The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-01-26

easy and safe a prUccdur6 Can not
the editors and members Of the med.
ica1 profession get together Tor the
national good? A large proportion
of the public takes il for granted that
persons licensed by the state to care
for the sick people are in a ceraiu
sense guaranteed by the state. This
is true Of the modern physician, who
must pass a rigid examination after
having devoted four years to academ-
ic work and FIVE to medical school and
internship often with a graduate
course.
A Word ON CULTS.
The followers Of a few cults, who
are dependent on advertising for pat
rcnage, have a limited preliminary
education, and have spent a few
months in the study of their special
cult, such as the chiropractOr with
less education, who has taken the
spine out of osteOpathy. The chiro-
practor, from his limited horizon, be-
lieves that all disease is due to very
rare condition Of nerve pressure
caused by displaced rib attachment
or slipped vertebra. These very per-
sistent persons have, in fact, studied
a far fewer number Of months than
the trained nurse, who knows a great
deal more than they concerning dis
ease and its cure. 1t is fortunate for
chiropractors that they have thus far
avoided the treatment Of animals,
especially those with contagious dis
cases. Ii would be interesting indeed
to see them treating the spine Of ami
mails for blackleg, or glanders, or to
see them treat hogs dying of cholera,
and chickens with limberneck or pip,
by replacing slipped vertebrae. 1t
would do such practitioners no harm
TO know more concerning the funda-
mentals of such branches Of radical
science as are Interchangeable and in
which the facts are fixed. All persons
who are licensed to treat the diseases
of men should take the same mini
mum medical examination in order
to show their ability to diagnose dis
ease and protect the public, regard
less of the method of treatment. In
addition to this, special examination
given by their special boards should
be required for the practice Of par
ticular cults, as is now done in the
State Of Kentucky. In calling atten-
tion to the fact that disease is micro
bic in origin, regardless of whether
the living cell involved is a part of
man, of animal, or of plant, | am ap-
pealing to our intelligent people.
HEALTH SERVICE.
A national board Of health was
created by Congress in 1878 follow
ing the yellow fever epidemic but,
through lack Of appropriations, it
ceased to function and was later
merged into the Marine hospital SER
vice. In 1898 this service was incor-
porated under the Treasury Depart
ment as the Public Health Service.
| At present this board of health is an
efficient department under the Sur
geon General Cummings, and has
charge of much of the excellent work
Of caring for disabled veterans. Con-
gress has been inconsistent in the
care with which it controls public
works. Boards are at times devel-
oped and in emergencies committees
are appointed with authority but with
out appropriations, or with great ap-
preparations and no authority. These
unfortunate conditions to large ex-
tent hold true of the thirty-four
boards, bureaus, and committees now
existing in Washington in charge of
medical affairs. Their work lacks
coordination and is wasteful 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 uniRcation. The fear of losing
these sinecures is unwarranted, since
: all such employees would be needed
in the greater organization for ma
= tional health. The necessity for ma
tonal educational supervision was
shown by the illiteracy of Is per cent
of our draft recruits, and hence our
r educators have asked for a special
. cabinet officer. Health and education
are inSeparable during childhood and
> school life, and it is of exceedingly
; serious import to our efficiency as a
{ nation to find that so little care has
. been given to the physical education
/. of our youth that SO per cent of those
, in the third decade of life were in,
S capacitated for military service be
:. cause of disease, in most instances
$ preventable Lack of education may
8 be recovered from, but disease otter
: leaves permanent disability.
e The ROCHESTER PLAN.
: One of the most important Of city
Il officials is the Health Officer. Hi:
e duties are many in the enforcement
: of laws to protect the health of citi
= zens against unnecessary disease
E contaminated milk, and other food
r The plan for financing the health Off
y Ger of Rochester may be applied If
/ anv small citv The uarhqoA of tht