National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-02
THE MEDICAL MIDDLE.
It's Present Aspect and Expected ETec
ON the International Congress.


The old trouble among members of the
American Medical Association, which was
caused by the movement Of the association
toward having the medical congress meet
in Washington in 1877, has been again re-
vived by letter from Dr. Dudley Nor.
gan, who is in Paris DR.. Morgan says that
among French physicians lack Of conf
dence in the success of the congress will
deter many Of them from attending.
This medical imbroglio extends over
period Of two years, and like most troubles
has two versions. The American Medical
Association Is the representative medical
body OF the United States. At its session
In New Orleans one year from May last It
was decided to appoint committee consist
ing Of about dozen members to attend the
International Medical Congress In Europe,
and extend an invitation TO hold its next
session in Washington. This the commit
tee successfully accomplished, and previous
to the next session Of the association, In April
last, completed all arrangements for the
meeting and reception OF the congress.
All the officers were appointed, including
those Of the seventeen sections represent
ing various branches Of the profession, each
Of which has get Of officers very similar
to that Of the congress. They printed the
programmes and sent them broadcast
among the members Of the medical profess
sion throughout the world. Butat the next
session of the association, last summer, OK
ceptiOn was taken to this action. 1t W as
claimed by n large number Of members that
the committee had filled the prominent of
fees OF the congress with their own AMI
the names Of their personal friends; that
they had made few appointments outside
Of Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
and Washington, ignoring the wesl
and south to very large, cx-
tent. The result OF these charges
was that a supplementary committee, con.
sisting Of one member from each state, ter
ritory, and district Of the United States,
was appointed to confer with the original
committee and make q satisfactory adjust
meDt Of the matter. To do this to their
satisfaction required the changing Of about
half the officers who had formerly been ap-
pointed in whose places physicians whom
they believed to be more representative
men were placed. The meeting then ad-
iourned, and thenceforth those who had
their names dropped from the list OF officers
antagonized the association in It's effort to
carry out the preparations for the meeting
Of the congress. This forms one element
Of the antagonism. Another is that com
prising specialists In New York.
There is clause In the laws governing
the association which forbids members
sicians at New York, to whom this worked
disadyantageously in that 1t prevented them
from working with hOmeopaths in the prac-
| tiCe Of their speclaltles, after trying un-
successfully TO have this clause repealed,
resigned from the association, among
their number being many very prominent
| specialists. Henceforth, they too, were ar
rayed enemies Of the association.
On the other hand the friends Of the
original committee that was appointed to
secure the meeting OF the congress in Wash
| ipgton and appoint the officers, claim that
those who objected to their choice of men to
| fill the positions were actuated by jealousy,
they and their friends being left without
honors of positions in the list; while the
| specialists OF New York claimed that the
law to which they objected was unjust.
AS the affair now stands the later ap-
| pointed officers and committees are enthu-
siastic that the meeting Of the congress,
| which takes place in September, 1887, shall
prove a success. They have sent out pro-
| grammes Of the preliminarysorganiZat
which declare that the ninth International
Medical Congress will be held. They are
printed In English, French, and German,
and have been sent out to countermand
the former one which was disseminated by
| the original committee. DIR. A. Y. p. Gar
| cal committee on reception, and the balance
| Of the committee is composed OF we'll
known physicians fEWashington.
A prominent physician said last evening:
"The congress will meet here and will be a
thorough success. The reports of lack OF
confidence in the successful meeting of the
congress are exaggerated, and there is nc
doubt that the attendance of physicians
from Europe will be full"