterprises of the country in
piled to the medical profession. how
many NJ. DIS would go out of commits
sion?
A few years ago the question was agi-
tated by the doctors OF procuring an
act by the Legislature practically guar
anteeing to them their bad debts; pro-
posing to make the counties responsible
for all claims when 1t could be shown
that the parties to whom the service had
been rendered We're unable to pay the
bills. That. however,. was abandoned, or
fell through in some. way Now they
are camoring for freedom from The small
license tax the State requires o. them.
Why? Because" they say. we do such
an immense amount of charity work
If the quotation of a little Scripture be
permissible in this connection. here It Is:
charity covers multitude of sins.
Under the present laws. through and by
means of their organization. they are In
position to adopt by vote OF their local
thereto. an arbitrary schedule of fees:
also to blacklist any one who refuses TO
pay-and they do 1t, In some places. at
work work for which the are unable
to collect, they do some OF It. no doubt.
So does the merchant. the lawyer. the
farmer. the mechanic and even the day
done for the love of God and humanity;
without the hope of reward of any kind
in this life, how much OF II do they
more than others? So much for the
The city doctor. or the doctor whose
reputation is above the ordinary, and
whose practice is not altogether local, oc-
cupies a higher plane and can take care
likely to make his fee In proportion to
the size of your purse, and often charges
the wealthy thousands for services rem
dered to the 6n fee on
the ground that he does such an Mn I'M !.
Verify charity is sometimes made to cover
multitude of dollars!
mands favors on account OF Itself Is en-
titled to a pretty heavy discount.
There are good noble men IN the nredi-
cal profession; men worthy of honor for
charitable deeds. The profession Is OLD
enough. and should be strong enough, TO
meet all competition IN an open neio anu
stand on the strength of It's own merit.
The people of Virginia, as a rule, are
not SO benighted or SO ignorant as to
need the self-constituted and self-nter-
ested guardian of any class or craft
The patent medicine bill. bill making
fl, a misdemeanor for any physician a Z, 70
(the DOCTOR is intoxicated, bill to for
felt the license of physician who IS
shown to be addicted to the drink habit
or drug habit. bill to forfeit the license
Of physician who Is shown l.. to 81 have we, ad
ing drug xnder circumstances and condi-
lions calculated to produce the habit and
If it be shown that the habit follows as
a result of such practice. not only for
felture Of license let him also be liable to
suit in damages: r. the 9, Doctors ,,to I'm In
influence for the enactment of measures
embodylng these suggestions they will
not only elevate the standard OF the pro
fession, but render a valuable service to
the people of their State.