Article August 17, 1918 Issue

I have read a correspondent's criticism of The Christian Science Monitor...

William C. Kaufman

Miles City (Mont.) Star

I have read a correspondent's criticism of The Christian Science Monitor editorial entitled "The Medical Goosestep." His letter puts a different construction on this editorial than was intended. The editorial was written in criticism of a certain element in the medical profession who are using the war as a means of promoting a medical monopoly. Christian Scientists recognize the need of surgeons and physicians in the Army, but they also recognize that there is a nice distinction between doctoring a man and controlling him medically.

It is quite generally known that there are two classes of physicians, the one class are humanitarians and the other class are politicians. We are of the opinion that the doctor who has criticized the editorial in the Monitor belongs to the former class, because his criticism has the ring of sincerity, although we believe him to be mistaken in his deductions.

At this time undue advantage has been taken by a clique of medical men to force compulsory medication upon the people. The average citizen trusts the physician and regards him as his friend. But bad human nature is the same, no matter what may be the profession or occupation of the individual, and so at this time it is manifested through the political doctor. Few people have thought of monopoly in medicine. At this present period we are facing the greatest autocracy, which is personified by the central powers in Europe. Eventually every form of autocracy will be overcome with the same thoroughness with which we are meeting the central powers or Germany. The medical trust may be the last autocracy to be overcome.

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