New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-07
AMERICAN MEDICAL Association.
THE ANNUAL SESSION IN WASHINGTON.
DIR. AUSTIN FLINT MAKES A DEFENCE or TIE CODE
EXCEPTION AT THE WHITE HOUSE.


DR. AUSTIN FLINT MAKES DEFENCE or TIE CODE
EXCEPTION AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
w WASHINGTON. May 6.-The American Mcdi-
cal Association met in annual session this morning in the
raona Church, 500 members being present.
The Rev Dr. A. Y. r. Garnot cllod taa association TO
der and after prayer Ivy the Row. " A. Leonard OF
this city, introduced Dr. Austin Flint, OF NewYork. Pres
idnt OF the Association DR.. Garnett made IN address
Of welcome and Dr. Flint delivered the annual address
he spoke OF the formation Of the association and the
motives which led 10 it, aud OF is rapid growth and de-
velcpmrnt asserting that has passed through health
full adolescence into mature age. II has outvcd and
pr1dtcd by the errors and imparlec,ions sucdent
TO youth; today 1t Is replete with vitality
and yieor. He spoke hopefully OF the
progress OF medicine saving "For the past quarter OF
century astrological aud clinical suGios have tended
TO devotion more and more knowledge Of the existence
of ,pccic agents in the cauStion Of diseases. That rs
regard, certain diseases these specific agents are micro
Organisms has been demonstrated The latest discovery
in this direction ia that Of the bacillus tuberculosis, dis
covcy which is the leading topic in medical literature at
the present time. Recent trustworthy researches 60 lar
toward demonstrating the existence of specific organisms
i'm pneumonia. typhoid fever. nalaIia lever, and cpl
dcmic cholera and reasoning by analogy is lo2lcal
conclusion that long host of diseases vii be proven
t. be parasitic" Speaking Of the preliminary requisites
Tor the study Of medicine which he declared to be the
most important Of the for elevating the standard
Of medical education. Dr. Flint approved the recon
menJafons of the Committee OF $40 including certain
Luoc,lac OF Latin and Greek Progress in the matter
OF preliminary education is less satisfactory than IN med
ca instruction. Tue fault, when not win inc stuchs
themselves lies in part with the medical schools tand
partly with private prcccptors. In suggesting what
should not be done, If this standard IL TO be raised lAe
II i not iudclous dcery medical instruction in this
country unworthy Of any commentator, ana a. con
ages other countries. II il alike impoc and unjust
to deprccate as is sometimes done IN offensive teIins
the medical profession Of the United states. As Douy,
the members OF profession IN Ills country are
neither ignorant nor in any respect unworthy Inc pro-
fes,On i honorable and hooie'. SWeoihng tnarseS
against medical schools OF yehaiity and deception are
not less unwise than unbecomlng' u injurious anu an
injustice to assert as Is oen done that i 20 ~ I
ton Of those pursuing the study OF medicine ID ths
country are governed by desire TO gam admission 70
the profession as quickly as cheaPy' ana NM NJ a.
medical knowledge viii sulnce Tor that o'g'ct.
should do raise the STANDARD under discussion Dr.
