The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-01-26
4 FEDERAL HEALTH BOARD.

out protest. Reports of organized
resistance come from all parts of tn.
country, and it may be that the oppo
sltlon will soon be sufficiently solidi
ned to defeat project that promises
Infinite mischief for the community
and suffering and injustice for the in
diyidual.
The proposal is based upon those
speclous claims that are VIGOROUSLY
hard to controvert. II federal health
board were to confine it's activities to
the PRONUNCIATION Of salutary advice
upon hygienic matters, to the abate-
ment OF quackery, and to the purity of
drugs, 1t 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 1t will attempt to do far more
than this seeing that it's adherents
have loudly proclaimed their inten-
tons. Indeed, there is no secrecy
about them. 1t is confidently expected
that the board will consist Of advo-
Gates Of one school of medicine only
~SAAN Shot tHc uicluOOS Vi IHdL SCHOOL
will be not only recommended. but
enforced upon the nation Indeed a
board that was in any way representa-
tive Of the medical profession as a
whole would be stultified by its own
disagreements Outside the domain
OF simple hygiene, for which we need
no federal board at ALL there Is no
single point of medical practice upon
which allopaths, homeopathic, eclectics
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 only.
and this means that 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
school OF medicine, If we are to as
sert that the government of the Unit
ed states favors one variety Of prac-
t1ce more than others, why not estab-
fish also a sect OF religion and be-
stow special authorities upon Bap-
lists. Methodists and Episcopalians?
An established school of religious
conjecture seems somewhat less OBJ
Jecuonable than an established sect
OF pseudo-scientifc conjecture.
Those who suppose that a federal
board OF health would have no concern
with individual rights are likely to
md themselves undeceived 1t is for
the purpose OF interfering with indi-
v1dual rights that the proposal has
been made. We need no special
knowledge Of conditions to be aware
that what may be called unorthodox
methods OF healing have made sad in
roads into the orthodox. Homeopathy
claims vast number Of adherents
who are just as well educated and Just
as intelligent as those who adhere to
the older school. Osteopathy. eclecti-
clsm, 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
under the general and vague
name OF mental healers. Those who
are addicted to any of these forms of
unorthodoxy need have no doubt as
to the purposes of the federal health
board. Those purposes are to make
t difficult for them to follow their
particular fads and fancies, to lead
hem, and If necessary to drive them,
rom medical unorthodoxy to medical
Now the Argonaut holds no brief
or any of the excuses and the super
'titions connected with the care of the |
body in which this age is so rife. But
I does feel concerned for the preser-
ration of human liberty and for the |
tights Of the individual to doctor him |
'elf in any way he pleases so long as
lie does not Individually threaten the
health of the community. He may
axe large doses or small ones or no
loses at all; he may be massaged.
Inointed with oil, or prayed over. Just
IS the whim of the moment may die
ate. and probably it makes no par
icle OF difference which he does. But
lie has the right to choose, Just as he
hooses the color of his necktie or the
haracter of his underclothing. II ia
lot matter in which any wise gov
will seek to interfere. This
precisely the liberty that the health
oard intends to take from him.
orthodox medicine, conscious of its
osses, is trying to buttress itself by
ederai statute, to exalt allopathy to
ne status of a privileged caste. and
o create an established school of
Medicine just as some other countries
ave allowed themselves to create an
established school of religion. II is
or the common sense of the commu-
lty TO rebuke that effort and to re-
'el an unwarranted invasion upon ele-
lentary human rights.-San Fran
tSco Ar0ondut
A Drain of the COMPANY