New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-08
diploma" Factory
Made Physicians,
Police Declare
Any One Having the Money
Could Become a Profess
sional, Says Inspector

A full-hcdged diploma factory that
worked seven days week and did not
believe in keeping union hours mas
been in operation in New YORK. for some
time. according to the police. Hand
made physicians, dentists and phar-
macists were the particular product Of
the factory"
4 painstaking Investigation by In
spector Louis Cohen, of the Health De
partment. resulted IN Assistant District
Attorney Tompkius going before the
grand jury yesterday and asking for
indictments against Or" Nicholas
Clements, Of 400 West Broadway, on
charges OF forgery and grand larceny.
The action Of the Assistant District At
torney follows the arrest Of OR
Clements a few days ago on the charge
OF selling a spurious product which he
labelled reo-salyarsan.
Tho arrest of four alleged physicians
during the last few weeks on the charge
of practising medicine without license
led TO the Health Departments invest
CATION of DIR" Clements and resulted
in uncovering the workings of the
diploma factory
Says Diploma Cost $500
Each OF the four "physicians" ex-
hibited diplomas issued By the Eclectic
Board Of Medical Examiners" Isaac A.
Lazinsky. of East Ninth Street, the first
OF the four arrested. asserted he had
paid Clements $1,000 for his diploma.
The next case to come 10 the attention
of the Health Department involving
Clements was that Of G.. Lacavora, OF
1893 First Avenue, who made an affidavit
that he had paid $1,000 to Clements for
his diploma"
A short time after Lacayora's arrest
Brooks Forester Norwood and Stanley
Tomassell fell into he hands of the au-
thoritieS. Each claimed 10 have paid
Clements $500 for his certificate.
The investigation Of Inspector Cohen
was then set under way. and, as a re-
suit, he obtained what Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Tompkins believes 10 be
conclusive evidence that the diploma
factory" has existed more than 2 year.
In his investigation Inspector Cohen
says he found that il was apparently a
simple matter to obtain one of the
diplomas"
II was matter Of no consequence TO
Clements whether you had been a rib
bon counter clerk or a high class day
laborer-if you had enough money you
could secure one Of his diplomas" and
he ISSUED them quite as promptly 10
those who wanted to be dentists or
desired to practice medicine, the po-
lice charge.
Investigation To Sc Made
In commenting on the arrest Of
Clements and the exposure of his "di-
ploma factory" Health Commissioner
Haven Emerson said he had been un-
able 70 secure an accurate estimate Of
the number OF men and women in the
city who are now practising "a physj-
clans and dentists without licenses. He
said the exposure Of the factory
would undoubtedly lead 10 thorough
investigation by the State Department
of Education, which has been coopera-
ing IN the Investigation which led 10
+ Cleme1ts's arrest.
at is not at all creditable % the
medical profession that so extensive a
diploma factory should have operated
in New York 50 long without detec-
ton said Commissioner Emerson.
The new law places the enforcement
Of the medical practice act on the va
rious county medical societies, as well
as upon the State Department Of Edu-
cation"
Clements. the po,.ce say. is not 4
graduate physician and has no license
to practise medicine. lie was an in
spector in 1902 for the New York State
N.Ifr.I As.ngforior