The Illinois Legislature has been considering the propriety of passing a new Health Act, prepared by Dr. Ranch. The old law provides for the regulation or suppression of all healers who do not graduate at regular schools of medicine, or pass a satisfactory examination before the Medical Board.
Dr. Ranch wishes further legislation, to the effect that "any person shall be regarded as practising medicine, within the meaning of this Act, who shall treat, operate on, or prescribe for the sick or afflicted;" that a certificate of examination shall cost $25; and that itinerant venders of anything intended for the treatment of disease, or who in any way profess to heal disease "by any drug, nostrum, manipulation, or other expedient," shall pay a license of $100 a month to the Board.
The Chicago Tribune takes up the subject in a jocose way, and reports interviews with Dr. G. B. Charles and Mrs. Ursula N. Gestefeld. Dr. Charles thought that the stringent law proposed would punish clergymen for praying for the recovery of the sick. Mrs. Gestefeld thought it would be time enough for the Board to examine, when its members had learned something of Christian Science Dr. Rauch's plan was defeated. The Tribune declares that mental healers are as thick in Chicago "as fleas in Vallombrosa, or candidates for office;" and thus concludes its article:
