The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-12-25
URGES STATE LABORATORIES
of State Board of Medical
Examiners Declares That Physicians
Did Not Urge Passage of Law in the
Present Form Favors General Plan.

II. Y. ~. hlPicy VI tHlS City, PItS1-
dent of the state board of medical ex-
aminers and one of the leading physi-
clans of the city, today gave out a
statement in regard to the so-called eu-
|genics marriage law which is to go in
to effect with the opening of the new
year. Dr. Ripley declared that physi-
clans in the state had been misrepre-
sented by statements given out, in re-
gard to the passage Of the law. He
also declared that it would be impos-
sible for the physicians in Kenosha or
any other city in the state to conscien-
tiously make the examinations demand
ed by the statute for the fee of So, as
provided for in the new statute.
must say that the physicians Of
the state have been misrepresented.
Assemblyman Rosa has declared that
this law was passed at the request and
suggestion of physicians. Tt is adj
mitted that many physicians in the
state are in sympathy with this law and
properly enforced / believe it would
be Of great value in promoting public
health. However, no physicians can
conscientiously make the examinations
provided for in the law at the price
of three dollars. It will cost at least
five dollars to have laboratory tests
made to meet the demands of the GER
tifcate and there is no laboratory in
Kenosha or in many other cities in the
state in which these tests may be made.
The local physician if he is to sign the
certificate must send to laboratory.
The cheapest test that I know of in a
laboratory will cost the physician five
dollars and the laboratories which have
been used in the past for such exam
nations charge a higher fee for this
examination. When the physicians sug-
gested the law it was suggested with a
fee which would be suitable to the work
that must be done by the physician.
When the law reached the legislature
the fee was reduced. In fact, L ques-
ton if the law would have passed had
a higher fee been established for max
ing the examinations [ can not see
why man who has never been sub
ject to any of the diseases covered by
the law should submit to the examina-
tion. The law is certain to cause lot
of trouble. 1t appears to me that the
state has not made the proper prepara-
tions to put the law into effect. If a
laboratory test is to be demanded it
should provide state laboratories where
tests may be made. 1t is possible that
laboratories under the direction Of the
state could provide for a Wasserman
test at a cost of three dollars. With
such laboratory the examinations
could be made entirely private The pa
tient seeking them could go quietly to
the laboratory and have the examina-
ton made and there would be no pub
LEFTY connected with the matter. / do
not know whether there will be any
physicians in Kenosha who will be will
ing to make the tests or not but I can
say without any fear of contradiction
that the physicians of Kenosha can not
comply with the demands of the law
at the fee named by the state for the
service to be rendered.
The view Of DR.. Ripley, on account
of his official position in the state, will
be Of great interest to physicians. DIR.
Ripley has always been strongly in
favor of progressive legislation along
health lines and he still declares that
he is in sympathy with the movement
to guard the marriage rite.