New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-03
THE MEDICAL CONTROVERSY.
ARGUMENTS On BOTH SIDES.
METHODS USED BY EACH PARTY-AS ADDRESS
FROM DIR. jacob.

FROM DIR. JACObi'
Tn the matter of securing signatures 10 inc
p,edges for and against reenacmen OF the od Code
Of Ethics of tho American Medical Association the con-
sentative party among the physicians In the city arc
attn considerably In advance Of the liberals. The advan-
taOe which they secured by early organization and an
aggressive campaign at the outset they continue TO
maintain Even their opponents ara compelled TO admit
the excellence OF their leadership and the perfection OF
their discipline, while they condemn some OF the
methods employed by them in their effort TO regain
the territory lost in the County and state
societies last year. The criticism Of methods however,
mutual conservatives retorting to the charges OF
secrecy which the liberals make 80 frequently tthey
not only acting IN harmony with the TRADITIONAL
OF the profession but that the new code itself Is
the achievement Of organization that took them hy
surprise last year. They say that the delegation
which went to the state Society from the
County Society was a pledged body, and that they
forced into organization by the foct tha' tney
helpless in the hands Of the greater number ana
superior parliamentary skill brought to bear against
them by their opponents. The latter were active first
because they the aggressors and now they were a
the disadvantage OF being obliged to defend terriIoy
which the conservatives say won unfairly.
TneAcadey OF Medicine 1ght does not seem so much OF
mistake conservatives as IL seems 10 the hoeras
They contend that the resolutions introduced were
strictly within the letter and spirit OF the organic law Vi
the Academy the National code Of etncs being part OF
the Committee Admissions to ask every applicant TOT
fellowship whether he could sign the bylaws and re-
ject him II he opposed TO them TO ths the hDere'
answer that wcode man has aperfect gnt 10 become
fellow the Academy and that he can conscienuouSv
sign the by-laws without losing his right to disagree
with them and work for their repeal within the Academy
The says analogous to that OF ao
otnIsts during the existence Of the slave laws They
were bound not TO them yet they had the right 10
90 to Congress and labor for their repeal
The vote against Dr. squibbs resolution at the State
sooietys meeting last February abolish the new CODE
was 90 for and los against Fifty OF the sixty counties
I'm the state were represented although .he representa-
tons were not full. NewYork, Kings and Albany
Counties had largest Eewiork cast " votes
against the resolution n effect for the new code, and
z in It's favor; Albany voted 10 against and
for; Kings, IL for and 5 against There were ls
permanent members present at the meeting from TINS
county "a "a, dee gc.SsmT ron on Medcne Inc Colleges
were represented such. The vote was as foows
FOR THE NEW CODE.
Delegates from, County soetetvDrs W. T. AleIander
e prss vi ka6.t Fse a. ac.cr oiS
ney' Emil Gruening Alexander Hadden, Joseph W. Hows
a aasnSs .G Psu aa"SS Pom
f pSyyd i &e 81 tePisff cts S- - o0-'1
rant r. Agne sTnsah a. K Hns h9uss
EITsE q H Paa rC1 K Pooey D. 81 John aoo.s
George f. Shrady f. r. Sturgis, 81 u Nanaerp oci-IoAs
academy Of Medfefne-Dr A. NJ. Jacobus-l
AGAINST THE NEW CODE.
