The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-16
PRESS COMMENT
For the Protection of the

LllldlC LIt6LlSelNcS ulIISi Tic tlotIIlS VI d
medical college or university of medi-
cine and issue their diplomas to grad
uates," and if they are of one of the
five schools" now having separate eX-
amining boards in Florida, the matter
of license to practice under that di-
ploma is only a matter of arrangement
with the board. That most of these five
boards are functioning for the protec-
ton of the health Of Florida, and for
the honor of the schools they represent
is also true; but 1t is a painful fact
that there are among them those who
have preyed on the people, and who
have been punished by the courts of
the state. without being deprived of
the power to continue such preying.
1t has become a notorious fact that
in Kansas City and in Baltimore are
Colleges" or universities" OF medicine
where the matter of a diploma is mere
ly a matter of dollars and cents. 1t has
been established by evidence in the
courts of this state that with the di
ploma of these colleges" or "univer-
sites" goes the guarantee of admission
to practice granted by the board of
examiners of the particular school in
Florida from which the diploma issues.
IL Is d ldCt llldI SIlCIl COlI-
ditions in the profession of curative
and preventive medicine, as exist in
Florida, as we'll as such conditions as
exist in the practice of surgery, are
impossible in any other state except
Arkansas. 1t is further stated on good
authority that Florida is becoming the
dumping ground for all the quacks,
shysters, takers and other imposters in
hot
takes precedence over Arkansas in the
number here and coming annually.
Florida, being a winter and health
resort state, naturally is most attrac-
tive and a valuable hunting ground for
these who prey on the despair, and the
hope of the sick and afflicted in body
and mind. Florida, because of its
promise as a place for the recupera-
ton and health building Of the people,
should guard more jealousy than any
other state the honor of it's good name
as a curative and life giving place.
Florida is suffering dishonor, and is
become a party to fraud, every time it
is possible for a fakir of a quack to
practice his INSCRIPTIONS profession
on the i'll or the fancied indisposed. 1t
Is the duty of Florida to stop the
>
ancient and honorable title of doctor"
now pouring into the state, and to
make it so impossible for them that
diploma from a medical college" or
university" which can be bought for
$3.50 to $500 with guarantee of license
to practice in Florida, will but stamp
them as imposters and be primafacie
! evidence of attempt to defraud the
means to establish a practice.
The trouble here is that each So
called, school of medicine" has its own
examining board There are five of
them. Each takes care, naturally, of
its own graduates" be they really
fitted or only qualified through having
paid the price required for the paper.
There are just four medical boards
of examiners too much!
The supreme court Of Florida is the
examining board for all the would-be
lawyers who would practice in Florida.
The constitutional lawyer. the corpo-
ration lawyer the criminal lawyer the
title examination and realty lawyer, all
these take the same examination. be-
fore the same body. The state board
Of education examiners pass on the
qua Oh tine LedCnGTS VINO
would find employment in the public
graded schools, the public high schools
and the public rural common schools.
The same examination is before them
as the test of efficiency.
But in the matter of the health and
life of the people, we permit every
School of medicine to pass on the
qualifications of their own crowd. This
i-
is but one remedy for it.
There must be a composite board of
medical examiners. composed of every
school recognized in the realms of
remedial or preventive medicine as
possessing merit and value. This board
must have the power 10 examine most
severely the candidate before Il, and
should have the exclusive power to
grant licenses or to withhold licenses.
And the present Florida legislature
will be remiss in it's duty to the peo-
pie, and a traitor to the trust reposed
in 1t to preserve the honor and good
reputation inherent in Florida, II it
does not pass such bill as will put
the licensing OF would-be medical
practitioners in the hands OF one board
composed of accredited members Of the
time Is come when empiricisrn in Flor
ida. at least with regard to the life
and health Of the people, must be put
stop to.---Tampa Tribune.
income For Five
In family Of five persons. the wage
Garner. his wife and their three chill
dren, are TO live in barely decent com
fort there must be an annual wage in
come of s2.334, announces a research
agency acting for labor organizations.
Under the estimate s6ss a year Is al
lowed for food. 1898 for clothing. s443
for rent. $50 for light and heat. $50 for
household equipment and $3.50 for mis-
cellaneons expenses.
1.-THE family is allowed no expendi-
ture for books and magazines SAYS
the report. "Only one dafhy paper is
included. The doctors bill for the en-
tire family must not exceed $50. The
boy Of twelve may have eight haircufs