Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-07
.HEALERS GIVEN HEARING
ALLOPATH AND HOME0PATH
AGAINST OSTEOPATH.
Opposition to Bill Creating a Dis
trict Examining Board for
the Latter.

Allopath and homeopath took side
against the osteopath at a hearing at thu
District building today. when representa-
tives Of the latter cult pressed the Com
missioners with reasons why they SHOULD
be permitted to practice on the SAM
basis as other physicians. The hearinl
was called for by both sides, after bill
was presented in Congress to establish
in the District a board Of osteopathic ex
aminers. The bill, 1t is stated, seems Il
give to osteopaths practically the SAM
standing as other practitioners.
]. d. Thomas, chairman of the com
mittee on public policy of the District o
Columbia Medical Association, and DR.
J. 3. Gregg Gusts. president Of thu
board of medical supervisors Of the Dis
trict, spoke against the claims of TIL
osteopaths. The osteopaths were repre-
scented by DR.. j. o. Snyder. president o.
the state board of osteopath examiner
of Pennsylvania, and by George ShIbley
attorney.
Additional Board Opposed.
Dr. Thomas said that the addition of {
board of osteopathic examiners would ado
one more board to the medical examiner:
already in existence here. and that thi
addition would tend to complicate mat
tiers. He said that 1t would be better t
simplify the boards. The proposed board
he said would put osteopaths on a diff
ferent basis f. ON other practitioners.
He also advanced the argument thai
with the addition of another board a pre-
cedent would be set which would make
the District of Columbia the stamping
ground for ali sorts of cures and cults"
DR.. GUSTS argument was that oste-
paths have not qualified as regular ply
Sicans land they should not be allowed
to style themselves physicians until
they have qualified as such.'' He SAID
that as he understood osteopathy the
practitioners had not a sufficient knowl-
edge of materia medica and drugs.
And" he said, "a physician without the
knowledge OF drugs is dangerous propo-
sition''
"A physician" he said, should under
stand the contagious diseases. should I'M
destand disinfectants and the prescl Thing
of the proper drugs for disinfectants.
Equal Status Asked.
DR.. Snyder, speaking for the osteopath-
lists. said that all the followers of his
profession wanted was to stand on the
same footing in examination as other
physicians. He said that they wanted
an osteopathic board of examiners, that
they wanted the same requirements that
other physicians had to pass that they
wanted TO stand the same examination,
substantially. and that t.ley wanted the
requirements surrounding the issuance of
licenses made the same To them as to
other practitioners.
I'VE want to practice OSteopathy as ii
is taught, and not as these gentlemen
wish us to practice it,. he said, in fur
therance Of his argument that his pro
fessiOn is as high in science as the other
branches of medicine.
Nj. SHIRLEY showed some Of the Law i'll
the matter. and pointed out that III thir-
ty-SeNtn states uSteopathN has the same
status with the medical profession III
other branches. aud that osteopathS iii
those states can issue birth and death
certificates. He also said that the meas
ures which the osteopaths urged would
shut out the fake oSteopathS.