San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-01-09
THE DOCTORS QUARREL.
SOME OF THE DETAILS OF DIR.
KENNEDY'S CASE
Before the Associa alton The Doctor
Writes a Pungent Cummunica-
ton 10 the Board or Oen-
sors to Find a Re
sponsible Man.

spOHsiDie MAIL
Contributed.
The local papers have recorded the fact
that Dr. ames Kennedy was expelled from
the West Texas Medical association for
unprofessional and ungentemanly con-
duct. The offence, it is said, was for I'M
professional conduct and for violation of
the code of ethics. 1t is true the ungensle-
manly part of the charge was in it at first,
but this was stricken out by an almost
Unanimous vote of the association.
To understand matters well it is neceS-
sary TO look backwards. DR.. Kennedy
| Joined the association in December 1890,
| and was elected secretary and treasurer.
| This office he filled until May 1891, when
owing TO dScourteSieS he resigned, but
strange to say, bis resignation was not
accepted,
In January there appeared notice in
local paper that DR. Kennedy and DIR.
CafferCy had performed difficult opera
tion upon Miss Muth. Next day the
board of censors, consisting of Drs. g. Il.
r. King, j. j. Bland and Z. +. Hertzberg
wrote DR.. Kennedy, calling his attention
to the paragraph, saying that such an
/ advertisement is flagrant violation Of
1 >SNS
and demanding an explanation"
70 this DIR. Kennedy replied as follows:
| SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Jan rs, 1892.
To the Board of Censors OF the West Tex
as Medical association:
| Dear Sirs:
Your favor of Jan. 9th to hand and in
reply will say that as an expression OF
supreme contempt in which ] hold your
meddeSome and unnecessary interference
with my affairs, and my utter Indifference
as to the question asked, ], at first, con-
cluied to take no notice of your COM
munication whatever; but, On second
thought, it occurred to me, as
a remote possibility, that you
might be laboring under misappre-
hension, that you might not know that
my resignation as member OF your
honorable body was rendered last October,
three months previous to receiving the
above letter, and that since that time |
have not considered myself member,
neither do now consider myself menu
Der. . - No.
However, even If | had been allied to
your association in the internal, / say
boldly and without the slightest fear of
an honest contradiction that there is no
act of mine, which after careful inveSti-
CATION, will be found in violation of the
code of ethics.
do not offer this as an explanation or
|
men and motives prompting the charge |
will not deign an explanation. If either
of you, gentlemen of the committee or the
association, has any further curiosity as
to the item in the newspaper you may
crafty the same by calling at the Office of
the paper in which the item appeared.
| Trusting to the courtesy of the board of
cenSOrs to spare me the necessity of TAX
ing other steps to prevent a repetition of
this annoyance, | have the honor to be
Very respectfully,
JAMES KENNEDY
This made the doctors mad and some
went so far as to threaten to whip the
writer of this pungent and sarcastic let
ter Their ire was intensified when few
days after the doctor in an interview
went for the association without gloves.
They decided to eXpel him and did do so.
Judge Kings court and the State Medical
association ordered the reinstatement of
DR.. Kennedy.
AS regards the alleged advertising.
Alderman Muth has gone before notary
public and Swore that he gave the item
to the reporter without DR.. Kennedy'S
knowledge or consent.
The angry members of the association
finding that the expulsion was against
the laws of the state and Of the State
association, passed new laws, and under
! these new laws proceeded to try DIR.
Kennedy for offences committed prior to
the passing of the laws. DR.. Kennedy
was notified and il was shown his offence
was in writing the letter of Jan. 2Sth, and
in what he said at the interview. DR..
Kennedy was on hand at the meeting, but
all was over when he arrived. The matter
had been rushed through. The board of
censors reported the doctor guilty, under
the new laws, and the association got
even by expeiling their antagonist.
Then Dr. Kennedy got mad or perhaps
| highly incensed at the indlgnity He
wanted some member of the Board OF
CensorS to take the responsibility for
their report, finding him guilty and
recommending expulsion.
Then DR.. Kennedy addressed the fol-
lowing letter to the Board Of Censors:
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Dec. 80, 1892.
To the Board of Censors, West Texas
Medical association:
| feel 1T incumbent upon me to make q
direct reply to your libellous charges and
| findings against me in your farcial trial
of recent date and your cowardly
and humanity conduct throughout. As
we are aware by this time, appeared at
! the time and place designated by your
secretary but you had adjourned prior to
my arrival.
Since you all shielded yourselves under
| an official cloak / am compelled to address
You thus rather than as individuals.
| | denounced your action throughout,
as not worthy of men or gentlemen
but as lying and craven hearted cow
ards.
Personal satisfaction will be given any
one who may take the trouble to look me
up and demand 1t.
| = JAMES KENNEDY.
| Th;o ,uoo hot and strong Init at the