State v. Bonham
State v. Bonham
Opinion of the Court
-During the progress of the trial the following concession was made on the part of the prosecution: “It is conceded that Dr. Bonham’s residence is in Ottumwa, Iowa, and has been for the last four years; that he has been a practicing physician in the state -of Iowa for the last eleven years; that beholds a certificate from the state board of medical examiners; that that certificate has been recorded in. 'Wapello- county, Iowa, and in Mahaska county, Iowa;, that he hold® -diplomas from three medical colleges; that he is an able physician, and successful above the average of his profession in the treatment of .disease.” The evidence -shows that the defendant caused to be-inserted advertisements in two newspapers-, published in the city of Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, which, in substance, were a,s follows: That he would be at the Birds-a-11 Hotel in Oskaloosa every Tu-es-day from 10 o^ clock a. m. to 6 p. m., for the purpose of treating his ■many patients. That, he made a, specialty -of chronic disease® and rupture, and that he would treat catarrh, of the nose, throat, and lung® in a m-ost successful manner. He also named other disease® which he would treat, such as chronic stomach troubles, liver, kidney, and kindred diseases. Two or three witnesses were examined wbo> had' been under treatment with the-
We have stated sufficient of the facts to show that the case demands very brief consideration. The •defendant did not advertise, nor propose to vend or sell, anything prohibited by this statute. He did not even sell the trusses which he used, but refused to do • so.. He advertised himself as a skillful physician, which he is conceded to be. He named no drug or •ointment, or anything mentioned in the statute, which he would sell, nor any kind.of manipulation or other •expedient to' be employed in treating disease. He advertised his skill as a physician, and nothing more, and the defendant was not shown to be a “vender,” in the sense in which the word is used in the statute. It is conceded that he is not a vender in a criminal sense, but it is claimed that he vends medicine in a professional sense. The facts show 'that he undertook to effect cures for a named consideration, and, like .¡many other physicians, he did not write prescriptions
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Iowa v. J. C. Bonham
- Status
- Published