Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-02-24

and ,where- they cannot be answered.
| that there might be matter of ex-
pensc attendant upon the iGrmation or
new commission. As to that con-
tention have this TO ssy-if you will
examine the closing section OF the bill
will find that the matter of expense
lis entirely taken care of, that in no
case slr.n any money be taken from
| the treasury of the State for the sup
| port NJ this commission other than that
which is received from examination
Ifees and from those who appear before
| it. And in closing l will say that In
signing the majority report | held the
opinion. and / hold it now. that II Is
proper that the members of the school
of Osteopathy should have their own
examining board. There would be just
as much reason and sense in putting
the druggists and physicians now
practicing into one board. Let us by
Ian means say that the people Of the
State of Maine who patroniZe an
Ostcopath may have the assurance OF
this government that hereafter a man
who practices Ostcopathy is qualified
to practice that school and not some
other.
Mr.. WILLIAMSON Of Augusta: Mr..
Speaker. it seems to me before we take
vote on whether we shall change the
present condition of the practitioners
| of Osteopathy in this state that it
would be we'll that we should all un-
derstand exactly where they stand
now. / believe that at the present
time under the present existing laws
any OsteOpath has a right to practice
his profession or science or art, what
ever it may be called, without any re-
strictions excepting that he cannot use
poisonous or dangerous drugs and can
not perform surgical operations. Now
there is some question under the pres
ent law which exists today whether or
not an Osteopath can or cannot use
the title of doctor. The statute il I
remember it says that certain persons
shall not use the word doctor. meaning
thereby doctor of medicine. so there
is some question whether an Osteopath
can use that title. Now | have been
somewhat interested in this matter be
cause somewhat similar matter, a
matter which indirectly concerns
Osteopathy, has been before the COM
mittee Of which ! am a member. |
refer to the medical registration bill
which is Senate Document 1l2, and to
which l should like to have the mem
bers refer because | wish to speak on
some things in regard to it. That has
been unanimously reported to the
Senate. and | understand there is no
opposition to ii but that undoubtedly
the changes which it suggests in the
10,
that bill was heard a gentleman rep
resenting the Osteopaths came before
the committee and he asked that an
amendment be made to that bill. He
, asked in regard To this matter of
whether or not the OSteopaths could
use the word doctor. and he suggested
this amendment which he presented to
The committee in writing: and the
amendment You will find on page six
of the bill beginning with the word
Excepting" In line Is, so that the bill
as reported makes ii plain what before
was somewhat uncertain that an
Osteopath has the right to use the
word doctor. that is, if this bill passes
as | presume Ii is going Ia, In connec-
ton with the word Osteopathy. The
amendment which the Osteopath sug-
gested and which the committee be-
lieNe is proper and right ~ be adopt
Cd. was that any member Of the Maine
OsteoPa thie Association may prefix the
title doctor or the latter DR." to his
name when accompanied by the word
|Osteorath; and also il was suggested
that IL section of this bill. Senate
Bill IL. on page eight in line II. the
word 81 s't(Sinnnafht hn inc ;1
wouid provide that those practicing
osteorathy might be free from any
Of the medical restrictions provided
they use no poisonous or dangerous
drugs or perform surgical opera tons
and I understand that those things do
not concern this matter because no
Osteopath wishes to use drugs or per-
form surgical operations. Now, gen.
tlemen. yop will see when you consider
the matter that the Osteonaths. if
this bill passes, or If this medical
registration bill liz passes in its present
form, theS will have every right to prac-
tice their profession or art. No one can
restrain them, they will have q right TO
use in connection with 1t the word doc
tor provided, of course they use the
word Osteopathy. Now, Mr.. Speaker, /
believe that is as far at present as we
should go. | believe. and / have been
taught to believe. in equal rights for all
and special privileges for none. Now the
bill which has been reported unanimous
ly. the medical registration bill. gives
equal rights to practice their science to
osteopaths. TO the Christian Scientists, TO
the elairvoyants and to all others men,
toned in that bill. under the same re-
stricuons and with the further right to
Use the word doctor. That is a liberal
measure. | believe ii gives man the
right which ! believe he should have no
matter which school of medicine he wish
es 10 apply to. no matter what kind of a
practitioner he wishes to visit, it gives n
man that right TO employ anyone he sees
fit. and the person whom he employs the
right to heal him in his own manner, and
in that it does not in any way infringe