Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-03-07
osTEoPATns AND THE WAR

pllla nave been giving much OF
their space to Il conflict caused
by the governor of Pennsylvania
an osteopath TO serve
ON the draft board with four med
ical' doctors.
The medical society of which
they are members have threaten
ed them With expulsion unless
they refuse to serve with an os-
This board has the largest dis
trlct in the state of Pennsylvania.
having 600 men registrants and
il is a great sacrifice for all of
these doctors. but they took their
protests against expulsion from
the medical society TO Washing-
ton. a letter from the office of
Provost Marshal Growder sus-
lains the board and the governor
and asks prompt information ii
expulsion results. The press of
Philadelphia have criticised the
Philadelphia County Medical So
cicty members for their actions,
and the appeal to President Will
SON and General Growder has gil
ven added recognition of Ostco-
pathy from the Government.
Surgeon General Gorgas was
formerly president of the Amcri-
can Medical Association and he
agreed to give appointments to
ostcopaths il they succeeded in
passing the examinations given
the medical applicants. 1t rcquir-
ed hard fight to get even this
right granted our profession; but
undoubtedly he considered our
members were unequal to such
tests. Every ID. O. who took the
examination passed. When Cen
cral Gorgas ordered that no more
papers be graded as he would not
appoint them officers of the Med
ical Corps as he had previously
agreed. He contcnded that if such
was given us, then
The druggists and the nurses also
would want special commissions
granted their departments, etc.
Ii congress gets a chance to
vote upon the bill before it, we
have little doubt we will have suf-
ficent votes to enact it as a law,
but with such Influence as is pos
sible from the A. M. A. and its
political advisors opposing our
rights it means a big task.
We have been asked by some,
what those osleopaths are doing
who happen to be serving in the
in the army.
Much depends upon what sort of
medical officers they have over
them. Some officers are seeking
osleopaths assistance i'm their
work in the hospitals.
One OF the high officers OF the
French medical corps is organ
lZlng an osleOpaihic corps, and is
seeking recruits from This coun-
have seen tho great good done by
the very few they happen to have
there, and they and England have
shown much appreciation of os-
tcopathy. 1t is true that but a
small percentage of d. O's. arc
surgeons, but certainly a vast
number of the medical men are
not surgeons, and surgery is not
the Whole work of medical Off
GERS.
When we attended the National
Ostcapathic convention at Chic
ago a few years ago, Il challenge
was issued The medical hospitals
of The land, asking that 100 cases
of pneumonia be treated by The
osteopaths and an equal number
by the medical methods; and q
comparison OF results be publish
ed to the world; the challenge as
yet has been refused.
1t is believed most sincerely
that the pitiful mortality from
pneumonia could have been anG
should have been lowered in oul
cantonments had the soldiers on
Ely been allowed ostcopathic treat
ment.
EX-presidenls of the UnitcC
States, governors, financiers, ant
statesmen, have done much tt
help our soldiers get recognition
of their rights to obtain ostcopa,
thic treatment when they wish i
in our army hospitals, but thu:
far they have failed.
Contagious diseases OF all kim
including spinal meningitis coul'
have been greatly controlled hat
they been allowed ostcopaths Il
assist in their treatment.
ID. DIS. in France have don,
wonderful work for the nervou!
wrecks, shell shock, trench feet
deafness, insanity (yes insanity
and practically every kind of af
Fiction following injuries Incl
dent to war.
We believe publicity of such in
justice is necessary for its cor
|rcction. We know we must figh