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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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88 <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> Medical Practice <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>oisso far as it has any effect <strong>in</strong> prevent<strong>in</strong>g quackery, leav<strong>in</strong>g the pr<strong>of</strong>essionand the public without any legal regulation or protection." Dr. G. N.Kreider stated: "I do not th<strong>in</strong>k we ought to allow the legislature to pass theOsteopath Bill(S.B. 297) without a protest from the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical<strong>Society</strong>. I th<strong>in</strong>k it would be wise to have a committee appo<strong>in</strong>ted to reportthis afternoon <strong>in</strong> the form <strong>of</strong> a resolution express<strong>in</strong>g the outrage this <strong>Society</strong>feels." Dr. Pettit cont<strong>in</strong>ued: "I will say that this bill was <strong>in</strong>troduced bySenator Granger who is a nice, pleasant old gentleman. I had a long conversationwith him a few weeks ago, and found that he was urg<strong>in</strong>g thepassage <strong>of</strong> this bill, and that he is really the man who is beh<strong>in</strong>d it <strong>in</strong> theSenate, not because he cares anyth<strong>in</strong>g for so-called Osteopaths, but becausehe is a Christian Scientist, and the passage <strong>of</strong> the Osteopath Bill will openup the way for someth<strong>in</strong>g else, and it is simply an outside skirmish l<strong>in</strong>ethat has been thrown out to break down the Medical Practice Act. If thisbill is passed, someth<strong>in</strong>g else will follow."The follow<strong>in</strong>g resolution was adopted by <strong>of</strong>ficial action: "RESOLVED,That it is the op<strong>in</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> conventionassembled, that the laws govern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>medical</strong> <strong>practice</strong> <strong>in</strong> the State <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>oisshould apply with equal force to all persons engaged <strong>in</strong> the heal<strong>in</strong>g art,and that no discrim<strong>in</strong>ation should be made <strong>in</strong> favor <strong>of</strong> any school <strong>of</strong> <strong>practice</strong>.Furthermore, we wish particularly to enter our emphatic protestaga<strong>in</strong>st the enactment <strong>of</strong> Senate Bill 297."Dr. John B. Hamilton said:heard <strong>in</strong> the legislature—one is"Let us reflect that we have two ways to beto make sure that we send friends to representus <strong>in</strong> that body, and the other is to send physicians to the legislatureand to Congress. . . . Shall the physician go <strong>in</strong>to politics? I say yes, if he canpersonally afford it and is <strong>of</strong> ripe experience. We may never hope to havecorrect <strong>medical</strong> legislation until we are either properly represented <strong>in</strong> thelaw-mak<strong>in</strong>g bodies, or the community <strong>in</strong> general shall have elementaryknowledge <strong>of</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e. No s<strong>in</strong>cere patriot need ever fear <strong>in</strong> this country tospeak his political sentiments or to speak openly <strong>in</strong> defense <strong>of</strong> his pr<strong>in</strong>ciplesso long as he is governed by pure and patriotic motives, by love <strong>of</strong> right,and by affection for his country and its flag. . . . Dr. Joseph Warren made'<strong>in</strong>cendiary' speeches on Boston Common and fought <strong>in</strong> the l<strong>in</strong>e at BunkerHill. Dr. Benjam<strong>in</strong> Rush was one <strong>of</strong> the Cont<strong>in</strong>ental Congress and signer<strong>of</strong> the Declaration <strong>of</strong> Independence. Put <strong>medical</strong> men endowed with noble<strong>in</strong>dependence <strong>in</strong> our legislature and <strong>in</strong> the Halls <strong>of</strong> Congress . . . they wouldconsider the general welfare as above every earthly consideration. . . . Theacts <strong>of</strong> the members <strong>of</strong> our pr<strong>of</strong>ession <strong>in</strong> the Iowa Legislature have demonstratedto the world the wisdom <strong>of</strong> the electors who sent them there." 1618In Iowa, the Osteopathy Bill was promptly defeated. They had 12 physicians <strong>in</strong> theSenate <strong>of</strong> that state and about half that many <strong>in</strong> the House.

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