Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-23
WAR AMONG THE DocruRs,
A Biotv at the Ne,c Code of Ethics ia tRe
academy of Medfcine-Dr. Austin Flint,
Jr.'s Resolutions and tise Successful Car
s.yinO of Them IN Spite Of Gis Exceedingly


academy of Medfcine-Dr. Austin Flint,
| Jr's Resolutions and the Successful Car
ryinO of Them i,s Spite Of Gfs Exceedingly
rigorous Opposition.
New York Sun, April 20.
A commotion was created at last nights
meeting of the Academy of Medicine by
the introduction of the following resolu-
tions by DIR. Austin Flint, Jr.:
| WHEREAS, The New York Academy of medi-
cine adopted in its bylaws, as its standard of
medical ethics, the code of ethics of the Ameri-
| can Medical association; and
| WHEREAS, Each newly-elected member of the
| academy is required to sign Its constitution and
| bylaws; be it
| Resolved, That the committee on admissions
is hereby instructed to report to the academy
for election as resident fellows no physician who
is known to the committee to be in opposition to
the code of the academy, and who, as conse-
| qsence, cannot consistently sign the bylaws of
| the academy.
| Resolred, That these instructions to the COM
| mittee on admissions be continued In force until
| the American Medical association shall have
modified or repealed its code of ethics, and such
| modification and repeal shall have been adopted
| by the academy, until the academy shall hay g
modified repealed its bylaws referring to
| medical ethics.
AS soon as the resolutions were seconded
DR.. G. r. Agnew leaped to his feet, saying
he was surprised at the surreptitious man
ner in which DR.. Flint had brought them
before the meeting. at was evident" he
continued, shy the rhetorical way in which
he introduced them, by the large attend
ance of those favorable to them, and by
the fact that those who were opposed to
them were not notified that they would be
brought up this evening, that DR.. Flint
was prepared to have them passed" DR..
Agnew hoped that time would be granted
for the attendance of those who were
against the resolutions, and moved that
they be laid on the table. DR.. Agnew's
motion was lost.
The question on the adoption of the res
olution then came up. DR.. D. B. st. j.
Rosa said that DR.. Flint was unworthy
his distinguished father, who had said that
the proper place for such discussions was
the County Medical society. 'This," said
DR.. Roosa, sis not a spontaneous uprising.
1t has been created by a secret society that
sends its orders to its members to be pres
ent on certain occasions. 1t has all the
articles of the methods of political
party. Derisive laughter, which was
quelled by President Barker. I did not
know of this action until too late to inform
my friends of it. To characterize the eff
forts by which this resolution has been in
troduced would be supplementary. 1t
| originated with mercenary--" The con-
clusion of the doctors remarks were lost in
shouts of ''Order! Orderr'
The president, who had a cold, arose and
hoarsely exclaimed,as he pounded his gavel
on his desk, that he would have order, and
that members who were speaking should be
NaI H.,
II appeal to- the regular profession to al
low US in an ironical tone), who are If
regular, chance to be represented on
| another OCCASION
DR.. Flint got permission of the meeting
to reply to DR.. Roosa's remarks. He said:
1--WE have no reference to the state or
county medical societies in the resolutions.
The New York Academy of Medicine is
the only one entitled to recognition in the
American Medical association. 1t is true
we notified our friends; but we have no
secret organization. The simple question
is, Will the Academy place itself in a
proper light before the country?''
DR.. Agnew asked permission of the chair
to put a question to DIR. Flint. The ques-
ton was: GAS the gentleman has confessed
to examining the meeting, I would like to
1
derisive laughter.
DR.. Weir thought due notice of the intro
duction of the resolutions should have been
given.
The resolutions we're passed, 5S to 25.
DR. Agnew obtained permission of the
meeting to speak again. He said: "These
gentlemen think because they have passed
these resolutions by bare majority that
the principles embodied in them will stand.
| But they will not. Eternal truth is above
| them. Love of freedom is above them
Jeers and laughter. You may jeer. You
will remember how Disraeli was once
jeered; but the time came when he was
heard. l am a much smaller man than
Disraeli, but the time will come when you
will hear me. Renewed jeers. 1 am
willing to be put down if the Academy can
| afford it. The statutes of the state compel
every society to recognize the new code of
ethics. l cannot be dragooned to obey the
behests of certain number of gentle men
| who, ku-klux-like, come here to put this
resolution through"
| DR.. Flint moved to reconsider the motion
| by which the resolutions were carried. DIR.
| GOulev seconded the motion, which was
carried. DR.. Gouley then moved that the
question be postponed indefinitely. This
WAS done to prevent the bringing up of the
| question again.
| DR.. Agnew asked: SIS it DR.. Flints OBJ
| ject to throttle the Academy"
"Undoubtedly," said DIR. Flint.
| DR.. Flint then introduced the following:
Resolved, That the Academy hereby disavows
an sympathy with the action of the State Medi-
cal society, which has put the profession of the
sta.e, thr ugh its state and county societies. in
an attitude of opposition to the medical profess
| sion of the rest of the United States.
DR.. Agnew was the first to speak after
the chair had stated the question. He
said he had been jeered and looked at
threateningly by some of the members of
the Academy. But" he continued, II am
not afraid of the displeasure of men who
have organized a society to throw the
Academy into anarchy. I can boast of
two lines of ancestry who stood up for
their rights. defy the gentlemen. I am
astonished and ashamed at their efforts to
stife the freedom of opinion. If that
| privilege cannot be found in a scientific
body, where, then, can it be found?''
The resolution was passed.
DR.. Weir arose and rendered his resigna-
| ton as vice president of the Academy saw