Evening star., 1918-11-03
RIGHT SYSTEM
OF MEDICAL MUSEUM

LIVERY one is familiar with the
term "patent-rights" and its gen.
eral application in the Industrial and
mechanical arts. Almost every one has
an idea of the meaning Of copyright
and the implied protection Of the
written word. That the copyright does
not protect in the strict sense is also
generally accepted. though the pres
ent law is as nearly perfect as pos
sible. But few people know that. diff
fering and apart from patent or copy.
rights. the keen perception of a
Washington man. DR.. William O.
Owen, has devised protection of
ideas, theories and half-formulated
modes of procedure in that most USE
full of all branches of human endeav-
or, medical science. This system, which
Is original and unique, has been es-
tablished at the Medical Museum by
Its present curator. DR.. Owen, and is
the first attempt to safeguard intel
lectual property. which is altogether
intangible, that is. not reducible to
written torn which could insure en-
trance under copyright or material
form which could be made into
patent.
Briefly outlined, this system pre-
~ 10 dll ludI Is uOH0
IN laboratories or clinics by members
or the medical profession who occupy
positions on the teaching staff Of rep
utable American institutions. For in
stance, physician is convinced that
certain treatment for dyphtheria Is an
ADVANCE on methods hitherto employed.
III after sufficient Investigation and
experiment he is convinced that his
theory Is new and valuable, he de-
scrlbes the course of these investiga-
tlons and experiments and their re-
suits, gives full information on every
detail and In word. furnishes a
complete and candid history of his
discovery. This Is then entered under
the physician's name and the data Is
as much his property as his watch,
his clothing or Office paraphernalia.
ANY member of the medical profession
Is at liberty to consult these docu-
gives full credit to the originator.
Fa1iure to do this or to appropriate
IN the slightest way the ideas and
methods recorded in the Medical Mu-
scum brings upon the offender a direr
penalty than those meted out for in
fringement on patent or copyrights.
nts accruing to members Of good
standing In that repository of knowl-
edge which the Medical Museum rep
resents for the American profession.
Dr. owen Is careful to explain that
me me museum Is only custodian OF
junction Is only 10 protect them in
the moral as well as the material
sense. II two physicians reach the
same conclusions about the treatment
OF a certain disease simultaneously.
Or. Owen makes no attempt to de-
eide the priority of the claim. Both
are entered in the usual way and nm
DER the date the originators determine.
Neither does the STAFF at the museum
inuorse and take over the findings
IN these recorded formula. On the
contrary, the eminent physicians on
the stan OF the surgeon general often
reach opposite conclusions from the
same line of investigation and expert
ment. This does not affect the stand
ing Of the formula entered nor re-
duce its relative value as discovery.
Both ways are open for the new and
inexperienced. The museum has
literally millions Of this form Of data
bearing on the advance of medical
science IN tho past forty years. and
absolute knowledge that the ply
sicians of this country are now writ
Ing their part In the history of the
great world war.
DR.: William Owen, the curator, is
rounding out career Of high achieve
ment and adventure in perfecting
every detail connected with his mu-
scum. After working out this method
and inaugurating an index catalogue
which Is so simple and complete that
the vefiest tyrO can use 1t with sue
cess, he has turned his attention to
n system of elaboration which calls
for the use of the most powerful and
complex lens known in the moving
picture business.