Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-11
4 MEDICAL RACKET.
Excitement In the Profession over the
international Congress.
From a BaltiMore So.

From the Baltimore san.
At a meeting Of the American Medical
Association at Washington in 1884 COM
mittee of eight, Of which Dr.. Christopher
Johnson Of this city was one, was ap-
pointed TO attend the International Con-
gress ut Copenhagen to invite the men,
bers of the congress to hold the next meet
ing in Washington in 1887. The invita-
ton was presented and accepted. The
committee, under the motion appointing
it, had power to enlarge its number.
Thirty-fOur more names We're added. one
OF which was that Of DR.. W. Chew Van
Bibber of this city. This enlarged COM
mittee then proceeded to select all
the officers for the coming
congress. embracing president, vice
presidents, secretaries, counsel, chair
man and secretaries of sections, etc.
When the American Medical Association
met at New Orleans, in April last, the
original committee, through Or. Billings,
of Washington. reported the work done
bv the committee. This report was not
received with favor and the committee
was charged with having exceeded its
powers. A resolution adding thiTty-eight
new members to the cOmmittee-One tor
each State, with power to revise the work
Of the smaller committee, was passed by
a large majority. The source OF grievance
was "a charge that the smaller committee
had shown favoritism in the distribution
of the Offices, and that the officers had
not been selected with reference to the diff
ferent sections of the country. Dlssats-
faction in Baltimore WAS caused by the
fact that the committee had, with few eX-
cephons, selected only gentlemen con-
nected with The University OF Maryland
ignoring the other schools and 20 great
extent the general profession. The COM
mittee as constituted at New Orleans met
Ia Chicago last week and proceeded TO re-
wise the work already done. DR.. Lynch,
Of Baltimore, represented Maryland at
this meeting. A number OF changes in
the officers We're made. A far az Mary
land WAS concerned the changes put DR..
Latimer on the section of Psychology, DR..
Arnold on nervous diseases, Or. CO5kery
on surgery, Or. Opie on obstetrics, and
DR.. Rome on public and international ny
giene. The other colleges Of the city
the Baltimore Medical College. the
WOmeu's Medical College, and the Uni
versity Of BaltimOre-were ignored. 10 il
stated that the action of the committee at
Chicago has created great deal OF
feeling throughout the country. A large
meeting of prominent physicians IN
Philadelphia was held in that city, and
nearly al toe gentlemen appointed as
officers declined 20 serve. Tnis list In
cludes such men as Drs. Agnew, Albert
II. smith. Go0dell, Barthol0w, Gross, De
Costa, Wood, Packard, Weir Mitchell
and others. In Baltimore a meeting was
held 10y the gentlemen appointed by the
original committee and they decided 20
resign. Dr. Christopher Johnson, Of the
original committee, has also resigned.
DR.. Billings has resigned as Secretary
General OF the congress. The Office held
by Or. Billings is tue most important OF
the congress because the success OF the
meeting largely depends upon the char
acter of the secretary general Or. David
". laudell, OF Louisville, has resigned as
chairman Of the section on surgery, and
other designations may De looked for
daily. In Baltimore there appears TO DE
but little interest taken in the congress
by the general profession, 10 is said be-
cause the two colleges seem 20 nave
monOpolized all the details.