The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-09

ease. It does feel that there should be a single standard of Fundamental knowledge, of preliminary education, of education in anatomy. physiology, bacteriology and pathology which are basic sciences; of diagnosis and of preventive medicine. Let us ex- anime the evidence and see what states have established loophole li- censing boards for the accommoda tion of poorly qualified physicians
 0 0 O
 states Which Attract.
 In Arkansas during the last five years 150 graduates of low-grade medical colleges have been licensed to practice medicine. In this state 147 were licensed by the eclectic board of medical examiners and only by the regular board. Eclecticisnl is a system of medicine now practi- cally extinct, which is based on the belief that there is a special single remedy for every disease. It involves the use of many plant substances. and scientific study has shown that many of the plant remedies employed have no action whatever.
 In California during the past five years 342 graduates of low-grade in- stitutions were licensed.
 In Colorado 106 graduates of Class c medical schools have been li- censed.
 have been Licensed.
 In Massachusetts 146 Class grad mates have been licensed.
 In Missouri Al Class c graduates have been licensed g
 In Texas 112 lowgrade graduates haze been licensed in the five-year period, of whom only If were li- censed by examination, while were licensed by reciprocity.
 RsciprocIty In Medical Lieensure.
 Before proceeding with the case of Connecticut, 1t may be desiranie 10 explain this matter of reciprocity. There are two ways in which & can didate may obtain license to prac- flee medicine: one, by passing an ex- amina ton in the state in which ne wishes to practice; the other. by op- taining license in one state, walt ing a suitable time-usually one or two years-and then applying TOT and obtaining a license by reciprocity in some other state which has made an agreement with the state from which he comes.
 Some thirty-nine states have es- tahlished reciprocal relations with seven or more other states In each ln- stance, by which the license to prac- tice medicine or the IlISt StclC iS cepted in lieu of an examination by inc second Obviously this has hrouht great advantages when prop erlv administered and serious dis adyantages when improperly admln : istered.
 The Present Scandal. =.
 As has been said, the evil now Tn the public eye is not new one; 1t has been known to authorities on medical education, to physicians anu to legislators for good many years, Why then is 1t now so, prominent ; The answer is publicity" sensational if is true. a newspaper stunt, some what exaggerated perhaps, but on tne whole a vastly beneficial thing II IL is going to crowd this hidden menace out into the sunlight and make peo- ple realize the danger of permitting improperly qualified, poorly educateo men to administer to the SICK.
 Between August, and. October 1S q reporter on the St. Louis Star pur- chased a spurious high school dipiima' Q false medical diploma and chlro- nractic diploma without having nao the slightest semblance of any ade : quate education in any or the nnlnss for which such diplomas are ordinari- ly granted. His story is substanti- ated bv photographs and documents. The men involved in the deal, accord ing 10 the Star, where Prof. w. P. sachs. of St. Louis, pr. Ralph A. Voight of Kansas City, Mo-, pr. Robert Adcox of St. Louis and pr. ID. R. Alexander, dean of the Kansas University of Medicine and surgery Tn Kansas City.
 At practically the same time the Journal of the American Medical as sociation told how 1t had investigated the case of one Edward J. Meelouscn' who had become possessed of dir ploma of the American College or o.teopathy and ot the St. Louis Col lege of Physicians and SurEeons without apparently having attended either institution.
 Immediately the head Of the Ms souri state board of health decdied on an official Nestigation. r- It became