The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-12-21
A FEDERAL HEALTH BOARD.

II Is gratifying to note that tao bin
for the creation of a federal health
board will not be allowed to pass with
out protest Reports Of organized
resistance come from all parts OF the
country. and Il may be that the oppo-
sition will soon bo sufficiently solidi.
fed to defeat project that promises
infinite mischief for the community,
and suffering and injustice for the in
diYidal.
The proposal is based upon those
speciouB claims that are VIGOROUSLY
hard to controvert II federal health
board were 10 conhne its activities to
the PRONUNCIATION OF salutary advice
upon hygienic matters. to the abate-
ment OF quackery, and to the purity OF
drugs, It might be- possible to say
much In its favor, although It would
still be difficult to say that such an
organization is needed. But we know
that II will attempt to do far more
than this, seeing that It's adherents
have loudly proclaimed their inten-
lions. Indeed, there Il no secrecy
about them. II is confidently sxpected
that the board will consist OF advos
Gates Of one school OF medicine only
and that the methods OF that school
will be not only recommended. bus
enforced upon tho nation. Indeed a
board that was In any way representa-.
tive Of the medical profession as o.
whole would be stutifed by It's own
disagreements. Outside the domain
OF simple hygiene, for which We need
no federal board at ALL there is mo-
single point OF medical practice upon
which allopaths, homeopathic, eclectios
and osteopaths could be In unison
Any board that could be devised by
the wit of man must be composed OF
representatives OF one school onlys
and this means TINT all other schools
are branded as OF an inferior caste,
even though nothing worse happened
to them. And something worse would
happen to them. II we are to establish
q school Of medicine, II we are to as
sert the the government OF the Unit
ed States favors one variety OF prac-
tics more than others, why not eBtab-
lish also sect Of religion and be-
stow special authorities upon Bap-
lists. Methodists and EpiscopaliansY
An established school OF religious
conjecture seems somewhat less OBJ
jectionable than an established sect
OF pseudo o scientific conjecture.
Those who suppose that federal
BOARD OF health would have no concern
with individual rights are likely to
find themselves undoceived. II Ia for
the purpose OF interfering with indi-
yidual rights that tho proposal has
beon made. We need no speclai
knowledge OF conditions to be aware
that what mar be called unorthodox
methods OF healing have made sad in
roads into tho orthodox Homeopathy
claims a vast number OF adhsrentD
who are Just as we'll educated and just
as intelligent as thoss who adhere to
the older school. 0steopathy, eclecti-
cism, and half dozen other methods
OF practice are certainly not losing
ground Beyond them is the vast and
increasing army OF those who may be
classed under the general and vague
name OF mental healers Those who
are addicted to any Of these forms Of
unorthodoxy need have no doubt an
to the purposes OF the federal health
board. Those purposes are to make
II difficult for them to follow their
particular fads and fancies, to lead
them. and II necessary to drive them,
from medical unorthodoxy to medical
orthodoxy.
Now the Argonaut holds no brief
for any OF the excuses and the super.
stltions connected with the care OF the
body in which this age Is so rife. Bua
1t does feel concerned for the pressr-
walton OF human liberty and for tho
rights OF the individual 10 doctor him
self in any way he pleases 80 long No
he does not Individually threaten the
health OF the community. He may
take large doses or small ones. or no
doses at all; he may be massaged,
anoinled with oil. or prayed over, juss
as the within Of the moment may die.
tate, and probably II makes no par
ticle of difference which he does But
he has the right to choose, Just AZ he
chooses the color OF his pecktie or the
character NJ his underclothing. II In
not a matter in which any wise gov
eminent will seek to Interfere. This
is precisely the liberty that the health
board intends TO take from him,
Orthodox medicine conscious of Ito
losses, is trying 10 buttrsss itself by
federal statute. to exalt allopathy to
the status of privileged caste. and
to create an established school Of
Just as some other countries
have allowed themselves to create an
established school Of religion II is
for the common sense OF the commu.
nifty TO rebuke that effort and to re-
pei an unwarranted invasion upon sle-
nentary human rights.-San Fran.
,isco Ar0oadaf.