Daily national Democrat., 1859-02-12
The Case of r. Beverly Cole.

give the result of the deliberations Of the
State Medical Society on the case of DIR. r.
Beverly Cole We find the following pro.
ceedings Of the Society, on the 10th inst, in
the Sacramento Union
DR.. Gibbons, from the Select Committee of five,
made the following report
The committee on the case Of DR.. Cole report
That they have given the subject a patient and
deliberate investigation, and heard all the testi-
mony bearing upon the case, within their reach.
The most obnoxious passages IN the report of
DR.. Cole, re-First, that which has been con-
strued to charge that twu-thirds of the women of
California are subjects Of the venereal disease
Second the declaration that unmarried females
are guilty of "every species of immorality.' As
the meaning of the author in both these cases is,
to say the least, ambiguous, the committee re-
queSted Dr. Cole to explain it to them. They re-
ceived from him, besides verbal statement, the
following declaration in writing
To Special Committee CHjornidStdte Medical So
ciety
GENTLEMEN My Report on Obstetrics and
Diseases of Women" was written hurriedly dur
ing the sessions Of the Society, and without any
view to its publication, much less with the ex
pectatiOn that it would be subject TO censorious
criticism by the public press, and by individuals
IN and out of the profession personally hostile to
me. In the portions which have given oiftnse, |
had not the slightest design to impugn the chasti-
" Of the females of California.
So far from asserting that two-thirds of them
are the victims of prostitution, the idea of prus-
tuition or Of vcnerea disease did not enter my
mind in connection with the statement. | re-
ferred exclusively to diseases directly and remote
w involving the uterine system and to which
woman alone are subject. The expression 'every
specieS Of immortality" as to unmarried females,
was used in a qualified SENSE and intended to APP
div to the common dissipation Of fashionable life,
as explained in the context Immediately follow
ing Though the language was certainly ambig-
uous and calculated to give an impression differ
ent from what intended, yet do most uuquali-
fedly and iadigRdntiy disclim the construction
that has been pat upon it. 1t seems to me that
the context and the general nature of the report
might lead to a different version, unless with in
dividnals dcsirous to make mischief and to do me
an injury | am gentlemen, yours, etc,
r. BEVERLY COLE.
The idea that tvo-thirds of the females in Cali
fornin are prostitutes or are the victims of vene-
real disease, is so preposer0us that no sane man
would be likely to utter it,. And the fact that DR..
Coles report was read before the Society and
adopted aud then passed through the hands of
the Committee of Publication, and was printed
without conveying either to the Society or the
cOmmitte that impression, indicates that il does not
ever unfortunate the author has been in HIS choice
of language, he did not indend to peipetrate such
an Infamous SANDER.
Being acquitted of slanderous intent, it remains
to be considered how far the author of the report
has offended in the careless use of language con-
veving false and unjust impressions.
The action of the Society in adopting the re-
port and the subsequent action o { the Committee
of Publication upon it, clnsranS to the exercise
of charity on this head. There can be no doubt
that the language of the report in question was
very loose and improper. But in this regard
having adopted and indorsed it; no matter IN
what qualifications or with what mitigating cir
cumstinces, we are sitting in Judgment on our
selves Further it should not be forgotten, in
this relation, DR.. Cole has already suffered an ex-
treme penalty for his share Of the error.
1t is evident that the principal difficulty in this
case has resulted from the njudicious conduct of
the press, in calling the document under consider
alton from its privacy within the limits of the
profession and exposing it to the public view,
with the worst possible Interpretation The
whole subject Of obstetrics and female diseases
belongs to the closet of the medical practitioner,
and not to the newspaper. For the curious stran-
ger to intrude into the lying-in chamber is not
more improper than for the public press to criti-
else and expose this department of medical liter.
ature. Had no notice been taken of the report in
the newspapers II wonld have slumbered quietly
on tne pages OF our pfuceeuligS.
The committee would avail themselves of this
opportunity to pronounce a condemnation on the
practice Of getting up hasty reports on the i'm
portant topics allotted to the standing committees
For such neglect Of dnty there is no excuse An
entire year is given for preparation. The mem
bers of the committee, especially the chairman
are notified of the appointment. Under these
circumstances, the objects Of the Society are COM
pletey frustrated bv prncrastinating the subject
til the last day, and then hurryng up crude and
ill-digested papers as nominal tuliment Of du-
ty. Papers drawn up in such haste are not likely
to do credit to the writer nor to the society 1t is
to be hoped the present instance will be warn
ing to all in the future.
In conclusion, your committee recommend the
adoption Of the following resolution:
RESOLVED That while the language used by
DR.. Cole in his report is ambiguous and suscepti-
of a bad construction, his disclaimer, together
with the general result of our investigations en-
title him to acquittal from the charge of inten-
tional SANDER against the women of California
H. GIBBONS,
WM. p. TILDEN,
7. NJ. LOGAN,
Ira T.. 0ATMAN,
JNO T. MCIEAN