Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-08

has caused the excitement and discussion 1
As follows: members of the Medical Societ,
of New York, and Of the medical societies
in afhliation Herewith, may meet in consulta
ton, legally qualified practitioners of medicine
Emergencies may occur in which all restric
tons should in the judgment of the practi
TONERS yieldt to the demands of humanity"
This rule. applying as it does to the mat
ter of consultations, has met with the mos
violent opposition within the ranks of :he ole
school large number Of the state societies
passed resolutions condemning the rule.
In this State they were not far behindhsnd
and proceeded to leave the New York society
out in the cold. by adopting the following
resolution by unanimous vote: ''Resolved
That the members of the Maine Medical As.
ISOLATION, in convention assembled, beins
satisfied with the code of medical ethics es-
tablished by the American Medical Associa
ton, and believing that any departure from
its fundamental principles would be deroga.
tory TO the medical profession. utterly repu-
date the revised code of the New York State
Medical Society, governing consultations, and
will have no utilization with il"
This declaration of v ar from this section
of the country did not appear to in any de
gree intimidate, but spite of all opposition
from various state societies: spite of the fact
that their delegates were refused admission
to the American Medical AssOcia-
ton, body whose object should be
the promotion of science rather than the en-
actment of laws governing all sections of the
country; the independent, broad breeched
knickerbocker has stuck TO the text. The
opposition has not been wholly confined to
parties outside the city and State of New
York; but there has been conflict within,
81 81 all
has been in the minority.
This is clearly apparent. from the action
of special meeting of the society, held in
Jan. of the present year, for the purpose OF
discussing the Code. This meeting was very
fully attended, the most distinguished ply
sicians and surgeons in the city being pres
ent. DIR. st. John Rosa, offered a resolu-
ton, that the county society approve the
Code a. now revised" After full,
free and animated discussion. the reso-
luton was adopted by a vote If IA
to 50 Other attempts have been made
by the opponents to kill the new rule.
One attempt was made at the last meeting of
the State society, which proved a failure /;
again an attempt was made in the Academy
of Medicine, the latter being of a very ques-
tionable nature as regards fair play, and has
resulted in the resignation of one Of the vice
presidents and other prominent members.
The old code which has been in force so many
years, is said to be a classical production
but there appears some rather queer passages
in it. such for example as, "a patient should
never worry his physician with details not
pertaining to his disease, and on the other
hand ''the physician should exercise every
care and tenderness in his ministrations.'
Perhaps in the distant past there was occa-
sion for code to inculcate in the physician
ordinary decency and good behavior; but it is
hoped those days are passed; or would it now
be considered ''derogatory" to the old school
profession to repeal the clause abttve referred
to? BY the old code, sort of dead line was
established the prisoners were closely guard
ed, and woe to the unfortunate who was im-
prudent enough to step beyond the prescribed
limits, even for a little cold water to quench
his burning thirst.
have thus called your attention somewhat
at length to this subject, as it is one that d-
rectly concerns us; it being with homGopath-
lists more especially that consultations be-
come desirable on the part of the dominant
school. The position which they are now en-
deavoring to maintain, is one of forced ne
cessity. 1t is not because of any love of the
system Of homeopathy, but rather to answer
to the urgent demands of the public. We have
a single step in the right direction. Upon
every point but that of therapeutics, the two
schools may consistently meet in consultation
at the present time; but so long as the new
school therape utics is repudiased by them. as
based upon an absurdity," or while they re-
main in utter ignorance of them, cOnsulta-
tons will be but of little avail. except in the
matter of diagnosis and prognasis in general
practice in cases of operative surgery, where
no special treatment need be discussed, and
in cases of sudden emergencies. And it is in
these cases that the rule is we'll calculated to
meet, and the liberal minded progressive
members OF both schools will gladly avail
themselves of its provisions.
In order that consultations NAV become
general and meet the uses for which they are
intended, another step must be taken on the
part of the old school. They must in some man
ner become conversant with the new school
therapeutics. While 1t would appear to be in
humane to refuse consultation on the ground
of difference in creed, it certainly would be
inhumane to turn our patients over to the
druggng of the old school. The position
which we occupy should be a liberal one. 1t
is folly for one school, or set of men, to ar
rogate to themselves all knowledge upon n
subject, especially one like the science of
medicine, think it will be impossible in
the future for any school to work up and hold
a corner in the practice of medicine. The
stock has become too much scattered, and the
holders refuse to pool The indications are
that the old party lines will become broken,
and a new order of things take place. The
physician, like any gentleman, will be per-
mitted to choose with whom he will associate
That it will not be considered ''derogatory'
to the interest and dignity OF the profession to
meet in consultation any respectable, well
educated physician of either school whenever
the cause of suffering humanity can in
anv degree be served thereby. 1t is
evident from what appears from time to
time in the old school journals, that they are,
to some extent, availing themselves of the
teachings of our school. This, some are
frank and honest enough to admit; others ex-
press their surprise at certain results and
plead ignorance of the truth. In confirma-
ton of this last statement, | would refer
YOU to lecture recently delivered by Dr A.
A. Smith, at the Bellevere Hospital, Medical
College, upon the subject of small and often
repeated doses. The Professor begins his
lecture BY saving: ''that it is not his inten-
ton to deliver a scientific lecture, but to
make certain statements, based upon chemi-
cal facts, for which he will not attempt to
give any explanation"
1t is hardly possible for homeopathic ply
sician to read the confessions Of the learned
professor with the wonder and establishment