Editorial February 14, 1901 Issue

Voice of the Press

Editor

The following concerning the bill above referred to appeared in the editorial columns of the Press Knickerbocker-Express of Albany, N. Y., on the 8th inst.

When the Bell measure, which proposes that persons not qualified as physicians shall be prohibited from prescribing remedies to sick persons, was first introduced in the legislature, the Press-Knickerbocker-Express denounced the bill as a drive at Christian Scientists. Subsequent developments have borne out our assertion. The Troy press apparently believes that the Bell bill is decidedly faulty. Without taking a decided stand in favor of either side the Press says :—

"The drug associations and patent medicine proprietors asked to have the bill amended so as not to affect their interests, and the readiness with which their requests were complied with gives color to the charge that the bill is simply a drive at the Christian Scientists, and the other features were added to disguise its true intent. Undoubtedly Christian Science is more damaging to the income of the regular medical profession than any other competition with which it has to contend, and the physicians are naturally anxious to suppress it. Having given years to the study of diseases, they feel that they are entitled to a monopoly of practice. Otherwise, courses in medical schools are deprived of much of their commercial value. The Scientists, on the other hand, admit that they know nothing of disease, as they confine their studies to good health, and are wonderfully successful in dispensing it to long-suffering seekers of this boon. Between these rival claims, our readers may judge for themselves."

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