New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-05
AGIYATED BY THE CODE.
WHY DISCUSSION AMONG DOCTORS.

,,trvr,,tFNTs PROPOSED IN THE ACADEMY oF
MEpICINE-No DECISIVE ACTION.
MI Nexv York Academy of Medicine resumed lts
.ossons Last night at its hail. No. II West Thirty
6rst-st after a rest of five mouths, ana at once
nlunged into consideration OF the Vexed question
of medical ethics The action taken was not Oh
conclusive kind it being all preparatory 10 an ISSUE
vbic, will he presented at the nexNstated meeting
q fortnight hence Last April the Academy ADJOURN
Cd in the midst of furry caused by thelntrOOuot"
and adoption Of a resolution prohibiting 'no Uioo
ton as fellows of physicians who were un"lii'ns
IN subscribe to the Code OF Ethics OF the Ai,
Medical Association-the socalled Ola COuo. ~ "~
the last meeting for the season. ana ai'o'
od;orrDroDt the ouestion had to remain IN aoey-
once until the usual vacation was over An0 La"
Nor in which the conservatives had carried 'ne'I
noipt was exceedingly obnoxious o
Iresident of the Academy Dr. foIuS0 &c
Barker and several officers who were leaueIS VI
,ba liberal faction and one after another tney To-
sioned Offices and membership; but they were suo-
aeonentIv induced TO recall their reslgnauonS'
In tbn controversy that followed in the medlcai
fourpals and newspapers, IL was oo,upi~n
of Dr Austin Flint that ne hau ao'eu
inconsisteptly in permitting the conservatives
~ whom be is the acknowledged leader 10 inVlo-
a.. Uasasures which they did, inasmuch as he
hnd
= nortion of a report that referred to tine
Ethical question upon the ground that tie Academy
uosnnrey a scientific body. To this charge he
,anlied last night DR.. Barker, wishing to keep the
code question out of the Academy, spent
nortion of the vacation III drafting
several amendments to the constitution and Oy-
laws which he submitted to the Fellows OIL inc
Academy, together with a circular letter. snort
time ago, giving notice at the same time tnat
Ia intended 10 submit them for discussion at
the meeting which took place last night.
DR. BARKER's AMENDMENTS.
The meeting was attended by so many members
that the hall could not contain them all. A score
stood in the library gallery and twice as many
Tooro 1vors in q room opening into the hall. The
leaders of the factions scanned the lace OF
each newcomer eagerly and there was
q GOOD deal of counting of noses ana
n,arsballing of forces against possible contest
of strenrtb Confidence was expressed on OOtl
Ndes. After the minutes of the last meeting had
been approved, Dr.. Austin Flint rose 10
ouestion of personal privilege, and after
referring to the asperslonS cast upon
him stated that he had made the motion
eighteen months ago to postpone indefinitely inc
ethical question in good faith because lie believed
st had no place in the deliberations Oh the Acauehy
He stood ready now to lead or follow in any
from the Academy of all questions OF professional
ethics
DR. Barker expressed the pleasure he felt at the
statement made by Dr. Flint He then introduced
the amendments proposed by himself stating that
his purpose in drafting them had
been 10 find a compromise ground on when
all the Fellows of the Academy could stand.
Among the changes in DR.. Barkers plan it is pro-
posed to abolish the Committee on Medical E'h.c''
te reserve to the Academy the right OF dlsclphhe
'by admonIton, suspension, or expulsion oJ WHICH
ali rights and privileges Fellow are forfeited, LOT
violation of its bylaws or regulations, Tor unpro
fessioual, ungeutlemanly or diShonoraDIe cohuuct'
and for public immortality and great crlmes'j 10
strike out the present section touching the quail
fcations of candidates for fellowship ana suOSu-
tute the following:
The Committee on Admissions, upon receiving from
the recording secretary the names OF the candidates pro
posed for fellowship, with their professional cfedtha
Shall make due inquiry concerning them as regaros
tber personal character their standing In the pTOie
sion and their eligibility as persons Oh lohoI' %ao uJ
not assume peculiar designations Ihp1 LUZ sP00'"'
Os6sp changes proposed refer to the quorum of
the Council and .he methods of procedure IN iel-
lowship elections, Touching thes amendments d.
Barker said in his circular letter: .,..
think Will be apparent that the whoie lntsny
Medicine purely scientific society, independent OF al
other organizations TO place l,S "a I WI ySn no.s
by OF any ruture troubles by the introduction oil mat
tef5 foreign 10 It's auNauCtO oOJ'CC@
THE DISCUSSION.
Dr Barker gave the floor to DR.. Reyes, who
moved the adoption of the amendments as whole.
The continuance of the unhappy struggle of last
anrin he said could moi fail to lessen the usefulness
of the Academy whereas the adoption OF the
amendments would Teegate to the arena
where they belong, all discussions not OF scientific
nature.
DIR Loomis seconded the motion of DR.. Keyes.
He did il gladly he sad for the reason that he was
fully convinced that by tier adoption the great
danger which had threatened the Academy would
be removed. 1t must be plain to all that
if the Academy was to maintain It's
nresent position, all ethical questions and all
medical politics must be removed from its councils
lie urged the adoption OF tho amendments on The
ground of OK pedenCy because the ethical question
would lead to arrangements ana bitterness be-
tween the nObiest and truest mrn IN the profession
Dr. Austin Flint, jr-Ibere is no de-
sire to obstruct the discussion OF these
amendments but they cannot be acted on tonight.
They must take the usual course and lie over till
The next stated meeting, and so move.
DR.. Henry BEGAN TO speak, but. making some
S SdeP BY President Barker Co itinuing,
said no wanted to remind tine Academy that year
and half ago question OF pure politics had
been brought into the Academy by the president.
The secular press bad been invited 10 come ana near
the president in what he vas pleased TO call thun-
der tones invite the Academy to 20 to Chlckerlng
Hall and Cooper Union and discuss the matter
OF street cleaning, ali in the interests
of the County Democracy. The remark brought
out some laughter and storm OF Kisses.
Dr. Detmold objected there was nothing before
the Academy. ,
Dr. Barker said the gentleman must speak to the
question or SIT down.
IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
Dr. Lee in order to permit discussion, moved that
the Academy resolve itself into Committee of the
Whole. THIS action was taken although Dr. Flint,
jr, objected, as question of privilege that his sug-
gestion that the amendments lie over had pre-
cedence. DR.. Henry attempted to speak, but was
stopped by cries of Question! Question" On
division over one hundred voted III tie Affirmative
aud fifteen in the negative. The new code men