The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-08
THE MEDlCOS!
THEY ORGANIZE A HOMEOPATHIC
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOR
THE LONE STAR STATE.
And Symbolic Their Faith in
the Maxim: "SimiIia SIM
ilibus Curantur."

ing of the representative homnopat
lists of the state was held at the Ia
of the knights of Pythias on yeste
day, for the organization of a societ
hereafter to be known as the Tex;
homeopathic Medical Association.
The hall was gaily draped and fe
TONED for the occasion, and man
charming and beautiful bouquets, th
gift of some of Austin's fairest cit
Zens, shed a delicious perfume With
its tastefully ornamented confine
Above the presidents desk the mott
of fraternity, "Similia Simils Simil
bus" appeared in chastely-lettere
design, and had a very fine effect ami
its appropriate surroundings.
Among those present were: Mrs
DIR. A, r. Hall and DIR. s. w. CoheI
Waco; Doctors G. Z. Fisher. L. Ii
Bragg, j. J. Gasser, E. Muisina an,
III. f. Fisher, Austin; Doctors M
Slocum, j. G. Tucker, Joseph Jone
and S. N. Burnham, San Antonio
Doctors Davis and w. s. Lee, Dallas
DR.. w. Y. Mckenzie, Weatherford
A. G. Williamson, Deninson; II. A
Koerppen, Eagle Pass; J. A. Magee
BRENNAN; T. G. Edwards, of Blanco
and others.
The meeting was called to order
about half past two o'clock, when DIR
Slocum, of San Antonio, temporary
chairman, delivered an appropriate
address, explaining the objects of the
convention, and paid high tribute to
that code of ethics for which Hahne-
mann was distinguished, and in whose
doctrines all of them were such
firm believers. He concluded by
stating that the first business Of the
meeting was the appointment of a
temporary secretary.
On motion of DR.. G. E. Fisher, DIR.
j. G. Tucker was appointed to that
post.
President" The next business will
be the adoption of constitution and
bylaws"
DR.. Bragg-"I move that a COM
mittee, of three be appointed to pre-
pare same"
Doctors Bragg, G. E. Fisher and
Williamson were appointed to draw
up the necessary rules for the govern
ment of the association, whereupon
these g.1tlemen retired to the ante
room and soon after returned to the
hall with very elaborate report,
embodying most comprehensive
schedule of rules for the guidance of
the association. The report was duly
read by DIR. Bragg, as chairman of the
committee, whereupon DR.. Cohen
took exceptions to article five, which
prescribed that no physician other
than a properly qualified hom9opath-
list could belong to the society.
DR.. Bragg thought the better way
to make converts of the allopaths and
members who practiced other than
homeopathic principles, was to throw
open their organization, and admit
such of them as were worthy of fell
lowship. He, therefore conceded in
the remarks of DR.. Cohen.
DIR. Williamson favored the article
just as it was reported by the COM
mittee, and was opposed to its being
changed. Years ago, he said, he
looked upon homeopathy as the
grandest humbug on earth, but now
he was proud of belonging to school
of medicine whose maxim was
"similia similibus curantur." He dep
recated sailing under false colors, and
thought that those who did not join
the organization for the sake of its
merits should not be allowed to enter
under other circumstances.
DR.. Magee thought that as this body
was specifically homeopathic aSso-
ciaiion it should be confined exclu-
sively members of that school.
DR.. G. E. Fisher said he yielded to
no gentleman on the grounds of hber-
atty, but in the management of this
association they should be guided by
the rules and regulations which
govern all business enterprises. He
was a Methodist, and he was proud
of belonging to that faith he was
a mason, and he rejoiced
in the grand teachings Of that
order; ne was a homeopathic, and he
wanted to be one in fact as well as In
name. If this was to be a hom9o-
pathic association he desired to see
them uphold their colors; If it was to
be something different, then he had
no objection to their relaxing their
rules so that any reputable medical
man who so chose might join. He
thought the provision objected to was
a most essential one, inasmuch as
they had Homeopathy" at their
mast head he was in favor of sailing
under that banner and under nothing
else. They claimed their school was
better in medicine than any. other;
they met here to-day to establish a
homeopathic association, and such
being the case, he, for one, desired
to see them stand up to their prin-
ciples like men, and not do
one thing while protesting another.
The American Association of Homo
opathy did not call itself an "associa-
ton of medical men," and If they were
going to organize a state association
here to day for the fostering OF those
medical principles in which all OF
them believed, he hoped they would
go about it in no uncertain manner,
but rather establish it on basis which
all could understand, and which no
homeopathic might be ashamed OF.
If, on the other hand, they simply
wanted to establish mere medical
society" into which all qualified prac-
titioners could enter irrespective of
the school to which they belonged,
truly, of course, he had no objection
to offer, but so long as they set out to
organize a " H9opathic Medical Socie-
ty" he was opposed to the permitting
1t to degenerate into something en-
tirely different, and therefore he
favored retaining the clause to the
letter, and in the spirit in which it
was reported by the committee.
DIR. Edwards did not think they
would gain anything by ignoring
what they really were. He did not
wish to see their association one of
the mongrel order and consequently
he would not strike out one word OF
the constitution just reported. Their
association was intended to be purely
homeopathic body, and there was
no use in allowing their liberty to
picture it anything else. He would
therefore, like DIR. Fisher, stand up for
what they professed, and In this their
first move he would endeavor to step
out right, for everything was in a good
start. He was not ashamed of his
professional principles. In fact, he
was like the Scotchman who got twit-
ted because of his nationality. He
appeared very much troubled about
the matter, upon seeing which, one of
his good natured friends remarked, by
way Of comforting him: "Oh, do not
allow yourself to be annoyed by a
thing of this kind" whereupon, Sandy
replied: "Why,my dear sir, am not at
ali annoyed about it; on the contrary,
am d--m proud of being a Scotch
man. And so with him (the speaker)
If ANYBODY felt uneasy because ht
was a hom eopathist. all he haC
got to say was-that he was
damn proud of it Laughter.