Evening star., 1928-03-25
Kindred Measures.

These fraudulent institutions having
no faculties and no educational facil-
ities have not only operated extensively
in the District, but throughout the
United States and in foreign countries
Data in the Office of the United States
attorney for the District show that
when these institutions are incorpo-
rated, so or 100 or in some instances
much larger numbers of degrees are
themselves doctors and by other titles
prey upon the defenseleSs public.
That statement is included in the re-
port of the Senate District committee
on the bill to regulate the incorpora-
ton Of degree-granting institutions OF
learning in the District of Columbia
The report is favorable. and speedy
action on the measure is desirable, for
the diploma mill evil'' is so apparent
and defenSeleSS that it should be wiped
of the map. But the report on the
diploma mill bill follows closely the
news indicating that chances are slim
for passage of the bill regulating the
practice of drugleSs healing in the Dis
trict. While the committee has found
that people in the District who call
themselves doctors and by other titles
prey upon the defenSeleSS public" 1t
seems unable to agree upon a measure
to control the activities of such takers.
Wiping out the diploma mills will hit
at the source Of some degrees by which
some Of those who call themselves
doctors" extract money from the pub
lie. Such action should be accom-
panied by a measure to control the
doctors" themselves. There are di-
ploma mills in the States which will
not be affected by passage of the bill
now under consideration. Their gradu-
ates may come to the District and prac-
uce what they please without super
vision. As a matter of fact, one does
not have to possess any degree, even
from diploma mill, to call himself a
doctor" in the District He may con-
fer the degree upon himself, and no
one may question its authenticity unless
the wearer thereof becomes foolishly
ambitious and prescribes drug or uses
the knife.
The diploma mill bill should by all
means be passed. But our wise leeis-
lators must remember that, while the
fictitious Doctor Of Divinity. Doctor of
Laws. Doctor Of Philosophy or Doctor OF
Red Herring can do little real damage
when turned loose with his high
sounding title, great deal Of real harm
may be done by the Doctor OF Chiro-
practic, Doctor OF Iridology, Doctor of
Naturopothy or Doctor Of Medicine who
Is turned loose without training TO prac-
uee. with or without drugs. upon the
human body. There can be no COM
plaint II such men are suficiently
trained in the tenets of their practice.
But that there should be no standard
for those who practice upon the human
body. except for Doctors Of Medicine. is
ridiculous and dangerous.
The trouble threatening the bill to
control drugless healing arises from the
fact that the legislators have not been
able TO agree upon measure that sat-
Isles the chiropractic lobby and the
medical lobby at the same time. But
the unrepreSented public OF Washing
ton deserves the chief consideration.
The purpose Of this bill is To protect
the public IL ghoalId he draun IN iva
sure adequate preparation and exam
ination Of any one who sets himself I'D
TO treat the human body. These are
altogether sensible requirements. Give
them legislative force and let them
strike where they may.