Coll. & Med. Libe. ex 4-20-1926 WESTERN MEDICAL REVIEW A JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND SURCERY Published Monthly by Western Medical Review Company, 701 So. 13th Street, Omaha, Neb. Per Annum, $2.00, 20c per copy. The Western Medical Review is the journal of the Nebraska State Medical Association and is sent by order of the Association to each of its members. Entered as second-class matter at the Postoffice of Omaha, Nebraska, under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879. Telephone Douglas 1290. A marked contrast was presented by the hospitals of London in the week preceding the opening of hostilities with Germany and in the week following. Twelve hundred American surgeons were the guests of the London surgeons throughout the week preceding the declaration of war. The writer was in London for ten days prior to the opening of the clinical congress and the time was well spent in getting acquainted with the locations of hospitals and in becoming somewhat acquainted with the clinicians. There were hospitals without number and distances with out end. Most of the operating was done in the afternoon and the surgeons were saving up for the big show of the clinical week and so at the end of the ten days we did not feel that we had more than a faint suggestion of the clinical facilities of London. The clinical week demonstrated to the satisfaction of the visiting surgeons of America that London possesses unrivaled facilities for clinical work. No time was given up to pleasure seeking or to banquets. The twelve hundred and more visitors were constantly in attendance at the clinics by day and at the formal addresses and discussions by night, yet there was no crowding. The writer made a strenuous effort to see the gynecological clinics in the two weeks and a half, but failed to make the complete rounds simply for the lack of time. At the close of the week the war was on and from that moment activities of the hospitals were at an end. The hospitals of Great Britain are supported by voluntary contributions and voluntary contributions must henceforth go to relief organizations. Furthermore room must be provided in the hospitals for the wounded soldiers. The nurses, 50,000 strong, were awaiting the call of the Red Cross Society to go to the battle fields of France and Belgium, the house surgeons were responding to the call of the government, and many of the chiefs of staff were called to service. Nothing but emergency cases would be admitted to the hospitals until the close of the war. And so it came to pass that the American surgeons who were stranded in London, were not privileged to continue their clinical work. A day spent in the University of Cambridge gave a most interesting side light on the hospital preparations for war. The government was compelled to provide hospital accommodations for the wounded other than in the great hospitals of London. They were accepting the proffered homes of the nobility for such purposes and in Cambridge the dining halls and cloisters of the several colleges which make up the university were supplied with hospital beds, and nurses and doctors were there in waiting. In these halls are the pictures and medallions of Tennyson, Thomas Grey, Sir Walter Scott, William Harvey, Lord Lytten, William Pitt, Sir Isaac Newton, Bacon, Darwin and a host of other illustrious alumni. In evidence of the masterly secrecy of the English government in its management of military affairs we were taken through the buildings as we believed without reserve and it was days afterward when we were told that at the time we were in the university there were many hundreds of wounded soldiers within the halls of the institution. Yet, I doubt if even the townspeople were aware of it. Returning home by way of Montreal, we found the same conditions prevailing in the Royal Victoria Hospital and even the Maternity was experiencing the strictures of war. Doubtless the burden of the war will fall very heavy upon the hospitals and medical and nursing professions of Great Britain. The hospitals will be impoverished long after the war is ended, for they are not endowed, but depend for their subsistence solely upon voluntary contributions, while the doctors and nurses will be called upon to serve their country and will return to their fields of labor when the war is over and find their clients illy prepared to reward them for their services. The writer met Dr. Herbert Spencer of London on the Strand the first week of the war. He remarked that the hospital with which he was connected (University of London) was practically closed to the general work and in commenting on the war he made the remark: "We are sorry, but we will see it through." And this is the attitude of the English wherever you find them. PALMER FINDLEY. Quackery and How to Combat It. Recently from many physicians and in diverse manners the Review has received hints and even stronger reminders that something ought to be done at the next legislature to strengthen the Medical Practice Act for a more ready apprehension and punishment of offenders. Here is what one writer says: "There are hundreds all over the state violating the law. There are complaints coming before the Board of Secretaries, but it is next to impossible to get a county attorney, whose duty it is to see that the law is enforced, to