The Washington herald., 1908-01-30
HEARING ON CHIROPRACTICS
Arguments for and Against Bill to
License Practitioners.
Representative Livingstone Explains
Purpose of His MeRsure-ReguIar
Physicians Speak i'm Opposition.

A public hearing was granted yesterday
morning to the bill recently introduced
for the licensing of persons who practice
chiropractics in the District OF Columbia.
The hearing was held before the District
Commissioners in the board room OF the
District building, and was attended by
rearly two hundred persons.
Representative Livingston. Of Georgia,
father Of the bill now pending In Con-
gress, was al the hearing and spoke in
favor Of enactment He said although
chiropractics does not neeessitate the use
OF drugs Of any sort, nor does it put any
ones life in jeopardy, yet it has been the
subject Of protest by the medical profess
sion. Medical men regard the chiroprac-
ties as a menace 10 their profession.
financially and practically.
Representative Livingston in his argu-
ment brought out that the practice may
be abused by the large number Of lncom-
petent practitioners who are doctors in
name only, not bona fde physicians who
have received diplomas from regularly
incorporated colleges Of medicine. and
VINO are not capable of diagnosing a case
as would a thoroughly trained doctor.
DR.. Louis Mackan president Of the
Medical Association Of Washington. spoke
I'm opposition to the BILL and remarked
that after thorough study of methods
he saw many instances where chiroprac-
ttioners had made bold statements OF re-
suits that could be accomplished by them
which, from the nature Of the cases,
would be impossible 10 accomplish with
the use of any manual manipulation. Dr.
Mackall went on 10 say he did not like
10 speak despairingly OF those competent
10 make chiropractics a profession. but
that the belief that by tbs simple manipu-
latiOn Of the spine of patient. the
patient could be cured Of any disease at
all, was erroneous and illogical.
This he regarded as cause Of the spread
Of the practice lie saw no reason why
a person should be refused the privilege
OF practicing medicine even if he had no
diploma, If any individual was to be al
lowed TO practice this strange and pc
culiar treatment.
Furthermore. Dr. Mackall intimated
that he had come to the conclusion that
who conducts a sanatOTium at Fifteenth
and ! streets. maintains that she can
treat any disease. disregaTdless of its
nature and kind, and cure 1t and stave it
of before the disease takes a good hold,
she can do something that the entire
medical profession both here and abroad
cannot,
The enactment of the bin was advocated
by T. V POwderly, who represented the
sanitarium conducted by Mrs Arnold.
He remarked that the medical men looked
too much on the financial side OF the
question. In testimony OF the good work
done by the sanatorium. he showed girl
who had been unable to walk for several
years, and by chiTopTactic treatment she
now is able to walk
As d demonstration OF what the treat
ment consisted o. Mrs. Arnold wanted TO
operate upon the spine of the girl. This
procedure was ruled out by the chairman
Several other speeches were made for
and against the measure. The meeting
adjourned leaving the matter 10 the con-
siderati6n OF the Commissioners.