The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-21

The LAST Row AMONG THE DocroRs.-We made
simple announcement of the fact that at the last
meeting OF the Medical Society of this county, a
resolution repeating the act which conferred the de-
gree on Hahneman was passed. As the matter has
| created very considerable excitement in the me
| deal world, and among the numerous admirers of
Hahneman here, we feel called to present full
statement of all the facts in the case, accompanying
the narrative with such remarks as may in our udg-
ment be necessary and justifable Our statement
OF the facts, give the authority of one Of the
most respectable and talented members of the So
| ciety.
Eleven years ago Hahneman was elected, after
| two months public notice, on honorary member OF
the Medical Society Of this county The meeting
| at which this election was held, was attended by
about sixty physicians. Objection WAS made by a
| member, and iair discussion ensued. Hahne-
mans title 10 the honor was defended by the presi-
| dent OF the society, who stated that he had Just
finished the peIusal OF one OF the candidates latln
works contalning,ln addition to the peculiar views
of the author abundant proof of his very great pro-
fessiona and classical erudition. The work cited
by the president Is entitled "Frsgmena dc voclbus
medlcamenlorum posiuvis, etc, and was published
thirty-elght years ago; After the presidents de-
| fence OF Hahneman, which, without protesting the
slightest adhesion TO homeopathic, was spirited and
| unanswerable, the ballol box was passed 10 the
members, all OF whom voted affirmatively, except
| ing one. Soon after this act the diploma was fur
nished by the president and corresponding secretary,
and forwarded by DR.. John F. Gray TO Hahneman,
who acknowledged its reception in eloquent let
ter, containing high compliment TO the institu-
tons Of lhls republic. Such is the entire history OF
the transaction which has furnished pretext for
an unparalleled act on the part of some twenty
eight or thirty medical men who happened to re-
main at the last meeting of the County Medical So
clety after its proper business, the election OF 0f-
GERS for the ensuing year, was finished. Dr. Manly
then proposed resolution resembling or repeating
| the resolution by which this honorary membership
was conferred AS II resolution OF any kind could
repeal annul an election by ballot; and especially
rendered without previous notice. without color
of precedent, and without authority express or i'm
piled in the bye laws of the society! As far as the
validity OF Hahneman's membership is concerned,
this resolution is worse than respectfully nugatory;
IL is contemptibly impotent.
OF the small number who voted on this dlsorderly
proposition, two recorded their negative and this
circumstance is cunnlngy paraded in the annony-
nous print of the transaction, 80 that the public
may suppose that only two members OF the society
were opposed to Its passage, whilst il IS well kaown
IN the professlon that there are nearly thirty mo-
m9pathlc physicians IN the city, and that that
number IS increasing Ii DR.. Manly had rendered
a resolution condemnatory OF Hahneman's mode OF
choosing and applying remedies TO the sick, or one
saying hard things OF homeopathy, 1t would have
passed at that or any other meeting OF the society,
with the most hearty concurrence OF large ma
jority OF the profession here and elsewhere, and no
homePathist could feel that the act was either dis
w,
the common usages of learned bodies. But to at
tempt the revocation of an honor conferred un-
sought upon man, who had attained high rank
as writer on the materla medca more than halt
century ago, and TO attempt an act so nearly affect
ing the reputation of the society without notice, and
when not one twelfth of Its ordinary members was
present, cannot be regarded with appreciation even
by those of his alopahc brethren, who are as eager
as the mover of the act Is to do something to sup
press the new mode OF practice This kind OF pro-
ceedure must certainly defeat its object. It not
impress the public so forclbly against Hahneman
as might be wished, that his opponents are willing
at one time to applaud him in the strongest manner
possible, and at another without any intervening
change of conduct or principles on his part, to cover
his name with an iniamy which has no parallel In
the annals OF a queruous profession. II was as
serted at the time that this novel resolution was
under consideration, that the members OF the So
clety were ignorant OF the peculiar character OF
Hahnemans writings and mode of practice This
is certainly error, because the subject was dis
cussed as intelllgby then as 1t could be now. Be
sides, Hahneman's biography had been published in
the Encyclopedia Americana year before he was
ele cled; Hafeand's Journal, and many other Eu-
ropean medical journals, had, for twelve OF fifteen
years, contained many articles on Hahneman and
homeopathy; some friendly and some inimical to
both
Again-it was averred in support of the motion,
that the members OF the society were ignorant OF
the character OF the man upon whom they were
comforting the honor, that there was mistake IN
the name on the record However this may be, we
have been informed on the best authority, that the
diploma was filed out don1inunl S1mueiem Hdhne-
man, aucterem homeopathic, signed by the Presi-
dent the late DR.. Pelxotto the foreign secretary,
the late DR.. Ackerly; and counerslgned by the re-
cordng secretary, DR.. Walsh, with the seal OF the
society attached. There was no mistake, therefore,
In the case, other than the cerky error in making
the minute OF the name. large number OF those
who conferred the honor are deceased, but there
are Survivors enough to substantlate the acts as
thus stated beyond possible cavil and their truth
being admitted there is no imaginable pretext sufh
IN fhA nj q
from The derislon which must adhere TO IL while it
lasts.
SOMETHING MORE FOR THE FoURrERrrEs.- The
following communication ends all we have got to
say on the matter. AS speaks for itsewe add not
syllable OF COMMENT
Dn.J. A. HoUsroN
DEAN SIR,
As mater OF Justice to and without the slightest
solicitation your part am induced to make the follow
ing statement You will remember thu in conversation
18th you about the time DR.. Beechers sermon pub
shed in the Herald remarked that &c would give you
something by way Of reply, which not as reasonable
and logical as the sermon, would be very eloquent"
occupied leisure moment in ranscrbing the portion Of
the article as published by you and upon which the
charge OF plagiarism is made.
The alterations the article noticed by your cotempo
rary OF the Tribune, were made by me.
AN induced TO send you this note because perceive
that there those no profess to believe that the ar
Gle on the DRAMA concocted by connected
with the Herald newspaper You are at liberty to pub
lsh this letter for the satisfaction Of any who dis
satisfied with the explanation GU have already made
am, sc. w. GRAND1N.
60i Warren street, July 30, l6a3
TRIAL FOR EMBEzzLEMENr.-The Boston papers
say that the trial of William Wyman, late Presi-
dent of the Phenix Bank, Charestown, indicted Tor
embezzling the funds of that institution, will take
place next month at Concord, Judge Alen,of Wor-
cester, presiding II is said that the prisoner will
be defended by Daniel Webster, RUFUS Choate,