The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-12-11
WAR WILL BE WAGED
ON BOGUS" DOCTORS
25 THOUSAND "QUACKS" ARE
PRACTICING AT MEDICINE
THROUGHOUT U. S.
DIPLOMA" MATTER OF CASH


Jury Makes Investigation
Thousands of bogus doctors" all
over the country are just now sitting
an the anxious seat, wondering wheth-
er the long arm of the law is going
to reach out and grab them off their
oedcstals.
"Fakes''-"q uacks''- criminals" are
words being hurled at them, and the
advice that is going forth over the
land is this:
When you're i'll, be sure Of your
doctor"
Fake Diplomas.
1t has been discovered that because
man has medical diploma is no
SIGN that he is doctor. Chautfeurs,
io]mer bartenders, soda fountain
clerks. statesmen, photographers and
even plumbers and automobile me-
rhanics have secured diplomas for
prices ranging from SIS to $1,000 and
set themselves up as tphyslclans.
Authorities in Connecticut believe
that in the last five years 200 deaths
can be ascribed to the activities OF
bogus doctors in that state alone.
One case in that state is typical.
DR." Sutcliffe practiced medicine in
the town Of Unionville. On the wall
hung diploma, a medical certificate
and other papers testifying to the tact
that the doctor" was a sure-enough
man Of medicine. His office had a
medical smell, and the man himself
looked the part, though he was Grip
pied in one leg, which couldn't be
I..l1 him
Came to his office one Albert {.
Hoody, a world war veteran. The
patient had crushed finger.
On the Operating Table.
The doctor" placed the man on the
operating table after being assured ne
could pay the fee. 1t is reported that
five cans of ether were administered.
The patient died. The alleged doctor
has been arrested and is being held
on the charge of manslaughter.
The whole thing started in St.
louis Mo. Harry Thompson Brun-
DICE, a reporter of the Kansas City
No) Star, was sent to the former
ctv to investigate the activities OF
faEe doctors-of "quacks" as they are
popularity known. :,
Brundige dropped his real name and
called himself Thompson He had
his throat inoculated with something
or other, causing it to become nttam-
ed Then he bandaged his neck and
anplied at the home of Or" Robert
Adcox, suspected OF being take prac-
titoner.
The doctor" made a show OF treat
inc the patients throat. Meantime the
aqticnt began a conversation tie sara
4 he always had a hankering to be a
doctor but unfortunately circumstance
e., had prevented him from realizing
hi, lies ambition. incidentally the
patient mentioned that he had SI,ZoO
he would spend in order to Obtain MS
n cherished ambition.
DR." Adcox was interested the mo
mcnt the $1,000 was mentioned
schooling is the bunk" said Adcox'
The latter introduced the patient to
Il another doctor" who introduced HIM
+ to a few more doctors and alter
n parting with his $1,000 a diploma,
slowing that he was. physician
Fl was produced.
University Implicated.
The investigation revealed that Ad-
n cox. Dr. Noigt, a Professor Sachs
and others were interested in selling
II medical diplomas to anybody who was
n able to pay the price B. II. Jolly, SUI
Derintendent of schools of St. Charles
n county. Mo-, was implicated. He sold
& diplomas to the ring purportng 10
show the applicants for diplomas had
u a high school education.
authorities have discovered that the
"A Oriental University of Washington
ID { is or was. diploma mill. D1-
plomas were sold on the following
basis Diplomas. first class, $3.50; sec
ond class. $500; third class, $3.50.
If an applicant had the money 1t
wa, dead easy to get a diploma. Then
he won1d 90 to so-called easy
state and obtain a certificate allow
81 ing him to practice Connecticut was
FL called such state. While some OF
n 1cials say that 200 deaths were caus-
81 ed by uuacks in the last five years.
II others say that 200 quacks practlncnmagg
81 in that state caused as high as lO,OOO
deaths in the last ten years
Number Enormous.
State authorities have consulted with
federal authorities, and nationwide
Investigation OF quack doctors rs Is |
n promised. 1t is estimated that Z9'OVo
take physicians are practlcing through
out the country. They are men VINO
know as much about doctorlng as an
automobile mechanic knows about
Which brings up the subject OF
dentistry. An investigation is under
way in New York city which has al,
ready revealed that many so-calied
& dentists are practicing in that CITY
when they have no right nor the prop
er skill and knowledge emitting them
to hang out their shingles. One worc
man paid dentist by the name OF
Linton" $3.50 to fxe her teeth sev-
eral months ago, and she testihed. she
has been suffering agonies eve. since.
Another patient had to have his Jaw
bone removed after fraudulent dent
ia 81, treated his teeth. ar, ),
While the majority of the. take
doctors and dentists are confined 10
Sonnecticut. New York. Florida, Ar
kansas, Colorado and Utah, there are
some in every state and in almost ev-
Fy big city in the country.