C.D. Greenall, D.C. and the 1907 California Medical Practice Act

The development of the legal status of the chiropractic profession often resulted from continual persecution by the medical authorities who held almost exclusive power to license health care providers. While the medical boards may seem to offer an "olive branch" in the legislative wars over licensure in the form of drugless practitioner licenses, naturopathic endorsements, or licenses under the "all other" category, their goal was to contain and eliminate all rival professions. A previous article dealt with the prosecution of C.D. Greenall, D.C., at the hands of the medical board. Since writing that article, I have had the opportunity to read The Chiropractor and to develop more fully an understanding of Dr. Greenall and his actions. Not all prosecutions of chiropractic doctors were instigated by the medical profession; some were insisted upon by other chiropractic doctors. Dr. Greenall and his legal counsel were just such a team. With a goal of having California's 1907 Medical Practice Act declared unconstituional, Dr. Greenall presented himself for prosecution. This article more fully details Dr. Greenall and his attempts to gain some form of recognition for the chiropractic profession.