The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-02
USPROFEssIONAL.
The Quarrel OF the DOctors-Cundu
langO Has His Revenge.

| range Has His Revenge
The Retrospect, a medc,I journal printed
ia New York, publishes the following edi'
toria':
1t is most unfortunate that TO the horrible
attempt AT nssais nation there should be ad'
ded scandal, calculated to throw discred
upon the medical profession. We kow
that public opinion catches at as choice
morsel anything that may, or seemingly
tend towards It's disparagement. Hogarlh's
picture of the dying patient aud the quarrel
! ing doctors has long stood rs favorite ex
,r.ssion of this impulse. And now there
has been violation Of the medical Oihics at
a time and place calculated to do the profess
sion harm. Section Band Of the code of
ethics of the American Medical assOCa-
ton reads as ollows:
S,c. s When physician is csle1 to an
urgent case because the family attendant Is
not at hand he ought, unless his assistance in
consultation be desired, TO resign the care
of the patient to the latter Immediately on his
arrival.
Sec 6, II often happens in cases of sudden
| illness or Of recent accident and injuries, ow-
irg to the alarm and anxiety of friends, that
a number Of physicians are simultaneously
cent for. Under these circumstances courte.
az should assign the patient TO the first who
arrives, VINO should select from those present
any additional asss ance he may deem neces
ssry. In all such cases, however, the prac-
titioner who Officistes should request the
family physician, if there be one, 70 be called
and unless his further attendance be reques'
tod should resign tie case TO the latter On his
arrival
Immediately afer tho wounding Of the
pr 8 den. messages we're dispatched in all
directions for physicians. Dr. Smith Town
send was the first to reach the patient and
prescribe appropriate remedies. DR.. Plrvls
WIS the next ia attendance, and aztec MIN
DR.. ID w. Bliss, who at once assumed formal
charge, which he retained undlstarbed until
the arrival ut the white house of DR.. j. II.
Baxter, the presidents family physicisr,
who requested Dr. Bliss to take him to the
patient. This Dr.. Bliss refused.
Io substsntation of DR. Baxter's claims to
the position of family physician, the follow
iug letter FROM DR.. Pometiue, of Ohio, for
merly surgeon of the presidents old regi-
ment, is given:
National Hotel, Washington, d. o., July
Cd. Fl. Baxter, surgeon, U. S A, Wash-
i,gton d. C.-Dsar Doctor: Ga my arrival
in the city on the evening of the 3D. inst
expected to hnd you in cnarge of President
Garfield, as he stated two years ago, and also
in ID cpmber last past, that you were his
family physician. will return to my home
in ONO to morrow morning. Our deIr
presiden! will recover from his wounds and
the complications which may arise. Very
RESPECTFULLY, your friend, j. PoMERINE.
FIR the above statement OF facts We ran
but draw these conclusions: First, that DR.
Bliss was Lot tho family physician, and by
assuming charge Of DR.. Townssnd's patient
treated that physician with professional dn-
courtesy and violated the spirit of that POI
ton Of .he section which reads: "When q
number of physicians are simultaneous y
sent for, courtesy should assign
the patient to the first who ar
rives." Second, not being the family
physician, but simply an accident ]
attendant, position belonging to Dr..
Townsend, DR.. Bliss, by refus ng to permit
DR. Baxter, the family physician, 10 see the
president, was guilty of great professional
dIscourtesy, and grossly violated the spirit of
section 8, which reads: "When physician
is called to an urgent case because the fam
lily attendant il not at hand, he ought unless
his assistance In consultation be de
sired, to resign the care of the
patient TO the later Immediately on his
arrival. We have no wish to dwell upol
this disgrsceful sff.ir, but de'ire to call
attention as bright contrast, 10 the for
bearing and gentlemsnly conduct of Drs.
own cod and Baxter. DR.. Townsend
NOT Wishing to make scene at the depot
beside the supposed dying president, quietly
permitted himself TO be Du,tled by DR. Bliss
into secondary position. DR.. Baxter, though
he had the right to demsnd the immediate
charge of his patient, simply request d
DR. Bliss TO take him to see the president. He
mad upon re,ching the white hyue pur
potely RETAINED from going into the
presidents room without frat So ing Or Bliss
and The only request be made to Ne Bliss was
that he should be t,ken in to see the
president. The Re quest was met with in.ult
to which liz gaVethe lie, ard seei q
the improperly of fu her distutbs CO
| near ,he wounded man he ret rsd. Just
here a query sul e 'sis Itself. AT the consuis
,a,ion On Sun lay morning, where Or Batt r
first made his appearance, sec nd consuta-
| lion WAS appointed for p. m. Bat the
| hour had arrived \ number of the consul ipg
physicians received over the signature OF DR.
Bliss circular letter of dnm sal. OF this
nu uber we're DR.. Townsen' tirt in attend.
On, e; Surgeon General Vac, o the navy,
whose sovice at the morniog coDsn'tation
WAS we understand, most timely, I'D DR.. N.