The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-03-22
OSTEOPATHIC SOCIETY'S RIGHTS
What is Prepared to Be Done by a Bill
Before the Legislature.

What is Prepared TO Be Done by u Bill
Before the Legislature.
The New Jersey Osteopathic So
ciety, being duly and legally called,
into session in the city of Newark,
this 5th. day of March, 1910 to con-
slider the question of legislation af-
fecting the practice of osteopathy
now pending in Trenton, issues the
following statement and protest to
the members Of the senate and as
sembly and to the press and people
of the state at large.
This society represents that it was
organized, and incorporated by the
state to guard, defend and develop
the practice Of Osteopathy within
state, that its membership is res
tricted by regulations which provide
for the educational and professional
standing recognized as being essen
tial to the future of Osteopathy, and
that it is the only organization of Os-
teopaths within the state maintain
ing such standard of membership.
That this body is unanimous in it's
conviction that the ends for which it
was Incorporated can be secured only
by the osteopathic profession having
it's own separate board of examina-
tion and administration. The ex-
perence of eighteen states Of the
Union having separate boards and
fifteen states having the joint board
clearly proves this to be fact,
That assembly bill No. 1856, pre-
pared and introduced by the Medi-
cal society of the state is for one
purpose only, to rob the osteopaths
of the rights guaranteed to them un-
der the decisionyof the highest courts
of the state.
Tt further represents that this
measure, framed for the sole pur-
pose of putting the practice of Os.
teopathy under the control of the
medical profession, was prepared
and introduced without the know
ledge or consent of the osteopathic
profession Of the state, and that the
same is an unjust and iniquitous
measure for the following reasons:
(a) While urged ostensibly in be.
half OF Osteopathy, and erroneously
termed the osteopathic bill, its result
is to govern, control and eventually
amalgamate the practice of osteopa.
thy, with the practice of medicine.
| (b) While the practice of osteo
pathy, and the practice of medicine
are both branches of the art of heal.
ing, the conception of the cause anc
treatment of disease held by Osteo
pathy leads OSteopaths to such q
different method and reasoning in
studying, even the fundamental
subjects which it uses in common
with medicine that only Osteopaths
and not medical doctors are com
petent to pass upon it's schools anc
test the knowledge of it's practi
tioners.
! (c) This organization claims thai
precisely as the doctors of medicine
and dentists control their respective
professions, the osteopathic profes
sion should have the right to pas
upon, stand sponsor for and guar
antee to the people of the state al
who practice osteopathy within it,
borders. 1t maintains that in thi
way only can the people of the com
monwealbh be assured of competent
and genuine osteopathy of which th,
medical board could not be judges.
(d) Since there is no d deman(
from the people for such measure
and as this bill concerns the prac
tice of osteopathy only, in no wa,
changing the existing regulation 0
other schools of practice, its intro
1uction by the medical society i
suggestive of self interest.
In view of these and other obvious
and valid reasons, this body being
convinced that the privileges it
members enjoy and the services tn,
public appreciates are in danger o
being cut off, it unanimously anC
without dissent instructs its officers
and executive committee to oppos,
this measure and other similar legis
lations, and urges them for it and il
It's name to appeal to the press anC
people Of the state to make it plair
TO the members Of the legislature al
Trenton that this measure is not fol
the public good and should be de
feated.