The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-13

e,oo. was nOt1ned TO appear ana answer 10 a
charge of making a false statement-not for
violating the code of ethics or charging NAL
practice. If 1 have said anything untrue, I
am willing to be called to account for it, What
said and wrote was, L believe, true. l ap-
peared before the board of inquiry alone and
was nnaided in my case. Tha. board said that
was acting under misapprehension of facts
and recommended that the records of the hos.
pltal be kept more carefully. Could 1 ask a
more thorough acquittal? At the hearing be-
fore the Oensors was alone again. When
claimed that my statement was true, then they
claimed that had broken the code of ethics.
was not prepared to defend myself on this
charge, and so the thing went as it did The
proposition was made to me that If would
divulge my motive for writing the article. the
matter would not be pushed. told them I
dld not want to discuss that matter then.
said II they find me guilty, expected to receive
my punishment then left with a favorable
Impression. In day or two received notice
thing and tried on an entirely different thing.
l was not actuated at any time by any mali.
clous feelings towards DR.. Weeks, and it was
only through his sensitiveness that he could
have been able to think l charged him with
the crime of granddaughter. If in my anger l
have said any unkindness in regard to DR..
Weeks or other members of the society, ask
their forgiveness. loud applause)
ID. Fuller was chairman Of the board of
opportunity asked for by him was grandted.
The Censors were in very straight condition
and now the Society should sustain them. If
you.do not want your rules enforced you must
Keep me off of the committees
DR.. Gerrish-I think the charge of unfair
ness has not been sustained DR.. Files
challenged two members, but they were allowed
to serve while record was made of the
objection. As to the matter of prejudice
because the Cepsors were connected with the
b0anita1 hat or m mrs m nOthuo tbo II
had no more to do with the case than board
ing house or hotel would have had if the
operation had been performed there. 1 have
always been friendly with DR.. Files as he
knows, and think the whole board have been.
lsit necessary for man to commit a great
crime before he is disciplined? At the hearing
he did not show any willingness to be forgiven
but said when asked as to his motive, 81
close the motives that led me to take this
course" If he lied, no further statement from
him is worth hearing. II no did not lie, we
want to know what his motives were DR..
Brickett talks of Dr. Files being scape goat.
Perhaps he is but he is not mine. should
like to know his motives in making this
outrageous charge. In circular which he is
sued and sent to every member OF the Associa-
ton he stated that the reason why he wrote the
article was to purify the profession. Did he
tell the truth or did he not? loud applause
Dr. Files-In regard to the statement made
by DR.. Gerrish will say that at the time I
knew of cases at the hospital which after.
wards were made public and came up before
thought of these cases and was about to
speak of them when it occurred to me that it
was not the time nor place, and made the
remark qnoted by DR.. Gerrish. The cases re-
ferred to do not reflect credit upon the profess
sion as is well known. Dr. Gerrish seems to de-
light to call names which to some would be
called offensive. If he can make out liar
should like to hear him name him.
DR.. Bates Of Yarmouth examined the
matter carefully before signing the petition.
and DR.. Files askes his forgiveness it seems
that the petition of these n physicians should
be granted. do not believe the association
will lose anything by so doing, and move the
petition be granted
DR.. Brickett-Drs. Gerrish and Hunt were
the only ones objected to.
DIR. Hersom-I am disposed to treat the mat
ter fairly. l with others think that DR.. Files
should have had rehearing. 1t would have
given an appearance of fairness. I propose
trial even now and let the matter be settled
DR.. Brickett-I second DR.. Bates motion for
the prayer Of the petitioners ~.
Dr.. B. B. Foster-I appeal to the association
for the Young men to take this man
back lind save division. Take him back to-
day. He is penitent and has learned lesson.
DR.. French-I believe DR.. Files has been
punished enough and would vote to restore
him. but there are other matters to be consid-
cred. Have not members of this association
any rights? Can they bs attacked with impun-
ity?
DR.. Donovan-I am member of the board
OF censors and think they acted right in this
matter. | do not believe we were prejudiced
Dr. Haskell of Stockholm want to hear him
confess that he has done wrong before we for
give him.
DR.. Sanger-He says that If he has done
wrong he is sorry, and that ought to be satis-
factory.
DR.. O'Brien-It would throw discrsdit the
society to take him in except in the way we all
were taken in.
DR.. Sanger-A man can be born but once.
At this point the committee rose and the
meeting adjourned until afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the coming together of the association at
o'clock DR.. Sanger made motion that the
prayer Of the petitioners be granted and Dr.
Files be reinstated
The motion was ruled out of order and an
appeal taken from the decision.
A long discussion followed as to the right of
appeal.
DR.. Gordon said that if DR.. Files was to be
admitted there was no reason why host of
others should not come in on the same plan.
DR.. Billings of Freedom, thought this was an
irregular way to do business. DR.. Files is not
now member. If he wishes to be he must
present himself as others have done to the
Board of Censors. If we take him 10 this way
we censure ourselves.
DR.. Sanger said this was an entirely different
matter than If the man was candidate. He
had been member and wished to be restored
DR.. Gordon suggested that the case could go
to the Board of Censors and they could report
at once. Dr.. Sanger accepted the amendment.
At this point the chair began to discuss the
question, when DR.. Sanger called him to order
and DR.. Bates entered a protest against his act
ing as chairman while the President was in at
tendance.
A long discussion then followed in regard to
DR.. Pendleton's right to preside, bnt it was
dropped and the report of the committee an the
whole taken up and finally voted out of order
by vote Of 4S to IS. This was virtually ote
sustaining the chair.
DIR. Brickett asked for the suspension of the
rule requiring a 80 days notice for application
for membership, in this case. DR.. Gerrish OPP
posed it, DR.. Dana thought it was an excep-
tional case and should be granted. The reso-
luton was lost by vote of So to 20. 1t was
stated that he desired that Dr. Files should 90
before the Board of Csnsors then and there
and make a statement. If they considered it
best to report favorably all well and good, if
not the case would be dropped.
lkDr. Dana then spoke in favor of the motion
to suspend the rule, and it was passed by vote
of 48 to "a.
Application was then made for membership
by DR.. Files aud the case referred to che Gem
sors with suggestion to report ia the even
ing.
The election of officers came up and resulted
as follows:
Presidential. G. Wedgewood of Lewiston.
Vice Presidents-A. j. Billings Freedom, j.
A, Donovan, Lewiston.
Treasurer-A. s. Thayer, Portland.
Censors-F. 81. Gerrish Portland, o. A.
Hoar Lewiston, Z. W. Pendeton Belfast, A.
j. Faller Bath, D. L. Lamson Fryeburg.
Publication Committee-C. o. Hunt ex-ofi-
clio, A. 81. Burbank Yarmouth, G. f. French
Portland, A. P. Meserve, Buxton, G. W. Bray
Portland.
Business Committee-S. G. Gordon Port.
land, D. w. Osgood North Yarmouth, and j.
Iinscntt EarmiOOton