The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
GETTING MUST OF' BUSINESS, CHARGE
Noted Speaker Declares Present Condition To Be
 National Menace
By JAMES MCLEAN Geased Wire to The Age-Herald)

tLeHSe0
 CHICAGO, Oct. 27.-The practice of medicine is drifting away from le- gitimatel doctors into the hands ot "quacks," due to the ignorance of the American people.
 This charge was made by Dr. Charles L. Whalen of Chicago before the meeting of the American Medical Editors association, held here Fri day in connection with the conven- tion of the American College of Surgery.
 Six important factors are contrib utory to this menace to national welfare" Dr. Whalen declared. They are:
 1. Lay dictation of medicine and centralization of administrative au- thority in non-scientific and non- medical individuals.
 g. Usurpation of medical rights by "quack" doctors
 B. The volstead act and bootleg ging on the part of irresponsible physicianssS
 4. Insolence of overtrained nurses who attempt to practice medicine.
 3. Exorbitant hospital charges.
 6. Restrictive legislation, including the Harrison narcotic act, the Shep- pard -Towner maternity bill and chi ropractic and esteopathic bills. Comes As Surprise.
 Dr. Whalen's attack came as sur prise to visiting doctors, who have taken pains to avoid reference to "quack" practitioners since Tuesday when pr. William Mayo aroused pub lie discussion by statement that only 10000 of the 5O,0O0 surgeons performing operations are qualified to do so Although reticent i'll pub lie, it is understood that the surgical convention while in executive session has discussed this situation carefully
 "On all sides the blatant and per sistelt publicity of incompetents exalts their bogus skill" Dr. Whalen said. "Besieged on all sides by theory of the Chartatan-the medical pro fession forbids exploitation-the sick man hears and believes to his own undoing. He hears vaguely of wonderful progress and miraculous cures. and, unknowingly, submits him. self to the .quacl.' We must use all means at our disposal to teach the public of the dangers of failure to consult competent surgeons and phy- sicians when ailing."
 Maternal morbidity and mortality, despite the progress in medical science, is as high as in 1903, Dr. Clark Mosher of Kansas City, Mo-, told the surgeons Friday.
 Sixteen thousand women die at the door to motherhood each year." he said. "Only Spain and Belgium have a higher materity death rate"
 O O O
 Piano Wire For Artery.
 The wealthy get excellent care, the Kansas City surgeon pointed out, but the middle and poor class people can- not afford to pay the excessive prices charged by maternity hospitals.
 Other surgeons urged philantrophic efforts to build hospitals for the average family"
 Substitution of piano wire for an artery was one of Fridays outstand l. ing operations at the surgical clinics The day was devoted almost entirely to rehabilitation surgery, with fea- ture exhibit of 30 manufactured hands --29 of them belonging to former doughboys. who lost the original member in the war, and the other be- longing to pretty plano player, who was injured in an Accident. Then there was lawyer who wouldn't have argued another case If Dr. Fred H. Albee of New Jersey hadn't con structed a new jawbone for him from a part of his shin.
 Cancer cooking was also demon strated and surgeons told of some progress toward control of this fatal disease by cooking out the growth with electricity.
 The surgical congress adjourned Nril iO