The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-12
CONCERNING HOMEOPATHY.
AMENDMENTS That UERE TOTED DOWN
BY NEW YORK PHYSICIANS.
Efforts that were Made TO Restrict them TO
the Principle OF similin simiIibus Curan-
tur-Dr. Fowler Defeated-HIs Address.

the Principle of SImIlin SIn,iIIbus Curan.
tur-Dr. Fowler Dereated-HIs Address.
When the members OF the New York
Homeopathic Society assembled last eveningto
hold their annual meeting. they viewed with
astonishment and Indignation a huge placard
displayed on the wall which exhibited little
humor and much spite Of nominating the Pres
ident OF the society. DR.. A. X. Hills. for every
office to be filled by election for the ensuing
year. DR.. L. 2. Fowler called attention to the
offensive poster. when the meeting was organ
lied. and branded it rs an insult to the society
and ts presiding officer Still. nobody took 1t
down. After two new members ladies. had
been formally received. n young physician
vented his indignation on the subject Of a " reg
uar ticket" for the socioty's election. sent to
him by mail. He protested against the intro
ducton of the tactics Of the pot-house poll
tican and desired to know who took
it upon himvelf to dictate what was and what
was not regular. The election Of officers was
then begun. and while votes were being slowly
counted various topics were taken up and dis
cussed. The Objectionable placard was the
basis for an especially animated episode. DR..
Wilder moved its removal and a vote of ccnsure
on the person who put II there. which was
passed unanimously. Then member sug-
gested that the man who put the thing up
should be made TO take 1t down. That met with
general approval. and he pointed out the jan
itor as the offender The janhor appeared. and
said that he was hired by the College. and not
by the Society. and he was not subject 10 the or
ders Of the latter. Nevertheless he tore 1t down.
and then the physicians passed vote OF CEN
sure on the persons who ordered II up.
The election resulted in the choioe OF Dr. c.
+. Blumentha for President; DR.. W. H. White.
4 n
and DR.. f. Carleton. Jr.. Treasurer.
DR.. Kellogg. who is Nice-President Of life
insurance company. moved that ms there was
surplus Of funds in the hands Of the treasurer.
that surplus be applied to insuring the lives Of
poor members OF the society; but the meeting
would not regard his proposition as serious.
and the President did not put II to vote.
The important proposed amendments TO the
constitution and bylaws. which have been cir
culated among homeopathic physicians OF New
York during several months past. and been
thoroughly discussed with no small warmth Of
feeling. were then taken up. Those amend
ments contemplated the abandonment OF the
requirement that members OF the society should
subscribe to the homeopathic principle ~
,Simllia simil nus curnntur' and pledge
themselves 10 It's exclusive control in their
practice In form they were ms follows.
In the constitution. after the words state and
AasN
tices upon inserting In its place who believes
in. and has given satisfactory proof. rs provided
for in the bylaws OF this society. that he 'nirly
understands the principle Of similia simi.ibrs
curantur. &c" In the by-lavs. in Article l..
Section l.. omitthe word homeopathic" Il not
being IN accord with Article H. OF the consiitu
ton. which SAYS any phys lcian." Add TO Sec-
tiOn L. Article l.. Of the bylaws and who hps
presented to the Executive Committee OF the So
upon Homgopatby." Follow This amendmep,
with a new section. 10 read As follows;
SIC = A Board Of Fxsminer- upcn Homeor-thy shaIl
each anphcan ADMISSION to mi, ,ocieiy has nj
80, sdp,.ma nom ,lny nea.eal e@s n winch h" a.oi
upon The principle Of hoinUopnfh' Tie hofli o LAan
v-tirb crp pt,aea,e Mi ~. r,@uisei i[ IN. .i.s ~ &
quorum.
