The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-24
PUBLIC OPINION

To the Editor of The Farmer:
 At the Tuberculosis Conference re- gently held in New Haven, health in surance received a share of attention. The proposed plan provides that every man whose income does not exceed $1 200 per annum, pay $2 yearly for health insurance, he and his family to receive medical treatment by a phy- sician employed by the state.
 It is significant that each speaker who favored the plan, forcefully em- phasized the need of the proposed law containing a compulsory clause. This accords with the opinion of other pro- ponents, for it's advocates all agreed that it could not become operative without compulsion.
 Does it not seem strange that plan which we are told promises to so greatly reduce disease, and result in enormous financial savings to both employe and employer, and the state as well, in short 8 grand humanitarian movement, should require legislative enactment of compulsory Character to make itN effective? It is evident that those most interested anticipate that some individuals will not favor the plan. And does not the reason lie in tho fact that the record of medi- cine does not give to it the right to be esta ablished by the state as the only healing system which may be used by it's citizens?
 If during the past centuries material medicine had attained that degree of success which would merit this retog- nition by the state, such recognition would be entirely unnecessary. Like wise there would be no necessity to compel the people to submit to health insurance.
 H. A. Behrens, vice-president of the Continental Insurance company, who has investigated the movement to es- tablish health insurance, has stated that it Is "A ropaganda of the social service council (another name for leg islative committee, which it succeed ed), of the American Medical associa- tion," and heA also adds, 'It seems to be an effort to fasten upon the cotn- try the compulsory adoption of par ticular school of medicine" These statements can be better appreciated when it is understood, that notwith- the American Medical asso- citation comprises only about 40 per cent. of the allopathic physicians in
 
 health service, and its members hold a majority of the health officessof the different states. It is this 40 per cent. of the members of one school of medi- cine which is asking that the work ing man and his family be compelled to receive medical treatment accord ing to the theories of this particular system. These are the doctors who former methods of drug ging are now also endeavoring to con- pei the adoption of iSerum Theraphy'' so-called or inoculation for the "pre- vention" of disease, respecting which the following interesting quotation is from W. Van R. Blighton, M. D., medical society vice-president, who re- ferring to infantile paralysis said:
 Concerning the cause of this dis ease. think my professional brothers will be somewhat startled when sug- gest the thought that the present epi- demic of infantile paralysis may have been caused by smallpox vaccinations You smile, but why should the disease become epidemic in New York city and endemic thoughout nearly the en- tire country so soon after the whole sale process of vaccination? 1 simply throw out this thought for you to quibble, laugh or ponder over. It may furnish you food for candid reflection, since we know that tuberculosis has increased 300 per cent, skin diseases 276 percent, and cancer 600 per cent. since the Introduction of compulsory You. cannot inject the matter obtained from decayed animal tissue into the blood, without corrupt ing the whole volume of that circulat- ing vitalizing f1uid.''
 Health insurance, as proposed, strikes at the very foundation of true democracy, which gives to all both re- ligious and medical freedom. The right to worship God according to the dictates of ones own conscience, and the right to choose the. method by which one shall be ministered unto in sickness are identical and inseparable. They are inherent rights which no leg islation can rightfully annul or inn pair.
 At the present time there is large and growing class of people, who pre- fer systems wherein drugs are not used. It is obvious that such a law as is advocated would deprive one of the right to be healed by any of. these systems. Among the class referred to 1 are many thousands, who after years of faithful endeavor to obtain health | by means of medical treatment, have | as a last resort turned to God and ex- oeriepced spiritual healing. A pro- posal to make praying for the sick a | crime demands the earnest and | thoughtful consideration of every cit zen.
 Yours for Medical Freedom,
 GEORGE A. LAW.
 New Haven, Conn.,, Oct. "A, 1916.