Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-28


employment of these people, then the
people who employ them should know
that they are employing men who are
what they hold themselves out to be.
do not believe that the medical pro-
fession in Maine are in a position where
they are willing to take these men upon
tie boards and dignity that school as
The alopathic and the homeopathic
schools are dignified today. And l do
not believe that in two years from now
that thing will happen.
| do believe there Is il that profess
sion perhaps certain good qualities in
the practices which they have that may
be well for anyone. but l believe there
are quacks from whom the pub
lic should be protected ard If there
are honest men and women follow
Ing that profession just as there are
honest men and women following the
profession Of trained nurses. that the
public has a right to know who is hon.
est and who is dishonest. | 40 not be-
lieve that every person who holds him
self out as an osteopathic physician is 4
| fraud. | believe there are honest pen-
pie practising that science OF healing, if
you are pleased TO 50 call it.
| / am not speaking for that class Of
people but for the great body of the
| State of Maine who have a right To
| know why they are employing. If there
Is no law against employing these peo-
pie then any person can hold himself
| out and practise those methods and de-
fraud the public.
They may effect cures. or the people
may think that they have effected cures.
4 ii makes no difference as long as both
sides are satisfied.
/ There should be some law to separate
the good from the bad. and if they are
not good they should be excluded.
Il have as high an opinion of the medi-
lcaI profession as | have of my own pro-
lfession, and ] would not stand here and
ask to detract from that profession.
Neither do | wish to be understood as
comparing these osteopaths with the two
! great professions. | believe the people
of the state of Maine should know
whom they employ when they have a
l.choice i'm the matter and can exercise
| that choice.
Gentlemen. if we are not going to re@u-
late these people, let us exclude them
III We are hot EOlilS w 'NNi'NN e''N'''' -
us regulate them. believe it is right
to those who hold themselves out to 40
certain things and that it is only far to
the people of Maine to whom we allow
these people who hold themselves out
10 do certain things.
Mr.. BUTTON of Kennebec Mr.. Presl-
dent, do not care to discuss this ques-
ton at this time or even give my rea-
son for signing the majority report
MANY of the reasons have already been
covered by my colleague on that COM
mittee, and also by the senator from
York. Senator Cole.
rise for the purpose of moving the
acceptance of the majority report.
The PRESIDING OFFICER: The
Chair will state that the motion OF the
senator from Hancock to substitute the
majority for the minority report IS III
order.
Mr.. MOULTON of Cumberland: Mr..
President, the weakest point IN the
American system of medical education
still remains the low requirements VI
preliminary education and speaking gem
orally. no requirement is so poorly en-
forced by our examining boards, emery
because of the difficulty of giving 1ar
value to the credentials from our end
less variety of secondary schools In
vestigation reveals that the "equiVa-
l1ant,. Of n four-year high school eduea-
tion in several states may mean almost
ANYTHING from the fair equivalent down
| to a 20-week course in night sehool ct
| less.
| Five years ago IA states We're allowing
non-sraduates TO take examinations ana
| secure licenses to practice medicine
| Now all states require that candidates
mus be graduates of medical schools
| axcept three. these are MASSACHUSETTS,
Mississippi and Tennessee.
| Tho number of states having more
than one board of medical examiners
has been gradually reduced until now
only len remain
| Everv new school of medicine which
| triee to secure the right to pfAstiee
| medicine invariably holds STANDARDS o.
preliminary and medical education lower
han those already in the field 'Fhat Il
the chief argument against them %
! tho new sect. osteopathY when uH'eF
| the nretsxt that its followers, VIZ;
| moi practicing medicine, has secur'o
| favorable legislation in conslderaple
nnmber Of states uphplds practically no
standards for admission and gives at
most only a three-year course In meqi-
| cine =..-l. ~ ..4-, .,,.,,,,
| One thing that should be clearly oof}i :,
in mind in all discussions OF meuiq"i
| scots namely: Regardless Of the mefh-
DDS or limitations Of treatment empi'Eea'
| nra petitioners are alike in that 'heN
| must make diagnoses-must dltferef'l3te
batween health and disease. To treat
disease without knowing what II is II
merely guess work, is pnseientlilc' Is
dangerous procedure and is an IMPOSE
lion on the patient. For these reasons
there should be one standard set ior an
practitioners of medicine regardless Vi
tho methods of treatment. ana TINS
standard should be sufficiently hlsh 10
guarantee that the practitioner IS anie
10 properly diagnose diseases. 1t he can
con,ply with that standard he should De
Granted license and allowed 10 pra'-
lice by whatever method he chooses IL
ba cannot comply with that standard ne
is a menace u the lives of any VINO
wonld be unfortunate enough to be nus
natients. and for that reason should not
no allowed to practice