Article April 27, 1899 Issue

From Oregon

A. F. Hofer

Editor Sentinel :—Although a trifle late, I hand you herewith a copy of the iron-clad medical bill presented to the late Oregon Legislature for enactment into law. In many respects it is similar to like bills offered in other states, but in the section intended to suppress Christian Science practice it is more far-reaching, and a remarkable sample of the bigotry evinced by a few would-be leaders of an honorable profession. The section referred to probably the most subtle and comprehensive ever invented by grasping quacks, reads in part as follows:—

Any person shall be regarded as practising within the meaning of this Act who shall directly or indirectly, personally or as a representative, claim to possess a knowledge of the cure of diseases, or a knowledge of physiological processes, and offer gratuitously or for a fee to apply such knowledge for the cure or treatment of disease or for the regulation or management of physiological processes, or gratuitously or for a fee prescribe, direct, or recommend, or offer to prescribe, direct, or recommend, for the use of any person any drug or medicine or agency for the treatment, cure, or relief of any wound, fracture, bodily injury, infirmity, or disease, or for the regulation or management of physiological processes.

This bill was introduced in the Senate by a highly respected doctor-senator, who disclaimed authorship, and upon his word it was adopted with but one dissenting vote. Before the bill reached the House of Representatives the bill was dissected by the press of the state and a storm of indignation was aroused such as is seldom produced even by attempts at political legislation. The leading papers of the state condemned the bill unmercifully, and were heartily seconded by the broad-minded men of the legal and medical professions, as well as by business men and the clergy of the state. It is needless to say that the bill never reached a vote in the House, where even doctormembers condemned its provisions. The probability is that no future attempts at legislation of this kind will ever be made in the Web-Foot state.

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