The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-08-22
TT IS HIGH TIME TO REGULATE
 THE SPECIALISTS

The laws regulating the practice of medicine in various states or provinces seem at first sight absurdly heterogeneous, but when you consider the petty annoyances and ndignlt1es these tricks laws impose upon the reputable another, and how little they bother the quacks who ride circuit. you perceive that the chief purpose of these laws is graft and patronage They make large number of soft jobs for the politicians to bestow upon their friends. And the fees exacted from physicians who seek a license to practice just so much velvet.
 In the first place, one may reasonably ask. where do all these candidates for license to practice get their degrees, If not from institu- tions sponsored or authorized by the state to grant such degrees? And if the state author izes college university to grant the degree of doctor of medicine is it not reflection on the honor of the college university granting the degree when the state insists -exanlin- ing the graduate to see whether he is fit to have the degree of Doctor of Medicine? Of course this isn't the reason for the examination to which the physician is subjected when he applies for his license. GRAFT is the reason. He must put down hundred berries for the boys to play with. It is great scheme, for the politicians. The state ought to be ashamed to countenance it.
 Another odd thing in reference to the regu- lation of the practice of medicine is that the public has absolutely no assurance, and indeed the state province has no check whatever on the capacity the qualifications of any doctor who chooses to hold himself out specialist or surgeon. Orce the doctor has laid down his hundred smoleons and passed" his exam ination, what the hell do the boys on the board of medical examiners or the educatiinal officers of the state care what line of work he pleases to do? It's entirely up to the doctor himself to decide that, and quite legally the moment he receives his license he may begin the practice of any speciality he elects
 If the state is to continue this farcical ''li censing' of physicians, it seems high time that the law should fix some reasonable minimum standard of qualification for the physician and surgeon who would engage in practice as a spe- cialist. It is unlikely that our national medical organization will take any vigorous steps to curb the specialism evil which has grown to outlandish proportions in recent years. Surely any doctor who purposes to hold himself out as a specialist should be required to have at least ten years of experience in general practice be- fore he is granted the privilege of posing specialist
 q believe that many unnecessary operations on the nose and throat are done because of the lack of thorough understanding of the physiology and the pathology" of the conditions under treatment remarked distinguished ot- olarynologist in the formal session of the American Medical association.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Whtewash Is Disinfectant.
 How can I make whitewash wall sanitary? The room was used by tubcrcular person for three months: (L. s. P.)
 the wall afresh. Whitewash' is a good disin- fectant. white painted wall may be washed with soap and water. A papered wall may be repapered. In any case a wall not obviously soiled. requires no dsinfection, for it cannot harbor or carry infection Ordinary houseclean- ing of such a room is ample protection for sub sequent occupants, no matter what disease the previous occupant had. Don't be silly about it. Plain soap and water is the best disnfectant for any floor, wall other surface that may have been soied by any infectious material. IL is not necessary to raise horrendous stink just to show the neighbors what sanitary stickler you You merely show your cred ulity and ignorance when you uncork a lot of strong smells.
 Insulin Injections
 Mother Is diabetic but can't stand the hypO. dermic injections of insulin. Is there any pOs- sible way to take insulin by mouth? (G. RI
 Answer--No. physician of skill and expert. ence can administer the injection practically painlessy and teach the patient to do so her self.