as in all other matters."

Professor Tyndall, another of England's greatest scientists, in a lecture at the Royal Institution, said:

"Never in the history of medicine was there so bright a dawn for the healing art as the present one, if scientific men are not hampered by mischevious legislation."

In a recent editorial of the Popular Science Monthly, the foremost scientific publication in America, the following language was used:

"Individual liberty is abridged in many ways that seem to us essentially wrong That the members of a particular profession should have laws passed in their special interest and should be empowered to decide who may and who may not enter into competition with them is, we think, at once a violation of justice and of liberty. * * * Time was when it was supposed that the State had to look after the. spiritual health of individuals, and for that purpose to prescribe their theological beliefs and religious observances. How much of real quackery is now concealed by the license to practice it might distress a confiding public to know. . Our voice may be as that of one crying in the wilderness, but we cry with conviction when we call for mere individual liberty, with its correlative individual responsibility."

*

*

The great English philosopher, Herbert Spencer, in his "Social Statics," says:

"There is a manifest analogy between committing to government guardianship the physical health of the people and committing to it their moral health. The two proceedings are equally reasonable, may be defended by similar arguments and must stand or fall together. * * *The fear that false doctrines may be instilled

by

unauthorized preachers has its analogue in the fear that unathorized practitioners may give deleterious medicine or advice."

The editor of the Arena, in the March issue, noticing this language of Mr. Spencer, says:

"There is already a healthy reaction taking place the people have become alarmed at the wealth, power and audacity of law-fortified trusts, monopolies and class-protected professions. The word is going forth that class legislation must not only cease, but the special privilege feature of existing laws must be eliminated. * * * Medical class legislation infringes on the dearest rights of the citizen, a right as sacred as religious liberty-the right to choose whomsoever he desires to wait upon him in the solemn hour of sickness and death."

7. Perhaps the most striking and important point to which I may call your attention is the fact, that no advantages, no benefits, have resulted to the people where governmental censorship over medical practice has been exercised. The old countries, with their examining boards, have no abler physicians than we have where no such machinery is known; nor are those medical men a whit superior who have been under political censorship in some of our own States. In fact, our foremost practitioners have lived and labored with entire independence and freedom.

Illinois is often cited as a State showing great improvement under the care of medical censors. Here is what Prof. Romaine J. Curtiss, M. D., holding a chair in a Chicago College, says about it:

"Illinois is overrun with 'prayer curers,' 'faith doctors,' 'magnetic quacks,' 'oxygen

quacks,' 'phrenologist quacks,' itinerating quacks,' local quacks,' 'Chinese and voudoo quacks,' quacks with brass bands and six. horse teams, male and female quacks, and cancer quacks. The profession of Illinois succeeded beautifully in throwing their physic and themselves into the hands of the politicians, and paying the cash themselves for the transfer, but every man in Illinois who will count up the medical impostors in his vicinity will find himself wondering why all the quacks in the State have located in his township."

Again, there is no less sickness and death in countries and States having medical examining boards than in those having none. The rate of mortality is just as great, and the period of human longevity not a particle increased. Not a single advocate of authoritative boards has ever shown that they have benefited the people practically or done aught for the improvement of the art of healing. A portion of the profession has been elevated above the rank and file, have had some brief authority, and the brakes have been put upon the inventive genius of the student, and upon his independence of thought and action.

I have been proud of Tennessee, when, year after year, her General Assembly refused to enact restrictive medical laws to please a few medical men who may aspire to get above their fellows by political methods, or who would create some medical artistocracy in imitation of that in the old world. I trust you will have the patriotism and courage to restore medical freedom to our great State.

The signs of the times clearly indicate the approaching end of monopolies and unholy combinations and protected classes.

The pride and power and disregard of

THE ALLOPATHIC FUNERAL IN

TEXAS.

BY THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS.

