Article May 17, 1919 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Clifford

[Kokomo (Ind.) Dispatch]

We may be in error, but it seems that the American Medical Association has been busier this year in the state legislature than in any other session of the assembly. It may be because we have paid closer attention to the house and senate bills of this season; but whatever may be the reason, we can see cropping out in the most unexpected places the designs and activities of the doctor-politicians. Why do these gentlemen not see the propriety of letting the chiropractors, the osteopaths, and the Christian Scientists alone? Just what earthly business is it of these self-constituted guardians of the public that there are some of the people of this country who do not follow their ideas? We have had more than enough of this persistent drive to put the health regulation under the power of a tyrannical regime and to saddle upon the public an expensive system of supervision—not to say espionage—which has for its motive something that is materially less than the good of the whole commonwealth.

The time has gone by when the medical association can ignore the great body of serious men and women who do not believe in the theories of medicine. The time has assuredly come when individuals or groups of individuals should no longer be dominated by the medical profession. The trouble with the theories of medication lies in the fact that it is built up on a system of defenses against disease or preventives and still leaves, as Doctor Patrick declares, the human race less able to resist disease. Perhaps we might "run to a doctor as quickly as the next man," but there are some people who would not do so, and for the good and sufficient reason—for them at least—that they do not believe in his efficiency.

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