Homeopathic Hassle

For 80 years homeopathic physicians* in Maryland peacefully carried on their practices. They also ran their own medical society, which, by state law, appoints a licensing board of examiners. But last week the homeopaths were hassling among themselves and with the law. Subject of the dispute: Dr. Robert H. Reddick's crusade to "save Homeopathy."

In Maryland, as in the rest of the U.S., homeopathic practice has never been popular. Today there are only 75 "pure" homeopaths practicing in the U.S., but more than 5,000 physicians combine homeopathy with M.D. practice. Reddick has an M.D. from Hahnemann Medical College, serves as senior psychiatrist at Maryland's Eastern Shore State Hospital. But homeopathy is his chosen vocation, and three years ago he launched a homeopathic revival. As a first step, he joined the nearly defunct Maryland State Homeopathic Medical Society, eventually became secretary-treasurer of both the society and the seven-man examining board, which issues licenses. Last year there were no license applications, so Go-Getter Reddick advertised for new members. Of the 23 candidates that showed up, eleven were from a correspondence college (Fremont) in Los Angeles; seven from an uncertified, nonactive San Francisco school (Western Medical College) that graduated only one class in the last four years. None was a resident of the state. But with a Maryland license, each could practice in 25 states and territories that recognize Maryland licensing through reciprocity.

The A.M.A. protested, as did Reddick's own colleagues on the board. But Reddick allowed the questionable candidates to take qualifying exams, issued licenses to all--after complaining that he had to retrieve four exam papers "stolen by a chambermaid in the pay of the A.M.A."

The new licensees promptly took over control of the Homeopathic Society, fired dissenters. While legal briefs were flying, Reddick blithely prepared to license 59 more out-of-state applicants, all dubiously qualified. Meanwhile, the society voted a $500 assessment for all recent members to be used by Reddick for the "protection and maintenance of homeopathy." When Reddick tried to qualify the 59 newcomers, a sheriff and deputies broke up the proceedings. But Reddick nevertheless licensed 50 of the 59.

In June, Maryland Attorney General C. Ferdinand Sybert finally determined to get tough. Into Dorchester County courthouse marched Dr. Reddick, loudly charging that the A.M.A. was "out to get homeopathy." This week Judge Joseph R. Byrnes held that Reddick had engaged in a "bold conspiracy" to issue licenses "to persons wholly unqualified to receive them." Dr. Reddick and seven of his colleagues were as good as out of business.

* A branch of medicine established in Germany in 1810 by Dr. Samuel Christian Friedrich Hahnemann, it is based on a principle that drugs which will cause certain symptoms will also relieve the same symptoms. Example: when a patient has a fever, a regular doctor will try to find and remove its cause. A homeopath, on the other hand, will treat fevers (from diverse causes) with a drug that itself causes fever, on the theory that "like cures like." Among those who have had homeopaths to treat them: Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Pius XII.

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