Flint said The American Medical Association repre-
sents the profession OF the whole country hlthcrt' t9
Association ha, content with reports addresses ana
com rncatnns pointing existing defects in medical
ments the immediate adoption Of some OF Whlrh was I'M
practicable. Too Oicn predominant HllilI "a animal
winch Is more aclso anu PIvr',i,' ,.,,re he pro-
limits practcablitN Let these meas ucS Ito,i1e lie
sanction and support OF local associations III ie
states OF tie Onion Let the National As-ocld non l'Ae
m %, 5totc Ssoc,tlons and the leading medical
colleges throughout the country. with Vie" To agree
thc stcns he f,Lrn in n kindly spirit with an earnest
order that may be united action as regards I'M
royemcnts agreed upon. venture to suggest the ap-
poutmcnt Of STANDING committee on medical education
with view especially by means oi communication
with state associations and COLLEGES To se,ie uniform
action with reference to requirements Tor milIclioh
and for graduation" Ir Flint made vigorous defence
Of the Code OF Medical Ethics, saying IN Iart:
speaks for itself better than any one can 81 cak III ts pc
minds OF the lnell'tIN 81 We ,c'. ,i Ton and
country II has promoted love OF the profession. anu
u.cfilnc.- is honor ana it, Interests II SONY
within recent period that there nave beeh an! WHeLc,
manifestations Of disposition To change thacrtl5 our T
National Code OF Ethics. or 10 do away with any cGdG ia
1o@at the annual me ting OF the Ne"- PIX ol'l edl
code Of the American Medical Association TINS precip
tate and lamentabe action has severed the Ne" ORR
M, W , . ~ ~ York That these results may
eJca pro}esi1n Admitting that certain OF tie pre-
can object 10 them on the ground mat they 90
Wherefore should they be opposed By anyi
The portion code which Is especially Objected to
that relating to consultations with irregular practitioners
New York would permit consultation with all legally
qualified practitioners OF medicine Tho advocates OF
No 60 le would leave entirely To individual judgment
TO decide with whom members OF the medical profession
should meet in consultation At the TINE Whcn me C3de
of Ethics adopted, the great majority or irregular
practitioners who not only based Their practice
exclusive dogma tut maize no concealnth oi leIr
rejection OF the aids actually furnished by anatomy
physiology, pathology and animal chemistry Ihey maze
10 Preenslon 70 knowledge OF tAeSe ohcht- oI iell,
cine, and they ocorHfuly repud@ted tie ac suma,ed
Profession
article which applied vel enough 10 most OF the rle4u-
lar practitioners at that time Is not as applicable 10 those
to tampcr with Code Of Ethics SO complete ana perfect
National CO0e ana Whlch mas -.oOd so Wtll thc
test OF time Daniel Webster vas accustomed 10 stigma,
tie Efforts TO amend lAe Constitution o. tle Sn r
States attempts 70 "unber the Constitution. inns
pthy saving mEat be applied 10 propositions Tor altering
our ethical CODE bit u Is eae aul LOT @
pretaOns OF jhc Code 10 be authorized IRON lime 70 time,
IN adapa ion TO circumstances az they asc; and sub
nit - a Recommendation. that the Association adopt
resolutions embOdyng more Precise specification than
with irregular practitioners This recommendation is in
accordance with precedents
the regular Is refused either from false sense
oidiy or from prejudice regardless OF me dictaie7 OF
spirit nculcates nothing II conflict with the humane *
crcise Of our calling There are circumstances under
ance those rules OF the ethical code as well as OF Ell
quette. which. under other circumstances claim obed
ence, not only permits but commands members OF tho
regular profession TO besoN their professional services
vii bout stopping to ask whether practitioner
with whom chance has brought them into association
be- be not fit associate in consultation" Let II not
he conceded for an instant that there can be any anago
ism between humanity and medical ethics. II II be III
humane under certain circumstances 10 decline assocla
lion with irregular practitioners would be equally,
more So under other circumstances to make those con-
cessiOns which professional fellowship requires 10 pracu
oners who profess hostility to medical science and TO
the regular medical profession. The refusal Of fellow
ship and aliaOn with irregular practitioners thus
sanctioned not ouly by sentiment OF selfespect and
respect for our profession but by proper regard for the
dictates OF humanity
A RECEPTION BY THE PRESIDENT.
A reception was given by the President tonight
TO the members OF the association, al which upward OF
5000 guests were present.
Beside the entire suite OF State apartments all Of the pri
vate rooms and corridors the second floor
opened The Pres dcnt assisted by the members Of
the Cabinet The reception began at 800 and did not
close till o'clock. Among those in the Blue ParlOr
were the Russian Swedish and Hawaiian Ministers aud
their wives Justice and Mrs. BlaCbiOrd, Senator and
Mrs HawleV Assistant secretary OF state and Mrs.
Davis Representative and Mrs DorsheiIner, Commits
soneT qpd Mre Lorng, the liayan Spanish and French
Ministers senator and Mrs. Logan, senator Morrill,, MIs,
Carpeuter and Miss swami Miss Gresham, Admiral Rod
gers Colonel and Mrs Sheridan Senator and Mrs Miller,
Of California and Captain Clarke.
THE BENNETT CUP YACHT R4CES
The programme for the yacht races for tho
Guns presented by Commodore Bennett OF the NeWYork