The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-21
DOCTORS OPPOSED ID STATE BOARD IF CHIROP PRACT|C
ChiropraCtors Press Bill to Es- tashIish Profession as Sci- ence--State Health Board
 ResistS Move
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD ! Montromery, Ala, Jan. 20 J

Is chiropraetic science or a cult? This question will be asked many times in legislative halls next week, a question developed from one of the bitterest fights which will be made at the short session of the legislature.
 Chiropractors have introduced bill intended to establish their standing in Alabama among the sciences. The state health depart ment proposes to resist the conten- .ion that the profession is science and will oppose the bill when it is called for consideration by the com mittees of the house and senate, which will hold 8 joint session Wednesday for the consideration of the bill.
 In recent months many chiroprac- tors have located in Alabama and are practicing their profession. Dr. S. W. Welch, state health of- ficer, contends that the state should not lend it's support to the pro- posal for the establishment of the profession in this state, arguing that chiropractic is not science which can cope with the ills and frailties of human kind.
 Chiropractors Want Board
 But those interested In the profess sion. propose to come before the committees in an effort to show that ch!ropractic Is 8 science and what Is more has succeeded in curing ills for many persons in this state.
 The bill which chiropractors desire to have enacted into law provides for the creation of a state board of chiro- practic examiners, which would pass upon the qualifications of those who desire to practice the profession in Alabama. Chiropractic is defined in the bill as "adjustment of the spinal column and of the articulation of the human body"
 The board of examiners would be appointed by the governor and would be composed of three graduates Of chartered chiropractic schools or col leges who have practiced in Alabama at least one year.
 Any person desiring to practice chiropractic in Alabama would be re-
  the board of chiropractic examiners, which examination would consist of tests in the following subjects; An atomy, physiology, symptomatology' pathology, physical diagnosis. neu- rology, chemistry, hygiene and san itation, chiropractic, orthopody, nervo- tracing and adjusting as taught by standard chiropractic schools or col- leges.
 Would Grant Licenses
 Those who answer 75 per cent of all questions must be granted liz censes, unless they be of bad moral character, provided that not less than 60 per cent of the questions in any branch of the examination are am swered.
 The law would give licensed chiro- practors the right to sign death and health certificates the same as prac- ticing physicians now do. It would also give them the right to use the X-ray and make X-ray photographs.
 All expenses of the state board of chiropractic examiners would be paid from fees collected from per sons desiring to practice chiropractio in Alabama.
 Chiropractors contend that they want the law in order to prevent un- trained persons from practicing the profession in Alabama. thus elevating the standard of the profession.
 Dr. Welch contends that the law should not be enacted because it will give legal standing to something which has not received the recogni- ton of those who have developed the medical profession to it's present standard.