Page 264 - My FlipBook

248 world's history and

At this period, May 2-17, 1791, a decree was issued proclaiming
the free exercise of all professions, arts and trades. A second
decree, of August 18, 1792, abolished, as a consequence, the uni-
versities, the faculties, the professors and teachers.
The necessity of re-establishing those conditions, however,
made itself apparent in a very short time.
Fourcroy, in the Legislative Assembly, said, regarding the
motives for the law of Ventose 19, in the year XL: "The most
complete anarchy has succeeded the ancient organization. The
lives of the citizens are in the hands of persons as covetous as
ignorant. The most dangerous empiricism, the most shameless
charlatanism everywhere imposes on and deceives credulity and
honesty. The cities, as well as the country, are infested with
quacks who distribute poison and death with an irrepressible
audacity and insolence * * * ." For these reasons
the law of Ventose 19, in the year XL, was promulgated. This
law was later repealed for the one now in force. As a conse-
quence of this law, every distinction between the surgeons and
physicians disappeared, but there were created two classes of
physicians, viz., doctors of medicine and health officers (officiers
de sante).
"
Article 1 of this law reads: Nobody shall have the right to
practice medicine or surgery, or style himself as health officer,
without having passed examination, as prescribed by the present
law."
Art. 2. "Every person who shall obtain the privilege of
practicing the healing art, must possess the title ot Doctor of
Medicine, or Surgery, or Health Officer * * *
Art. 3. "Doctors of Medicine and Surgery, who have obtained
their licenses from the old faculties of Medicine, colleges of Sur-
gery, or the surgical societies, shall have the privilege to continue
the practice of the healing art."
Nothing was mentioned in this law regarding dentists, who
from that time considered themselves authorized to practice
without submitting- to the conditions of the above cited law.
Now the question arose whether the law of the year XL in-
cluded the dental profession. The doctrine asserted that by the
expressions " Doctor of Medicine, or Surgery, or Health Officer"
the law of Ventose was undoubtedly intended to embrace the
different branches of the healing art. It was further argued: " Is
it not equally just that every one of the different branches of the