Deleqats nom ne County soeie,y-F v. white1l ,,,
Permanent Aem1ers-J; W. 3 Cooley. John il. Hin'on
h %ssasM Sw c@ eatcins-John O. Adams~L
DR. jacobs ADDRESS TO THE GERMAN PHYSICIANS
The number OF physicians who nave taken no part In
the controversy is large There about 200 German
doctors IN the city hardly dozen attend the meet
gs of the County Society. Dr. Jacob In behalf OF the
liberals has taken that they shall not remain unin
formed OF the battle code by sending them AN I'D
dress in German. Of winch the following Ia translation
WORTHY COLLEAGUE: The Code OF Ethss OF ths
American Medical Association was nbrosaiA IN me
Medical Society OF the STATE Of Newly at It's session
IN feo5uay iS Dh ,o Of the STATE appointed TO
consider the question year lore For the ADrogsteo
that IN certain consultations with any class OF
legal Practiuoners should not be absolutely pfohote
Tnis code confirmed ator long discussion
and by decreased majority at tne meet OF 1883
IL is In conformity with the law OF tue state III does
not Impose an impossible duty, but has con
ridrration for individual Judgment and the de-
me nds of Necessity humanity IL forbids nothing
# DOS not recommend with hom9opatns
and others; II permits them under certain CONDITIONS
Hence. 1t hts barrier which bias been at times bitterly
rksome to toe practising physlcnn ~ Is IN nnno,y
Win the Independence OF tne ibdviuual anu oL iePuD
loan customs ana laws IL recognizes ther ,hs eros
of Hant tnose OF other sectarians ana SENT
sectaraus medical science bat only widens the PRIV
| leges aud powers Of the physician In practice
IDe chiei leaders OF the opposition To Tue new code
| commendaoe distinction, but who are unaequdinted
ex perence with Tue needs OF the practitioner
1ny to conduet himself In the emergencies OF
practice this the busiest practitioners Of The
state made mp the majority III favor OF tue new cYdc
IA moi true that C movement called INTO lie by
few New-York specialists governed by the desire 81 e1
lend their consultation pra,uce, ana by ouler sels1
or the lO6 votes In favor OF the new code, not
| more Ihan tweNe cast ny spec alsts.
WITHIN the few weeks many Efforts have been
ee9s their signatues in favor Of the code
Ethics Of the American Mecai Association This later
younger lnAntatlon than our hekcal ooriety
OF the state oi New YORK II mas no legal status
anu meeting. IL is a convention OF
pny that and does continually change It's
through tue UNCONSCIOUS conscious feeling or the
tIeOrsIical community OF the medical procession OF the
urac,ical control OF few meu, whose whole standing
| would be shaken If there was any dIninutlon OF
| zoe supposed dignity and Importance OF tho
American Medical Associaton ana IL should be deve
oncd into tnat wnicn IL was originally designed,
namely "A mum Of promoting social community aud
narnony among Tue pay sleans oil AL the states OF the
| livcs of the new code are The most respected
pnysicians OF the siaIo -, OF New York VINO
themselves with tie general interests OF the entire
LESSON. hc former PRESIDENTS OF the state edlca soe
champions Of tne new cOoe ana believing that
reform In state will 8uaiiy Influence the general
sentiment ia ali the otnoI ota..s thgy arc counting On
| tho futuie n recognition OF tner labOrs
These REMARKS wor,hy eorague, are placed before
Won only for purpose OF GAZING your attention 10
TACT a gOrOus agitdoniL progress ~ overthrow
tue achievements III tnls province OF tue state MedIcal
society tnat II car1eI secretly and win tue aim
to prtjuuice tne sentiments OF the prsctslng
nhysi,i ,us OF tne state Ivy means or signatures
securea by means OF tns end the other pretclse My
purpose u lar from tins. With on, o. bring nome 20
without careiuiy weighing the question The issue is
moi Inc relation To medicinal
question longer needs dcterminatlon-but our posi-
ION with reference the SICK and own con-
sclebces and the personal hbery which
Inc r lditions and laws OF common country guaran
zee to every citizen Aooye all tnngs, bog OF you TO
give tbls and all Interests Of
esson tnat attention and cooperation winch "a
uunty be IL professional poucal, IA entitled
prcI from intenIgcnt ana thinking member a
patriotic citizen. Very respectfully, A. jacob.
INCONSISTENCY OF SOME PHYSICIANS.
70 me EDITOR Of The Trfbune