THE following account of the death in

the Texas Senate of the Allopathic State Medical Association bill to regulate the practice of medicine, taken from the Daily Express, shows how it is done in Texas and will prove interesting to the readers of the JOURNAL. The Senate treated the question with all the dignity it deserved and killed it too dead for early resurrection :

"Senator Pope insisted on the regular order, which was his bill to regulate the practice of medicine and surgery and create a State board of medical examiners. The question of medical legislation has created much interest among physicians, and quite a number of both Hippocratic and Homœopathic were present this morning. The latter class are opposed to Pope's bill. The bill creates a State board of medical examiners, to consist of seven Hippocratics and one each of the Homoopathic and Eclectic schools.

"Senator Lubbeck offered as a substitute for the pending bill, his bill 274. He stated that this bill has less machinery, is more concise and is more equitable in its provisions. This is the bill the Homœopathists want.

"A point of order was made that the friends of a bill had the right to perfect it before a substitute could be in order. The chair, Senator Page, decided the point of order well taken and the substitute was decided not before the Senate.

"The question then recurred upon Stephens' amendment to section twelve which prescribed who shall be legally qualified practioners. His amendment is: or those who are regular graduates and hold a diploma from some legally chartered medical college of the United States.

"Discussion on this amendment was interrupted by three raps of the mallet, the Senate arose and the chair introduced Lieutenant Governor Chase, of Indiana. The introduction was greeted with applause, and the second in power of the Hoosier State acknowledged in a neat speech his pleasure "in having it in my power to greet the Senate of the great State of Texas."

"Senator Stephens' amendment was adopted. Senator Burney offered an amendment to give each school an equal number on the board. He contended that if, under the provisions of the bill, the Homœopathic and Eclectic schools were recognized at all, they should be recognized in a fair and equitable manner. He does not favor class legislation. Senator Burney spoke strongly in favor of his amendment, and the hearts of the Homoopathists grew large and happy.

"Senator Sims offered the following as an amendment to the amendment: "Amend so as to include on the board three botanic, yarb tea or root doctors." The amendment was decided not in order.

"Senator Tyler offered the following: Amend section one by striking out after the word "to-wit" and inserting in lieu thereof the following: Four of the Hippocratic school, three of the Homœopathic and two of the Eclectic school of practice. The first members of said board shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and

shall hold their office until their successors are elected and qualified; and thereafter that the members of said board shall be elected by the people at the next general election and at each ensuing general election, and shall hold their offices for the term of two years. This amendment was discussed and much fun provoked over the inability of the members to define the difference between the schools. Upon a vote it was lost.

"The question then recurred upon Burney's amendment, which was adopted by a vote of 17 to 9.

"Pope was so dissatisfied at the result that the bill, on his motion, was indefinitely postponed.

POPE'S MEDICINE BILL.

"AUSTIN, Tex., March 20.-It rarely happens, in these days of legislation, when the colored gentleman who removes the cuspadores, gets fifty cents more a day than the honored senator, that the Senate laughs and has fun, but certain it is that hash-house bills and theatre expenses were forgotten for awhile, at least this morning and a current of good humored laughter and Irish wit swept over the entire chamber. The Adonis-like features of the chair could not resist the infection, while the Goliah frame of Babe Henderson shook like an Arkansas native with his morning chill.

"The Senate was discussnig the Pope medicine bill. No one knew anything about it, but this body would lose its dignity and power, did it allow a bill to pass through without amendments. Sims had gotten in his, directing yam yam, huckleberry, yam tea and root doctors should be on the board of examiners.

"Senator George W. Tyler, M. D., presented an amendment, as follows: Amend

section one by inserting the following: The board shall consist of four members of the Hippocratic school, three of the Homœopathic and two of the Eclectic school of practice. The first members of said board shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall hold their office until their successors are elected and qualified, and thereafter that the members of said board shall be elected by the people at the next general election and shall hold their office for the period of two years.

"Senator Tyler, M. D., spoke in favor of his amendment. He said that under the provisions of his amendment, no one school would have a majority, and thus no young fledgling M. D.'s could get license and the country would be safe. The Homœopaths would not license the Hippocratics and the Hippocratic would kill the Eclectic, and the Eclectic would electrify the Homœopaths.

