Jackson v. State

By the undisputed testimony it is admitted that this appellant was engaged in the practice of a chiropractor in Randolph county, and within the time covered by the complaint against him in this case.

The evidence is also without conflict upon the proposition that he engaged in such practice, as aforesaid, without having obtained a certificate of qualification from the state board of medical examiners.

Under the law of this state any person who treats, or offers to treat, diseases of human beings, by any system of treatment whatsoever, must obtain a certificate of qualification so to do from the state board of medical examiners, and the treating or offering to treat diseases of human beings without having obtained a certificate of qualification from said board is a misdemeanour (Acts 1915, p. 661), and this applies to the chiropractor as well as to any who treats, or offers to treat, diseases of human beings by any system of treatment. In other words, under the present law the privilege of engaging in the calling or profession of treating, or offering to treat, diseases of human beings by any system whatsoever is denied to all persons who have not obtained the required certificate of qualification from said board.

This statute is not unconstitutional, as is insisted by appellant. State v. State Board of Medical Examiners, 209 Ala. 9,95 So. 295, and cases cited. Bell v. State, 104 Ala. 79,15 So. 557; Fealy v. City of Birmingham, 15 Ala. App. 368,73 So. 296.

It is a valid exercise of the police powers, and has as its purpose the protection of the public; and is not discriminatory, as the authority of the state board of medical examiners to issue certificate of qualification is not limited to those who desire to enter the profession as homeopathic doctors, but extends to all schools or systems of treatment. Therefore the chiropractor is not excluded or discriminated against, under the provisions of this statute, for he has the same right to apply to the board for the required certificate of qualification as has the osteopath or homeopath, and, if the necessary certificate of qualification is awarded him, there is nothing in the law that denies him the right to pursue his method known as the chiropractic system of treatment.

As has well been said this law is designed to protect the public from the ignorant and the incompetent (Williamson v. State, 16 Ala. App. 392, 78 So. 308), and, as stated, since there is no discrimination in this law against the school of practice indulged by appellant, there is no reason why he, or his class, should be excepted from the operation thereof.

This prosecution originated in the county court, and from a judgment of conviction in said court he appealed to the circuit court. It is here insisted by the fourth assignment of error —

"that the verdict and judgment is void, for that the judge of the county court failed to make a copy of the proceedings had in the county court, verify the same as correct, and hand the transcript to the clerk of the circuit court, as required by section 6726 of the Code of 1907 in cases of appeal from the county court to the circuit court."

In support of this insistence appellant cites the cases of McLosky v. State (Ala.App.) 98 So. 706 (on rehearing),¹ Hall v. State (Ala.App.) 95 So. 904,² and Ex parte Rogers,12 Ala. App. 218, 67 So. 710, the case of McLosky, supra, being relied upon principally in this connection. That case expressed the views of the writer and of this court on the question involved, but the rule therein stated was not approved by the Supreme Court on certiorari in Ex parte State ex rel. Atty. Gen., In re McLosky v. State (Ala. Sup.) 98 So. 708,³ and under the statute (Acts 1911, p. 100, § 10) this court must be governed by the decisions of the Supreme Court. Under the decision in the Ex parte McLosky Case, supra, the Supreme Court held in effect that the transcript of the county judge required by section 6726 is not essential, and in this connection the court, speaking through Mr. Justice Gardner, has the following to say:

"We recognize that the circuit court does not acquire jurisdiction by the execution of the appeal bond, for such bond is not a condition precedent to an appeal (Afford v. State,170 Ala. 178, 54 So. 213, Ann. Cas. 1912C, 1093), but the holding in the Lee Case, which we here approve [Lee v. State,10 Ala. App. 191], is to the effect that the recitals of the appeal bond suffice to show the trial and conviction of the defendant in the county court, and his appeal from a conviction to the circuit court, thereby giving to the latter court jurisdiction of the cause."

Under this decision of the Supreme Court we must hold that the circuit court acquired jurisdiction of this case, and the insistence of error in this connection cannot be sustained.

The complaint not only followed the form laid down in the Code in the first count, which is sufficient (Smith v. State.8 Ala. App. 352, 63 So. 28), but in the third count the language of the statute was substantially followed, which makes that count good. The demurrers to the complaint were properly overruled.

On the trial of this case the state unnecessarily assumed the burden of providing that the defendant had not obtained a certificate of qualification from the state board or medical examiners. This was defensive matter, and, as the state had offered testimony showing that the defendant treated disease of human beings, the burden was cast on defendant to show that he had obtained the certificate of qualification required by law. McLosky v. State (Ala.App.) 98 So. 706;⁴ Porter v. State,58 Ala. 66; Bibb v. State, 83 Ala. 84, 90, 3 So. 711; Morgan v. Whatley, 205 Ala. 170, 87 So. 846; Thompson v. State, ante, p. 328, 97 So. 258.

There being no conflict in the evidence, and, there being ample testimony to sustain the averments of the complaint, the court properly gave the affirmative charge in writing requested by the state.

There appears no error in any of rulings of the court. The record proper is without error; therefore the judgment appealed from must stand affirmed.

Affirmed.

¹ Ante, p. 544.

² Ante, p. 178.

³ 210 Ala. 458.

⁴ Ante, p. 544.