The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-06-30

BY special request, we publish the following
article from the Ann Arbor Register, ans
while We express no opinion on the correct
ness or incorrectness of the views of tn,
writer, it is certainly an interesting resume o
the matter from the stand point of membe
of that branch of.the profession usually de
nominated regular physicians; AT the Amer
lean Medical Association which held meet
ing at st. Paul, Minnesota, last week the del
egates from the New York State Medical So
ciety were excluded on the ground that tn,
New York Society had lately changed iti
code of ethics SO as to allow its members Il
consult with irregular practitioners. At frs
thought this may seem like bigotry to on,
outside of the profession, but consideration
of the facts in the matter will lead most t.
acknowledge that it is the only consistent
course for q body of men, who desire e
maintain the dignity and honor of scientific
medicine. No doubt the secular press vii
berate them, and heap insult upon them, as
is usual in such cases. Not long since one
of our exchanges, speaking of this departure
of the New YORK Society from the establish
ed code, hailed it with delight, and denomi
mated the old code established by the Ameri
can Medical Association, forbidding such
consultations, as a relic of barbarism. 1t Is
only ignorance of the code or indifference tC
truth and honor in the practice of medicine
that can lead any one to sneer at it. We
have read the code and defy any one to point
to thing i'll it that entities it to ridicule
Save few directions relating to etiquette to
be observed in their relations with each other
all of which are in harmony with the gener-
ally accepted rules relating to general society
and none repugnant to the instincts of gen.
tlemen, the code of ethics of the American
Medical Association relates TO duties of the
physician to the public, and of the public TO
the profession. All their rules OF duty to
their patients and to the public are founded
upon principles of morality incorporated in
the Christian religion, and respected through
out the civilized world. 1t is only when they
are adopted and acted upon by physicians
that they are sneered at by the press and
people, and often frowned upon from the
pulpit. Men who exhort people to maintain
dignity of character, and to be earnest i'll the
support of the truth in other departments of
thought, seem to think physicians should de-
light to be imposed upon, and should he
utterly oblvious to the fate of truth in med
ical Investigations, teachings and practice.
Clergymen who would be Mortified at the
proposition of holding union service with
a Spiritualist or a Mormon, and who often
refuse to recognize socially their Unitarian
brother, frequently profess to wonder when
the physician can not extend the hand of
professional brotherhood to every quack and
pretender that crosses his path: and they
who have seen blood and treasure flow so
freely in fighting the battles of theologians
and politicians seem to think that no one
should care by what means errors are propa-
gated in medicine, that physicians are bigot-
ed if they proclaim against dishonesty and
deception, and ought to accept insult and
abuse without even protest. The members
of the medical profession have bound them
selves as the members of no other profession
have been bound, against pretentiousness and
dishonesty, and the public has no right to
ask them to give their moral support to what
they regard as pretentiousness or dishonesty
i'll others. Regular medicine does not ex-
clude any system of cure. 1t allows Its men,
bers perfect freedom TO select any known
means of cure. They hail with gratitude
every therapeutic discovery, only demanding,
as all cautious men should demand, that
reasonable evidence should be furnished be-
fore acknowledging the principles as estab-
lished. Who will say this is bigotry? The
profession discountenances fraud, lies and
dishonesty in medical Investigations, and in
the propagation of new theories and systems
of practice. Is this bigotry! Is it for the
interest of the public to break down a code
of ethics. binding its members Is do this?
Regular medicine is not allopathy. This is n
nickname given by the homeopath, and is
rejected by the regular physician as express
g ,,1ar r.Nfn
ion are free to treat any case by any system
or patty that has been demonstrated as best
adapted to it, and most likely to be benefi-
cial They discourage dogmatism and exclu-
siveness among their own number, and are
bound in honor to discountenance them in
others. 1t is for this reason that its mem
bers are forbidden to recognize as physicians
or safe persons to take into custody sick
patient. those who are dogmatic and exclu-
sive in practice. or who without rendering
sufficient reason. set up their own cranky no
tions in opposition to the accumulated wis
dom of ages. There is nothing i'll the code
forbidding the physician from rendering his
services to any suffering human being who
desires them. On the contrary he is enjon-
ed TO do SO. What he is forbidden to do is
is TO recognize an incompetent or dishonest
person as physician, and leave his patient
in the care of such a person, indorsing him
by his cooperation, and counsel, and moral
support Is there any thing wrong in this?
What would be thought OF u clergyman who
would assume responsibility with Mormon
elder in the care of one of his deuded follow
ers! Would much good be likely to result?
Would not the clergyman say to such per-
son who desired his spiritual counsel in con-
junction with the Mormon elder, You are
the victim of delusion? No good can come
from my counsel unless you renounce the
error your accepted spiritual adviser in
culcates? Do this and / will give you
the hand of fellowship, do what / can
to make your surroundings conducive to
your spiritual welfare and ultimate salvation:
but unless you reject the ministrations of
this Mormon imposter, can not assume re-
sponsibility for your spiritual welfare, and
will not degrade my calling by acknowledge
ing this Mormon elder as proper spiritual
guideI' Would any one call this bigotry?
He leaves the poor inquirer after spiritual
truth the right to choose between his religion
and that of the Mormon, he urges the evil
dence of the truth of his own and the falsity
of the Mormon's creed, but refuses to become
a party to fraud by attempting or seeming
to act in cooperation with the Mormon.
Salvation is only offered TO those who forsake
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