The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-06-16
Monroe County Medical Society.

Mr.. EDITOR During the past few
days there have been posted throughout
the Borough of Stroudsburg and various
parts of the county. handbills, Of which
the following is copy
Down with Imposition.
All of the citizens of this County op-
posed to the late infamous proceedings Of
the "Monroe County Medical Society" ID
establishing list Of most exorbitaut fees,
will meet in Convention at the Court
House, in Stroudsburg, on Saturday, the
18Th instant, at 2 o'clock P. NJ, to take
nto consideration the propriety of send
ing abroad for Physician who will be
satisfied with attending to the wants OF
the suffering portion of our community,
for reasonable pensation. We have
understood that every Physician in the
County, with two exceptions, has entered
into this league, with the view Of extort-
ing the outrageous fees which are adver-
tised under the sanction of this Society.
All the citizens Of the County, who are
opposed to this new system of bleeding in
the Medical profession, will please take
notice and be present at the appointed
time and place.
MANY CITIZENS.
June IL, 1859.
1t would seem from this call, that there
exists in the public mind much misappre-
honsion respecting the objects and char
acter Of the body known as the Monroe
County Medical Society" and it is for the
purpose of throwing some light upon the
subject that this communication is written.
In the outset it may te well to men
ton, that in every county in this State
where the number of physicians is sufi j.
ciently great to make it practicable, there
exists medical society. 1t is the same
10 all the other States. There is also in
each State State Medical Society, com
posed of delegates from each of the Coun
!y Societies; and from each State Society
delegates are sent who meet annually in a
National Medical Convention.
The great object of all these organiza-
tons is the improvement Of the Medical
profession throughput the United States
This is effected by means of lectures, es-
says aud discussions on subjects connec-
ted with the profession. Opinions are in-
terchanged on the nature and treatment
of diseases and injuries, quarantine, the
public health, and kindred subjects; and
in this manner the standard OF Medical
education, and Of the Medical profession,
is increased and elevated.
Such are the objects of, and the means
used by every county medical society;
and surely nothing could be more lauda-
bic or praise worthy. Every person who
is obliged to entrust the care of his health
OF that of bis family in the hands of a
physician, becomes directly and vitally
interested in the qualifications Of that
physician; and any means that have a
tendency to add to the skill and expert.
ence of physicians must rebound to the
benefit of the public at large.
Hence it is, that wherever County
Medical Societies have been established
and hteir object understood, they have
found favor at the hands of the commu-
nifty, the members of which have invaria.
bly, encouraged them and cheered them
on in their efforts to accomplish so
good and so useful work. By means OF
them the nature and pecuiarities of dis
eases of particular localities are learned
the progress of cpidem les noticed, and
each member is enabled to possess bim-
self of the views, the practice and the ex-
perience of all.
Of course this involves trouble, expense
and the apparent loss Of valuable time,
but it is done for the good of suffering
humanity; and alth hough the members OF
such societies do not receive, and do not
expect for this sacrifice of time and com
fort any pecuniary reward, yet they are
buoyed up by the hope that by it they
nay be enabled to increase the means and
the sphere of their usefulness in society.
Besides using the means mentioned for
their mutual improvement, it is usual for
Medical Societies to adopt code of Eth
les, defining the duties of Physicians to
the public, to their patients, and to each
other; as also the duties Of patients and
the public to Physicians. The code is the
same throughout the United States, being
that of the American Medical Association
and adopted by every county society.
Again, in order that the compe nsation
for their services may be charged at uni.
form rates, the members Of each society
establish their Fee. BILL In accord