The daily sentinel., 1910-06-13
THE MENACE OF A
NATIONAL HEALTH BUREAU

In the Twentieth Century Maga-
zine for June b. o. Flower publishes
an article on the owen health bin
now before the congress of the Unit
ed States Mr.. Flower writes:
There are two rights that free
men throughout western civilization
have, since the dawn Of modern times
and especially since the advent OF
the democratic era. striven TO secure
and maintain, even at the risk OF
their lives. One is the right of the
individual to select the priest or cler-
gyman of his thoiee to minister to his
spiritual welfare or the health of his
soul.
Another analogous demand. quite
as intimate and, to many. quite as
sacred. was the right of the individ-
ual to choose uhe physician of his
for his bodily Ills To deny either of
these rights is To surrender to privi
lege and reaction one of the most
priceless victories that have made
democracy the handmade of human
happiness, progress and erlighten-
ment. Political freedom. religious
freedom, medical freedOm-this sa-
cred trinity must la preserved unless
privilege-seeking classes are to be
permitted to strike down the sacred
rights of man.
But here is another reason almost
az grave as the depriying of the citi-
zen Of the right to sslect the practi-
toner of his choice, to be advanced
against this measure, backed As it is
by the great priyileee-seeking class.
History teaches nothing more clearly
than that state-bulgarked class be
comes intolerant of advanced think
l.t
ranks The fierce opposition aroused
by Harvey's discovery of the circula-
tion OF the blood is sypical illustra-
tinn and not an exceptional example
of the attitude of the regular medi-
cal profession in the presence of new
and momentous scientific revelations.
even when made by prominent mem
bsrs of their own schosl.. In his day
the College of Physicians & Surgeons
OF Lorion refused even to consider
this discovery. which is justly re-
garded as one of the most important
in the realm OF physiological ad-
vance; and nearly half century af-
ter be had communicated the great
truth to the world. the Paris Royal
Society of Medicine gravely listened
to an elaborate paper that claimed
this discovery to be among the impos-
sibilities.
a volume might be filed with
similar illustrations. of the hostility
to 0Istingu 81 cd investigators, even
in the medical profession. who from
time to time have made wonder.ui
new discoveries. Yet the opposition
to - cir own number has been MS no
thing to that mated out to savants
who from without their class nave
made great and basic discoveries
bearing vitality on the health of the
people.
After the advent of democracy,
freedom of thought and the right of
the individual to enjoy the clergy
man and the health practitioner of
his choice were for time conceded;
and. with this defeat of privilege-ar-
rpgating classes, with the recognition
of human rights in the field of relig-
ion and the healing art and with in
tellectual hospitality, came the most
wonderful era of scientific advance
civilization had ever known-an era
unmatched in discoveries and revela-
tions of new and undreamed or
truths. In every department of in
vestigation humanity moved forward
in proportion as liberty had been
granted to her children. In the field
VI HeulcIHS homeopathy arose, anu
| later In the new world eclecticism.
Both these schools were ridiculed and
bitterly assailed by the regular med
| ical profession. But who will deny
the wonderfully beneficient influence
which homeopathy has eserted on the
regular practice in lessening whole
sale drugging and reducing the size
of the doses. while emphasizing the
Importance of sanitary conditions
and reliance on nature rather than
on poisons for the restoration to
health? And who will deny the ben
eficent influence which eclecticism
has exerted in modifying and lessen
ing the administration of mineral
poisons and in substituting compara-
lively harmless vegetable remedies
for the cruder medication that was
everywhere employed before the. ris-
Ing of these two Independent schools
Neither of these schools of medicine
could have arisen and become a pow
er in the community had the medical
association obtained the monopoly
legislation which for fifty years they
have been demanding in various com
monwealths and. indeed. throughout
the English-speaking world"