New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-20
The Physicians and Surgeons Prote CITY,
AsBOciatiOns

a most important movement has lately
been put on foot. The members Of the
medical profession, approaching not alone
their own worth. but the duties incumb en-.
upon them. met last evening in the central
hal! Of the Medical University. Tho pur.
pose was thorough organic alton OF the
medical profession. That vast amour OF
good must result from such an expr ession
Of sentiment and opinion can not be de MED
The following preamble and resolu lions
were read and adopted. They were the re.
suit Of the labors Of the following commit.
tee. appointed as an informal meeting held
previously: Drs. D. c. Holiday. Howard
Smith. }. l.. Crawcour. Warren Stone. w.
2. Brown and S. S. Herrick:
WHEREAS. The practitioners of med ;cine
in New Orleans are certainly defrauded by
the people who have the means but not the
disposition to pay reasonable fees; and
Whereas, Through want of concert of
action among said practitioners, they are
virtually without a remedy against the i'm.
position of those who change their IN edi.
cal advisers as often as their credit is ex.
haus'ed. and pay only with promises or
misrepresentation. Therefore, it seems
proper and expedient to the undersig ned
practitioners of medicine to form pro tee.
tive association for the following purposes,
and under the following regulations:
|. To facilitate the collection Of bills after
failure by the ordinary means.
:. To arrange list Of delinquents, graiu.
ated according to their ability and DISPOSE
ton to pay, and specifying their residences
and occupations.
3. To communicate this list of delinquents
to members Of this association exclusively,
on which information each one may govern
his action in accordance with his own judg.
ment and inclination.
To carry out the above purposes
there shall be instituted an execu.
tive committee of seven, which shall
be assigned the duties of choosing as collec.
tors for attending to such bills as may be
offered by the members, OF defining the
plan to be carried out by the collector Of
preparing aud publishing the delinquent.
list.
This committee may meet for the transac.
ton of business at their own discretion; but
majority shall be requisite for a quorum
and no action on their part shall be binding
until after its ratification by the associa-
ton.
A quorum Of the association for the trans.
action OF business shall consist of at least
One-third OF all the members, and no new
line OF policy shall be adopted by less than
a twG-.hirds vote of al! the members.
A recess OF five minutes was then taken
for the purpose of signing the above reso'
buttons. and to perfect the organization.
Eighty doctors signed tho resolutions.
On Teassembiing, Dr.. D. c. Holiday was
unanimously chosen president; DR.. Samuel
Logan and DR.. Howard Smith. vice presi.
dents: DR.. William II. Watkin 8, secretary.
and DR.. F. Loeber. treasurer.
DR.. Holiday took his seat a. presiding
officer amid much applause.
A calm and dispassionate discussion then
arose. DR.. Brewer spoke Of the low grade
to which the services of the profession had
been reduced. 1t was not charity, but the
degradation OF the profession. Several
other members took part in the debate.
The sense Of the meeting seemed to be
that the high profession of medicine should |
protect itself in future action: tina. while it |
should have holy regard for the demands !
Of humanity, the skill and labor and cease.
ess watchfulness of the guardian of health |
should not be at the beck and ca II of those |
able but unwilling to pay. !
The matter Of attendance upon societies |
vas brought up. 1t was demons trated that !
physicians were in the habi. of attending |
Of societies at contract rates.
ome of which brough: down the price Of |
lists to eight cents each.
Some further remarks " ere made By Drs.
oirneyer. Crawcour and Others
The meeting then adjourned.