The national board of medical examiners.
Editorials
(In 1916 there were about 12,000 practicing Eclectic Physicians, perhaps 14,000 predominantly Homeopathic physicians, predominantly trained in private schools. This was rapidly changing. These editorials are all dealing with early ramifications of the "Black Hand" of the Flexner Report (1910), funded by the Carnegies and the Rockefellers, with active assistance from the A.M.A.. Within a decade, all but two of the Negro medical schools, all three women's medical schools, and nearly HALF of the total medical schools in the U.S. had been closed. Within twenty-five years, the remaining Eclectic and Homeopathic medical schools were all gone, and the great richness of medical diversity available to Americans became all but a memory—the "allopaths" won. Check out the excellent article on the Flexner impact at http://www.rienstraclinic.com/info/FlexnerPharos.pdf (gone -Henriette)—MM.)
The national board of medical examiners
This is a self-constituted board of examiners, who aim to examine applicant's and provide a certificate that will be accepted by all States. It aims to do what is now accomplished by the several boards by means of reciprocity. It is not only self-constituted, but self-perpetuated also.
The examination of applicants for medical licensure has been claimed to be one of the police powers of the sovereign States and not of the general government, hence recognition of certificates from this self-appointed board would be clearly illegal and usurps the powers of the several boards. It is desired by this board that the medical laws of the several States be so amended that their certificates can be recognized. Yet, one of the advocates of this board declared "to H—l with the laws, we could recognize them if we would." This is but an illustration of many other things accomplished by money and influence. It is might that makes right, not equity and justice, and that is spelled M-O-N-E-Y. It is also desired that the certificates shall be recognized and accepted by the Medical Corps of the Army and Navy and Public Health Service. Whilst the examination may be as rigid and exacting as that imposed by these several branches of the government, it is certainly arrogance for a self-constituted and self-appointed group of men to take upon themselves the prerogatives belonging to the general government. If it can be done in this line of work, why not in others? It is positively unwarranted, presumptuous and imprudent. If is doubtful whether any branch of the government has the power to delegate to a self-appointed, unauthorized body of men any of its duties.
Page 1,122 of the Journal of the American Medical Association advises recent graduates and those about to graduate to consider the advisability of taking the examination proposed by this board. It also says it is quite certain the medical departments of the United States Army, Navy ana Public Health Service will give recognition to the qualifications and certificates of this board. It is questionable and remains to be seen whether a board of this character can arrogate to themselves the duties of any branch of the government service, or that that service can delegate to them a duty imposed upon them by legislative enactment. It is certainly a dangerous innovation. It is financed by the Carnegie Foundation, a dangerous menace to all independent colleges of any character, and, I feel, a danger to American homes, certainly to all that pertains to Christian homes, character and high ideals. They have but one idea and that is money. M.