move on these cases." Another member writes: "Is there a legislative committee of the State Medical Association? The county men are trying to drive out some resident quacks, and the need for medical legislation is very apparent." And recently we are told: "I would not be understood that I hold the entire profession responsible on account of the acts of one of the officials; but the fact that this man has since been honored with and is now holding an office in our state association indicates that those who were instrumental in securing his office for him are either not informed, or they are utterly indifferent as to the kind and quality of the service of our officials, either of which is disqualifying and conducts to anything but desirable results. Hence I claim that so long as our state association keeps such men in office to misadminister any public policy, just so long will quacks be encouraged in their methods, and just so long will the medical profession continue to be the sport and jest of the common enemy of all ethical physicians." Now, what laws have we in this state of Nebraska to abate quackery? Chapter 27 of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska for 1913 contains the following provisions applicable to our inquiry: Section 2717. It shall be unlawful for any person to practice medicine, surgery or obstetrics or any of the branches thereof, in this state without first having applied for and obtained from the State Board of Health, a license so to do. Section 2719. * and it shall be the duty of the applicant before practicing, to file such certificate or a copy thereof in the office of the County Clerk of the County in which he or she resides, or in which he or she intends to practice. Section 2720. Any person who shall have obtained a certificate provided by this chapter, and shall remove to another county, shall, before entering upon the practice of his profession in such other county, cause said certificate to be filed and recorded in the office of the County Clerk of the county to which he has removed. (This does not apply to any licensed physician whose cer tificate is recorded in the county of his residence if he is called to any other county for his professional.services.-The editor) Section 2721. The board may refuse to issue a certificate, or may revoke one already issued for any of the causes defined in this section, to-wit: The employment of fraud or deception in applying for license or diploma, or in passing the examination provided for in this chapter; conviction of crime involving moral turpitude; habitual intemperance in the use of ardent spirits, narcotics or stimulants, unprofessional or dishonorable conduct. The words "unprofessional or dishonorable conduct" as used herein, are declared to mean: tion; First, the procuring or aiding or abetting in procuring a criminal abor Second, the obtaining of a fee on the assurance that a manifestly incurable disease can be permanently cured; Third, betrayal of a professional secret to the detriment of a patient; Fourth, causing the publication and circulation of advertisements of any medicine or means whereby the monthly periods of women can be regulated, or the menses can be established, if suppressed; Fifth, causing the publication and circulation of advertisements of any kind relative to diseases of the sexual organs tending to injure the morals of the public. Section 2722. No person shall recover in any court in this state any sum of money whatever for any medical, surgical or obstetrical services, unless he shall have complied with the provisions of this chapter, and is one of the persons herein authorized to be registered as a physician. Section 2723. Any persons not possessing the qualifications for the practice of medicine, surgery or obstetrics, as required by the provisions of this chapter, or any person who has not complied with the provisions of this chapter who shall engage in the practice of medicine, surgery, or obstetrics, or any of the branches thereof, in this state, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than fifty dollars, nor more than three hundred dolalrs, and costs of prosecution for each offense. (A person not registered or exempted by treating physical or mental ailments of another for pay is liable, even though he acts under the direction of a registered physician (State versus Paul). Christian Science healers are required to obtain a license (State versus Buswell).-The editor. Section 2726. Any itinerant vendor of any drug, nostrum, ointment, or appliance of any kind intended for the treatment of any disease or injury, or who shall by writing, printing, or any other method, publicly profess to cure or treat disease or injury, or deformity, by any drug, nostrum, manipulation, or other expedient, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than fifty dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail for a period of not less than thirty days nor more than three months, or both. Section 2725. It shall be unlawful for any physician or surgeon to divide fees with, or to promise to pay a part of his fees with, or to promise to pay a part of his fee to, or pay a commission to any other physician or surgeon or person who calls him in consultation or sends patients to him for treatment or operation. Any physician or surgeon who pays or re |