Article March 9, 1899 Issue

Miscellany

The bill to amend the act to regulate the practice of medicine in the State of California, is one which is causing considerable discussion in the public press and in the several societies whose members are devoted to the cure of disease. The bill in question is aimed at that certain class of people who claim to be Christian Scientists, and the purpose is to prevent them from attempting to cure disease or to assist people to maintain a state of good health.

Now this may appear all right to the legislative mind and to the minds of those who try to cure disease by "regular" methods, but to the man in whose vision "all doctors look alike," a measure of that kind appears to be the climax of paternalism and an act of dangerous interference with the liberty of the individual. It may be well enough to protect the individual from the fraudulent wiles and deceits of charlatans and quacks, for here the fraud is the thing aimed; but to deny to all persons the right to give advice as to the proper manner to maintain good health is carrying the matter to an extreme.

Furthermore, there is yet another class of people concerned in the imposition of such a measure, and that is composed of a very large number of people who want to choose their own manner of living and dying. Why shouldn't a man have the right to try a dose of faith as well as a dose of drugs? The proper view to take of this question is from the standpoint of individual liberty. The safest rule to follow is that which gives equal rights to all men.

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