New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-18
DEFENDS OSTEOPATHY.
Reasons for Not Taking MQteria
Medica Examinations.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir In your issue Of Yesterday appears an ed-
torial osteopathy which shows either a spirit
OF unfsirness a lack OF information on the sub
ject. It is true that we do not wish to take the
regular examination in materia medca- but why?
FIrst-AIlibut. in his system Of the practice of
cine gives OF the reasons for giving drugs
| ito restore health directly by removing the sum
OF conditions which constitute disease Here we
act empiricaIlv with no definite knowledge-often,
indeed, with little Idea of the action Of drugs"
Second-Dr William Osler. throughout his spler-
did work on the practice OF medicine. discounte-
nances the of drugs as insufficient and unavail-
ing therapeuticay. and In speaking Of the causes Of
diseases he mentions that most injurious of all
habits drug taking, ono Of the almost constant
causes of disease"
Third-Dr Frank Billings. in his inaugural address
as president OF the American Medical Association.
said; with most of present methods Of
clinical observation enable us 10 DO little more
than name the disease. In the vast majority OF
infectious diseases are hopeless TO apply spe-
cifc cure. Drugs. with the exception of qunine
IN malaria and mercury in syphilis. are vaueless as
cures"
Dr. George Hayern, professor of the Paris faculty
OF medicine says; THE oldest drugs endowed with
undeniable therapeutic effect bequeathed to
us by empiricsm; they the so-caled specifics:
mercury. iodine and Qunine A curious fact con-
corning them is that in spite of the time that has
elapsed since their discovery contemporary science
has not been able TO ascertain precisely how they
T. y,
" progressing. has introduced a large number OF
substances into our therapeutics without our being
able to find a single specific
Fourth-There has been introduced in the Iegis-
T7nity Sl Roo3rdnr 10 fHe provisons OF this
bill no examination in materia medca will he re-
CURED OF any person who applies for examination
for the practice of medicine in this state
Now, If according TO the authorities whom have
quoted there IS no definite knowledge the sub
JeCt OF mateTia medica, and specifics, and If on
the other hand they the frequent of
the Medical Unity bill the regular physicians do
not deem an examination in materia medica neces-
sary, why should you haTshly CritiClse for not
wishing 10 taxa this examinations We perfectly
willing to take the rest of the examination, but
without first taking four years In medical college
Osteophtny IS not taught in medical colleges; It
course in osteopathy and four years OF six or
seven months each to take a medical course, Rp-
proHlmateLy the same Wy compel US 70 tal5e
medca, which the leaders OF tho medical profess
sion have repeatedly pronounced not only value
less. but harmful and which we never user
Brooklyn. n. Y. Feb. 10 1907.
Tour correspondents argument does not seem
to clinch his effectively. Alibuts state
ment is simply another reason for more exact
empirical study. DR.. Osler's statement that
granted without implying their uselessness. DR..
Billings in his address referred TO. is speaking
Of infectious diseases: his structures involve no
universal condemnation OF drugs. AS to tho
osteopathist's desire TO escape the work OF the
ordinary medical course our correspondent en-
deavorS to establish his claim by making the
study of materia medica the only one which the
osteopathists do not and not willing to pur-
sue Unless their attitude has changed radi-
cally of late that IS not fair statement Of It'll