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Lessons from Yesterday--"This Journal"
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Volume I of the Texas Journal of Medicine reports in in July 1905 "the first issue consists of 3700 copies, and it will bring monthly hereafter to the offices of not less than 3000 Texas physicians, the medical news of the State." *

It also notes that "This Journal is owned and controlled by the medical profession. The use each member makes of it will determine its value and usefulness. The support of every Texas physician is solicited. County secretaries should report to their councilors other than routine matter, such as deaths, resolutions, new plans for programs, elections of officers, ethical problems, work of committees on legislation, and matters pertaining to public health." *

The more things change the more they stay the same--106 years later the total number of chiropractors surpasses the total number of medical doctors in Texas in 1905, and the same statement can be made about THIS Texas Journal of Chiropractic:

This Journal is owned and controlled by the chiropractic profession. The use each member makes of it will determine its value and usefulness. The support of every Texas chiropractic physician is solicited. District secretaries should report to the editor other than routine matter, such as deaths, resolutions, new plans for programs, elections of officers, ethical problems, work of committees on legislation, and matters pertaining to public health.

As we all know the "rivalry" that exists between the medical profession and the chiropractic profession is of an historically epic nature. Many of us are also aware that at various times it has been stated that chiropractic IS a subset of medicine, is NOT a subset of medicine, is an independent healing entity, is superior to or is submissive to medicine; is the same as, or is completely different from the medical profession. That it should be included, excluded, and or eradicated within the healing arts.

Notice, however, that that word is plural--ARTS. There is more than one form of healing art. There are Western approaches, Eastern approaches, traditional, conventional, alternative, complementary, and many more besides. As we will see through these "lessons from yesterday" the struggle "between the opathies" (osteopathy, chiropathy, naturopathy, and more) has been around since the earliest days. But perhaps it is time to remind our medical cousins of THIS quote from 1905 in THEIR Journal:

"The basis for union is a scientific medical education in the fundamental branches of the healing art. The medicine of the present rests upon accurate knowledge of the human body in health and disease, and the demonstrable action of therapeutic remedies. In this theory has no place. Every man who possesses this knowledge should be eligible to practice and to be called a physician; none other should. As to how he practices thereafter is a matter of his choice. If he varies too much from established principles, the courts are open for prosecution for malpractice." **

Chiropractic education is a "scientific medical education in the fundamental branches of the healing arts. It is founded upon an accurate knowledge of the human body in health and disease. It has developed a long history and documented research base for a number of its therapeutic treatments.

So, as our medical cousins tell us, "every man who possesses this knowledge should be eligible to practice and to be called a physician." Now how much happier would all be, if they, and ourselves, could overcome the prejudice of dogma and realize that "as to how he practices thereafter is a matter of his choice"-- and that of his / her patient.

Watch these editorials in the coming months as we look at more lessons from yesterday--AND DO NOT FORGET to report for publication that which is "other than routine or ordinary matter." We can all benefit from it.

Texas Journal of Medicine, Vol 1; State Medical Association of Texas; Austin, TX; 1905; page 1.
** Ibid; page 221.


 
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