Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-22
THE MEDICAL SOCIETY.
Investigation Shows That the Color Line
IL Closely Drawn.

Senator Gallinger in the Senate today sub
mltted q report from the committee on the
District OF Columbia in answer to the reso-
luton calling on the committee to inquire and
report whether the Medical Society of the Dis
trict admits to its membership colored phi ysi-
cians oy physicians who have been or NAV be
teachers in the medical school Of Howard Uni
versity, being in all respects otherwise quail
ship by reason Of color Of official relation to
said university.
The report states that the investigation was
made by q subcommittee. before whom were
called DIR. Thomas c. Smith, the corresponding
secretary Of the medical society. and DR.. Chas.
u. Prvis, the physician at the Freedman o
Hospital. The report then says.
THE COLOR LINE WAS DRAWN.
CDR. Smith said frankly that the color line
was drawn facility in the medical society and
that no colored man could be elected a mem
ber This result was not reached by any for
NAL action In respect to color, but simply re-
colored man was up the individ-
ual members exercised their privi-
lege Of voting against him, as they
would vote against a white man who for any
reason might be objectionable 10 them. DIR.
Smith said that the society did not and could
ing the profession OF medicine but did keep
them from the meetings at which papers were
read md medical matters discussed
in semi-social manner. The fear was
that the presence of colored members would
introduce discord into the meetings and that so
many members. especially among the older
ones, would withdraw that the society would be
broken up. Objection is also made to both
white and eoiored graduates of Howard Uni
versity Medical School because they attended a
school where the fees are lower than at other
schools in the District.
DIR. PURvIs' EXPERIENCE.
'Dr. Purvis testified that some twenty years
ago he and DR.. Augusta applied for member
ship in the medical society. There was
favorable report by the censors on their sppli-
cations, but the vote against them was over
whelming. Since then Dr. Cook and DR.. Fran
els, both cOiored graduates Of the medical school
Of Michigan University. have been rejected
by the society, - has also DIR. Shadd,
reputable colored physician, and inside the
society, Dr.. Purvis continued. there is an asso-
citation or committee to regulate the ethics Of
the profession. No colored man can belong to
this association. The medical society licenses
the colored physician, but refuses to allow him
Soa become 70, member se snes the be licensing
University fees, said DIR. Purvis, that
school was not chartered for the
use Of colored pupils and q majority Of the
first class were whites, the fees being the same
as those in other schools. As the number Of
coiored students Increased the fees were re-
duced, and tho other schools have also reduced
their fses- DR.. ReybuFn, DR.. Lamb and DR..
Joseph Tabor johnson we're members Of the
society before they became Howard professor
After they went into the faculty they had TO
withdraw from it Subsequently Drs. Reyburn
and johnson resigned from Howard University
and again became MEMBER Of the society.
TWO HOWARD UNIVERSITY DocroRs ADMITTED
"wishin year Drs, draham and Hood. how
ever, have been admitted to the society, not
outstanding their connection with Howard
Howard faculty, has been rejected. Young
men graduating from Howard University are
compelled to study elsewhere in order to enter
the society, although the clinical instruction at
Howard IL perhaps the best In the city and the
hospita! i certainly the largest In the District.
nitted.
"Dr. Purvis ciaimsd that the leading phyui-
cisns IN the city favored Howard, but that tbs
younger men are syerss TO ths Institution. He
hinassf consults With Ora Lincoln, Ford
Thompson and Others Of equal standing, and
the leading msdicd society Of Baltimore ad-
mtts graduates Of Howard
coxcLuaoxs OF RE coxxlrTxk
your committee ere fully otisded from the
testimony Of both sides TO TIE controversy that
The medical society does not admit 10 member
ship colored phydcians, however reputable Or
ven qualified they may b, and = regards
teachsRs In he msdical school Of Howard Uni-
admitted and othsss psjsstsd- Ihs eencluGions
yAlens are submitted without eomDsak"
6ubjoinad 70 IL rspeet vs. lst4sr from d..
Lamb, IN vhisA BE- svsss Dat ~ medical 90
eisty = hostile 70 Howard univsedsy end staAss
both vhtta end solnced stsdsnlsf 1hs lsttsg
ap: "Ip ri. y b MATTER q eeQnoa Fseegt
asioag ~ ne6iooi stuAenb q ~ DISTRICT that
Howard pnAnetQs eanpot - Into ~ nediael
seeisaz.n Al ~ ilss 2 ~ oys ~ BOD