326 STATE AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION XIII 



" doctor's stuff " and advice from the chemist and 

 druggist round the corner, who has not paid 

 sixpence for his medical training, because he has 

 never had any. 



The general practitioner thinks this is very hard 

 upon him and ought to be stopped. It is perhaps 

 natural that he should think so, though it would 

 be very difficult for him to justify his opinion on 

 any ground of public policy. But the question is 

 really not worth discussion, as it is obvious that 

 it would be utterly impracticable to stop the 

 practice "over the counter" even it it were 

 desirable. 



Is a man who has a sudden attack of pain 

 in tooth or stomach not to be permitted to go to 

 the nearest druggist's shop and ask for something 

 that will relieve him ? The notion is preposterous. 

 But if this is to be legal, the whole principle of the 

 permissibility of counter practice is granted. 



In my judgment the intervention of the State in 

 the affairs of the medical profession can be justified 

 not upon any pretence of protecting the public, 

 and still less upon that of protecting the medical 

 profession, but simply and solely upon the fact that 

 the State employs medical men for certain purposes, 

 and, as employer, has a right to define the con- 

 ditions on which it will accept service. It is for 

 the interest of the community that no person shall 

 die without there being some official recognition 

 of the cause of his death. It is a matter of the 



