CHAPTER 268

An Act to amend and reenact § 54-2738, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to definitions in laws relating to the healing 58)
82

Approved March 12, 1960

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 54-273, as amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended and

reenacted as follows:
§ 54-273. When used in this chapter unless expressly stated other-

Vi (1) “Board” means the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of
irginia.

(2) “The healing arts’ means the art or science or group of arts or
sciences dealing with the prevention and cure or alleviation of human
ailments, diseases, or infirmities, and has the same meaning as “medicine”
when the latter term is used in its comprehensive sense.

wise
(3) “Practice of medicine” means the treatment of human ailments,
diseases, or infirmities by any means or method. ;

(4) “Practice of homeopathy” means the treatment of human ail-
ments, diseases, or infirmities by any means or method.

(5) “Practice of osteopathy” means the treatment of human ail-
ments, diseases, or infirmities by any means or method other than surgery
and drugs, provided, however, that if a duly licensed osteopath has satis-
fied the Board of Medical Examiners that he has had adequate clinical
experience at the professional school from which he graduated, or hospital
work, to enable him to perform surgery with the use of instruments, or
has satisfied the Board by an examination that he is qualified to practice
surgery, and has further satisfied the Board by an examination that he
is qualified to administer drugs, then the term “practice of osteopathy” as
applied to such person shall include the use of surgery and drugs.

(6) “Practice of chiropractic” means the adjustment of the twenty-
four movable vertebrae of the spinal column, and assisting nature for the
purpose of normalizing the transmission of nerve energy. It does not
include the use of surgery, obstetrics, osteopathy, nor the administration
nor prescribing of any drugs, medicines, serums or vaccines.

(7) “Practice of naturopathy” means the treatment of human ail-
ments, diseases or infirmities by means of heat, light, diet, massage,
baths and other natural agents, but does not include the use of surgery,
the X-ray, X-ray therapy, electro therapeutics, obstetrics, osteopathy, or
the prescribing of any drug or medicine.

(8) “Practice of chiropody (podiatry)’’ means the medical, mechani-
cal and surgical treatment of the ailments of the human foot, but does not
include amputation of the foot or toes, nor the use of other than local
anesthetics.

(9) “Practice of physical therapy’”’ means the treatment under medi-
cal prescription and direction of bodily or mental disorders of any person
by use of physical, chemical and other properties of heat, cold, light,
water, electricity or sound, and by means of mechanical, electronic and
other devices, massage, exercise and other physical procedures, whether
such devices and procedures are for therapeutic or for retraining or
rehabilitation purposes. The term “physical therapy” as used in this chap-
ter does not include the use of Roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic
or therapeutic purposes or the use of electricity for shock therapy and
surgical] purposes, including cauterization. Nothing in this definition shall
be construed to limit or restrict the practice of any person licensed by the
Board as other than a physical therapist, nor shall anything in this defi-
nition limit or restrict the giving or use of massages, steam baths, dry
heat rooms, infra red heat or ultra violet lamps in health clubs and spas,
public or private