Before proposing the amendments. DR.. Fow-
Ter had become satisfied that those opposed 10
the measure had been mos, successful n draw
ing out their full strength tor the meeting. 10
resis, what they regard NJ practical y an uiAn-
| donment Of the homdopathic name and pri n
| cipes. He therefore determined 10 avoid de-
| cisive action. IT possible. by the mouon with
which his address concluded. He sHid:
" IL the constitution of this society. should. for
| Illustration. demand rs one of IA" qua cations
| for membership formal declaration ~ belief In
the property called light. ana pledge That upon
| becoming a member he would thereafter avail
himself of the benefits resulting from light. the
| requisition would probably excite n mild de-
gree Of mirih and ridicule. becsuse formal
srating principle in science IL TOO absurd To- m
| list earnest attention. Does not such pledge.
| applied TO the principle Of Homeopathy. nGtur-
| ally incur this kind Of deris ont Scientists
| OF to-day fully recognize that pledges OF
| belief and promises OF conformity 10 certain
| specified methods are Inconsistent with the very
| elements OF science. and that where the truth
| and utility Of anything has been practically
| demonstrated, faith ana adoption are but in-
| evtablc consequences. Pledges are signals Of
| weuk ness; back OF them always stands stru-t.
| and | submit that any demand Of belief or prAc-
il IA Ttn fa ! .NI do
mands it-a begging Of the qucsuon-nnd
that when applied To- the prlncipie and
practice OF homeopathy, II IMPLIES a
| greater detraction and ouloquy than IL CON
| tanned In the most direct and fercrst attacks
| OF It's opponents. Tho medical profession has
| but recently taken u irm stop on the PLATFORM
| OF science. where prrlshnble observers allow
| imperishphle principles TO r'st IN the MAJESTY
| OF eternal life. without the miserable farce OF
| assuming n protectorate impossible 10 give
| Years ago this ground was mnnully md elo-
| quenty taken by the ren9Wned Chome IN de-
| and 10 practise homeopathy IN the hospitals o.
| Paris. These are his words; Every phy-i-
| clan who is thoroughly qualified 10 practlsr
| has the right 70 select his own mode ot treHt-
| mrnt and to Judge what Is best Tor his patients
and may not be interfered with unless his re-
| suits are VIGOROUSLY bad. or he commit some
| act OF unquestlOnahe malpractice. For sHid
| he, il is only hY the exercise of this freedom
| that changes and improvements have ever been
| introduced in practice; and herein lies thr
| only hope OF further improvements T"ssier
| IN practising homeopathy. has only eNercise!i
| and Rayer. and Louis. and have enjoyed and
as his results are as good as ours. We may
not interfere with them Our loved and
scholarly Carroll punhmn,, upon ~ same
subject, expressed himself, June Z. 1870. thus
| | would have no exclusive creed, no reetric,
tons relating 10 theory and praIcr, but would
| receive into membership u the Institute every
| applicant Of suitable cduout on and mora
| OF tho Massachusetts llump1 1pHthlo Medical sp-
| ciety: This society demands Tor Itself absolute
| liberty in s'ience. and hence requires Of ms up-
| pcant for membership no creed or confession
| Of belief. but only an expression of willing
ness To act for the iurtL crane" Oi It's objects.
"A medical practitioner of this State may pos
sibly Join n county medical society. not that Il
| Is unuuaifrdly his pleasure or his prom TO dc
| the kind in his locality most nearly conforms
| because the laws Of the state exact member
| ship with some county medical society, nnt
| profess powers OF nhicting penalties for non
voluntary, every member. whether a regular Ht-
| to See that the society of which the state lHWs
compel him 10 be a member, shall not formulate
or attempt To enforce conditions other than
those provided for by the State laws which
| alone have the power Ot couierrng, and did
confer all the rights and privileges belonging
| h. the society. and conveyed all instructions us
10 the duties and responsibilities of It's mem
| bers. In establishing county medical eocicues
| il was the expressed object Of the State 10 pro-
| vide means by which the lay
lV VI hn