Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-14
Petition President and War Depart
mcnt for Recognition
In Army.
WOULD ABANDON rREJUDICEs
Many Cripplcs Of Modern Warfare
Could BE Restored to Usefulness
by Ostcopathic Methods, Says Res
olutions Adopted Unanimously.

questions OF interest discussed were
the place for the ostcoDath in the Ma
tional Army, the duty Of every osteo-
path TO invest in the Liberty loan, and
the election OF officers for the coming
year.
Or. Harry Semones. OF Roanoke. the
president of the Nirg inia society. pre-
sided over all sessions. Dr. Scmoncs
opened the convention by an address
on "A Review of Ostcopathic Progress
and u Glimpse OF Its Future po9sibili-
ties. giving brief resume of it's pho
nomcnal development from It's incep
ton in 1874 IN the mind OF nm army
surgeon, his lone struggle Of eighteen
years. tho birth Of the first school OF
ostcopnthy In 1892. with an enrolment
OF eighteen students. to It's present-day
development as Il science, with some
5000 active practitioners and eight
colleges with AN enrolment Of about
1900 students.
0STEOPATlIS OFFER THEIR
SERVICES TO NATION
special resolutions committee, APP
pointed at the April meeting To- draft
resolutions presenting the cause Of o.
teopnthy to the authorities az Wash
ington. and soliciting their support TO
have ostcupaths who enlist and those
drafted assigned TO rank and service
commensurate with their technical and
scientific training and abilities re-
ported the folio wing resolutions. which
met With UNANIMOUS approval:
Whereas. 70 defend the principles OF
democracy and the common rights Of
mankind against the assaults and ~
ranny Of German autucracy, the Pres
idcnt has called 10 arms our people
and has ordered the mobilization OF
our industrial! economic and aGricul
tural forces. and hns counscicG us TO
Sc, asia" all prejudice" political 1if-
ference ana jcaiousies TO work in
unity for tlc noble purpose; and
"her.ua. 40 Virginia Ostcopatnic
Society eprcu-s Win The ie,,cr and
Split OF Tie Presidents proclamation,
anu holds itse!t eady TO serve. and
does hereby offer TO the President It's
profess iona! advice and services: and
Whereas. the way 10 service in the
medical COPS has not We, been opened
TO oateopath!c surgeons and physicians,
and has. in fact. been closed 20 all
rave graduates G: the dominant SCHOOL
OF medicine. and.
Whereas, th!rty-threc months os war
has huTdcned the government OF sew
erLl European nations WIRE. ;he Grip
pies OF modern warfare, many OF these
suffering from Injuries peculiarly
h!nenable to the methods OF osteopath!c
surgeons and physicians. and less likely
under these methods TO become a bur
den and expense 10 their countries; and
WOULD ABANDON ALL
PROFESSIONAL PREJUDICI:S
Whereas, for both Humanitarian and
economic reasons professional jcai-
ous!cs and prejudice should be ahan-
doned and all the skill. science and ar;
at the nations command should be en-
pioyei for tho care or our valiant man
hood tina: Will fight on European bat
tie fields for the safety OF democracy.
Therefore, be IL resolved. that the
Pres!dcn, Of the United States. the Sec
re,ary OF War. the members OF Con-
Grcss representing Virginia, the Gov
ernor OF the state OF Virginia. and
the members OF the State Legislature
be peti,ioned 10 use their influence
and power to provide ways ana means
for the admission into the army and
navy medical reserve OF osteopath!c
surgeons and physicians, that they may
serve their country in a manner con-
sistent with occupationai fitness and
tempc-anenta! aptitude. and 20 a de.
gree commensurate with the rccogn!-
ton that has been accorded oestopathic
surgeons and physicians by the civil
population and the legislatures Of the
several States: and
BE !. further resolved, that IN pro
viding requirements for osteopa,hic
surgeons and physicians entering tho
service. the same standards and
critcr!a he established as at prcsen,
pertain. and from time 10 time are made
10 pertain. to a!lonathic graduates. And
tice Of this petition we invite fair
and Impartial! investigation OF the cur
r!cula. facilities and equipment of our
osteopothic colleges; and
Be II further resolved, that to pro-
vide for those members OF the osteo-
pathic profession who have signihed a
desire for immediate service, provision
nc made for the immediate acceptance
OF one or more units composed of
osteopathic surgeons. physicians and
nurses. or for their acceptance in tho
army and navy medical corps in a ca
pacity commensurate with their train
ing. experience and fitness
GEORGE e. FOUT d. o.,
vice-President.
l. c. MCCOY. n. O..
Secretary Treasurer.
NJ. T.. RICHARDSON, d. O.,
III. S. BECKLER. -. O..
EDWIN II. SHACKLEFORD. D. O..
Committee on Resolutions
DISCUSSES MILITARY
NEED OF OSTEoPATuy
Apropos OF the paramount problem
OH the minds Of all thinking people.
the war. DR.. George W. Riley, of New
York City. president of the American
Osteopathic Association, delivered n
thrilling address on Tho Military
Need OF Osteopathic Clinics" DR.. Riley
pointed out that many conscripts are
rejected for conditions that would
promptly respond to osteopathic meth
DDS and henee be available for future
drafts; also, many injured in service.
who would otherwise be invalided ont
OF the army and become a burden and
expense 10 the government could he
restored TO service by ostcopathtc
physicians to saving to the country
in men and expense. DR.. Riley empha-
sized that representative osteopaths
who have conferred with the army and
navy authorities, the surgeon-gcnerars
office, Secretary CT War and other OIL
Gals In Washington are asking no ia
vors for osteopathy. asking only that
the osteopathic physician be permitted
to show his qualification by taking the
same examinations as are prescribed
for the older school OF practice. The
plea is not that tho osteopaths want
to do work that is already being well
done, but to let them in to do work