"Garwood asked the M. D. to explain the difference in the schools. This was easy enough to the senator and M. D. The Homœopaths believed in homocracy, the Eclectic in electricity and the Hippocratic in hippocricy. As for him he was a Homœopathic in reference to this bill, he wanted as little of it as possible. Again, his amendment would smooth down the ruffled feelings of several senators. had the appointive feature. This would so place the governor that he would not veto the Austin charter, and also the free pass bill. He then gave a discourse on hygiene and surgery, and sat down out of breath.

It

"Senator Carter, the wit of the Senate, arose and spoke to the amendment. In response to an inquiry as to what kind of a physician he was, he stated he was edu

cated in the peach tree oil school-rub it either way, it always cured. He begged the Senate to excuse Tyler. He thought he knew something about the bill, but he didn't; he himself knew nothing about it. Tyler should not talk so positive about little doses-big results. He then attacked the Homœopathic doctrine of little pills and big results, of sugar and molasses, and suggested that the senator from Bell take a little for the disordered condition of his brain. He rehearsed many of the fundamental principles of the science of medicine, not forgetting the herb gatherer and catnip tea caterer.

"Hippocratic Carter was up for fun, and the Senate was tired of work and laughed at what he said. In session 'twas funny, but on paper it can't be. Quite a number joined in the discussion, which was protracted for some time."

A STARTLING PROPOSITION.

From the MONTGOMERY, ALA., ADVERTISER.

HALL OF THE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY County, MONTGOMERY, ALA., March 7, 1891.

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF

THE STATE OF ALABAMA:

THE Medical and Surgical Society of Montgomery County has rendered good service to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama during the sessions of the Legislature for the past fifteen years. The issues that we have had to encounter have been prosecuted at times with great zeal and vigor, and we have had to meet them with prompt and continuous action.

Occupying this unenviable opportunity for observation we feel that we stand somewhat as sentinels and have the right

to make a few suggestions concerning the future welfare of the profession and the Medical Association of this State. We trust that our motives will not be misinterpreted and that these suggestions will be received in the spirit in which they are written and maturely considered as a means of solving the serious problem confronting us. You are aware that an effort to re-enact the penal clause of the act regulating the practice of medicine in this State was made two years ago and failed. The same effort was renewed in the session of the legislature lately adjourned, resulting after many weeks of labor in the passage of the penal clause by a large majority. But this was far from being all the medical legislation introduced. Early in the first half of the session, Colonel Quarles, of Dallas County, introduced a bill providing for the establishment of Homœopathic and Eclectic Boards of Examination, which bill if it had passed, would have seriously crippled the Medical Association of the State and lowered the standard of medical qualification amongst

us.

This bill found an enthusiastic champion in Col. Quarles, and was defeated by only two majority. Does not this argue that something must be done, or we must run the risk of having hostile legislation thrust upon us. The evil day may not be near, but unless we heed the voice of warning it will come sooner or later. What, then, is the remedy?

The argument advanced by the advocates of the Homoeopathic and Eclectic schools is that we are incompetent judges of their capacity, on account of the prejudice which they suppose we entertain against them, and hence we should not be allowed to sit over them as examiners.

The Legislator asks in what way this prejudice may be demonstrated? In fact they say that we consider them unworthy of our professional confidence, esteem and association. Our political friends, some of them men of no little wisdom and foresight, tell us that this is their strongest argument, and one which appeals to the sense of justice and right.

Let us now briefly review the history of medical legislation in this State, and in considering the legal recognition which sectarian practitioners have received, draw our conclusions therefrom:

It must be recognized that the enactment in 1877 of the law to regulate the practice of medicine in Alabama constitutes a most important epoch in the medical history of the State, and that policies and regulations which may have been wise and expedient prior to that time may have ceased to be wise and expedient nnder the greatly changed conditions in relation to the medical profession which now obtain.

Prior to that time it was easy for ignorant and incompetent men to engage in practice of medicine. Since that time no man can legally engage in practice without at least a decent acquaintance with most of the fundamental branches of medical science.

Prior to that time the Medical Association of the State and the county medical societies were private organizations with the full and unquestioned power to control their own membership according to their own wishes and their own conception of propriety and good policy. Since that time the State Association and the county societies have become a part of the legal machinery of the State, and all legal prac