Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-20
0STE0PATHS WANT
TO ENTER SERVICE
Bill Pending Ia Allow Drugless Doc
tors Place in Medical Depart
mcnt OF u. s. Army.

4 bill now pending before con,
Rress to allow osteOpathic doctors 10
enter the army service medical de-
partmcnt IL being pushed by mem,
bers Of the osteOpHthic profession.
There are, 1t is stated, In the neigh,
borhood OF two thousand practition,
ers ready TO enter the service, equip
and run their own clinics and hos,
pitfalls
Al the beginning OF the war, Sur
goOn General Gorgas issued an order
admitting Osteopaths to the medical
division of the army, but later, al
the instigation of the American
Medical association. Secretary Baker
caused the order TO be rescinded.
The bill has now come up again,
and In now being pushed 10, the full
est extent by members OF tho osteO-
path1c profession who are anxious TO
get in the service.
Are Anxious TO Go.
The osteopaths express themselves
ns willing and anxious to equip their
own hospital and clinics and stand
the regular medical examination Of
the army. That local osteopaths are
desirous TO be of service 10 the gov.
ernment Is expressed In the follow
Ing letter:
TULSA, June ia Mr.. Eugene
Lorton. Editor Tulsa World, Tulsa,
Okla, Dear Sir: In view OF all that
appears In the public press regard
ing the need OF physicians for army
service, am sure there are many
citizens of unquestionable loyalty
vsh In ina
the attitude OF Secretary Baker and
Surgeon General GorEas in exclud-
ing osteopathic physicians from
consideration.
To those who know about the
curative benefits of osteopathiG
treatment IL is particularly regret
table that there should be at this
time an apparently arbitrary and un-
fair discrimination that operates 20
deny just rights to n competent class
OF physicians and to those who could
be helped by the service they could
render.
Result OF Prejudice.
II Is difficult for. the citizen who
tries to maintain all proper regard
for law and authority to understand
why the government should not
avail itself of all competent means
OF increasing the efficiency OF thu
military medical service speak
from personal knowledge of osteop-
athy as thoroughly scientific
means OF curing ailments. estab-
iished as such according To the eN-
acting laws OF most of the states on
an equal footing with drug practice
"a sta a In HS fkgh Al
any other school OF practice and II
seems only reasonable that In this
great war crisis the national govern
mcnt should recognize the status
given to osteopaths as physicians by
legislatures OF a. states. Is II Not
too bad that mere traditional preJu-
dice should stand in the way of a
willing and capable class Of citizens
doing their bit2 The law regulating
the conduct OF the war department
states that graduates of all reputable
schools of medicine are eligible 10
examination for appointment as ply
sicians. Colleges OF osteopathy are
duly recognized as schools of medi-
cine In the meaning OF the law. The
war department, however. has as
sumed the right to decide that only
graduates of colleges comforting the
degree of NJ. ID, shall be considered
eligible to the medical examination,
Since the war began, more than
1900 osteopaths, | am Informed,
have offered their services to the
government as physicians and have
been rejected They have offered
to equip and maintain clinics In
conneHion with the cantonments
and the offer has been likewise re-
fused Surely this is not as 1t should
be. Osteopaths are graduates of
colleges duly authorized by law to
confer the degree of doctor OF oste-
qpathy and they should be accorded
the same recognition as given to
graduates of other schools. A bill
with this view is now in congress
and whatever you do to bring about
its passage will, | am sure, be ap-
preoIated by many Of your readers,
Yours
J. A. HULL
]. NJ. BERRY,