The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-01-26


tice. There are no drug or medical
advertisements in the newspapers of
Kentucky not certified by the State
Board of Health. How easy and safe
a procedure. Can not the editors and
members of the medical profession get
together for the national good. A
large proportion of the public takes it
for granted that persons licensed by
the state to care for sick people are in
a certain sense guaranteed by the
state. This is true Of the modern
physician, who must pass a rigid *
animation after having devoted four
years of academic work and five to
medical school and internship often
with a graduate course.
The followers of a few cluts, who are
dependent on advertising for patron
age, have a limited preliminary educa-
ton, and have spent a few months
in the study of their special cult, scuh
as the chiropractor with less education,
who has taken the spine out of Osteo-
pathy. The chiropractor, from his
limited horizon, believes hat all dis
ease is due to the very rare condition
Of nerve pressure caused by a dis
placed rib attachment or slipped
vertebra. These very persistent per-
sons have, in fact, studied a far fewer
nurse, who knows a great deal more
than they concerning disease and its
cure. 1t is fortunate for chiropractors
that they have thus far avoided the
treatment of animals, especially those
with contagious diseases. It would
be interesting indeed to see them
treating the spine of animals for black
leg, or CHAMBERS, or to see them treat
hogs dying with cholera, and chickens
with timber neck or pip, by replacing
slipped vertebrate. 1t would do such
practitioners no harm to know more
concerning the fundamentals Of such
branches of radical science as are
Interchangeable and in which the facts
are fixed. All persons who are licen-
sed to treat the diseases of men
should take the same minimum Of med
ical examination in order to show their
ability to diagnose disease and protect
the public regardless of the method
of treatment, in addition to this,
special boards should be required for
the practice Of particular cults. as is
now done in the state Of Kentucky.
In calling attention to the fact that
disease is micrObic in origin, regard
less of whether the living cell involved
is a part of man, of animal, or of plant,
| am appealing to our intelligent
people.
A national board Of health was
created by Congress in 1878 following
the yellow fever epidemic but, through
lack of appropriations it ceased to
function and was later merged into
the Marine hospital service. In 1893
this service was incorporated under
the Treasury Department as the Public
Health Service. At present this board
of health is an efficient department
under the Surgeon General Cummings,
and has charge of much Of the excell-
ent work of caring for disabled veter,
ans. Congress has been inconsistent
in the care with which it controls
public works. Boards are at times
developed and in emergencies com
mittees are appointed with authority
but without appropriation, or with
great appropriation and no authority.
These unfortunate conditions to a
large extent held true of the thirty
four boards, bureaus, and committees
nov existing in Washington in charge
of medical affairs. Their work lacks
coordination and Is w~asteful in the
overlapping of responsibilities and
duties: but the persons holding such
positions are backed By their friends
in Congress, and will resist any effort
at %unification. The fear of losing these
%sinecures is unwarranted, since all
employees would be needed in the
greater organization for national
health. The necessity for national
educational supervision vas shown by
the illiteracy of rs per cent Of our
draft recruits, and hence our educa,
tors have asked for a special cabinet
! nAInnr II1a1 .~I nI,nnfinn - in