Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-22
THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
A Lively Meeting Last Night and Some
Sharp Things Said.
The Standing Committee to Investi-
gate the Charges Filed by DR..
Hammond Against DIR. Eliot.

The war that is on in the ranks Of the
Medical Association Of the District Of CO.
lumbia is still being waged with a zeal
and earnestness worthy of an even better
cause. Recently the hostilities have taken
decided turn, with the result that the
attacking party has been put on the de-
fensive and just where the victory will
rest when the smoke of battle has finally
cleared away Is something that no one can
say with any degree Of certainty, though
the opinion is beginning to spread that it
would be just as we'll If the man who
brought the charges in the first place had
let the whole matter alone.
1t will probably be remembered that the
first shot was fired when DR.. Llewellyn
Eliot charged DR.. Hammond and DR.. Hyatt
with conduct that was unprofessional and
unbecoming. The charges were disproved
absolutely by the association and the two
gentlemen were cleared Of all blame.
DR.. HammOnd's Charges.
But the matter was not allowed to rest
here. 1t was now the turn Of the other
side. and DR.. Hammond at once filed
charges against DR.. Eliot who is pres
ident Of the association, alleging that he
had violated the ethics of the profession
and the rules Of the association in that
he had preferred his charges against Drs.
~AAAAASAN oho ny ait III Oil Opeh IHetlluS
OF the association. which Is contrary to the
rules. They should have been sent in writ
ing TO the standing committee.
Article eight Of the by laws of the asso-
citation says that investigations in cases of
alleged violations of regulations shall pro-
coed only upon written charges made by
one or more members of the association to
the committee. accompanied with the
names OF the party or parties cognizant
OF the alleged facts. The committee shall
then proceed to investigate the accusation
and to collect the testimony. both Of the
witnesses whose names may have been fur
nished and such other testimony may
come to their knowledge. The committee
shall have authority to summon and ex-
anime members, and in the event of the
failure or refusal Of any member to give
evidence, they shall report such failure or
refusal to the association for such action
as that body may deem proper.
The reason for this rule is obvious II
would be undesirable to have charges
brought before the whole body on any
provocation. for in the event that it was
proved that the charges had no foundatio
1t would simply cast an undeserved cloud
on the good name of a practitioner. the
Impression and memory of which might
not be so easily eradicated from the minds
Of the members who might be present
when the charges were brought, but not
when they were proved to be groundless
The Meeting Last Night.
All this trouble gave rise to an extra
meeting Of the association, which was held
in the hall Of the Georgetown College Law
School last evening. The charges filed by
DR.. Hammond were, it seems in the prop
er form. and the standing committee at
once proceeded to investigate them. But in
this they were baked by the refusal Of Dr.
Eliot and several Of the witnesses named
by DR.. Hammond to appear before the
committee. In the minds of many Of the
members. SO Star reporter gathered to.
day, the president Of the association should
be more. not less responsible for any in
fringement Of the rules, owing to his posi-.
ton and prominence.
The whole matter was laid before the
meeting last evening by the standing COM
they were not to be upheld In their position
rule might as we'll be removed from the
books, as 1t would be imperative. The
meeting was largely attended and proved to
be one Of the liveliest held in many a day
1t lasted until near midnight, and many
sonalities were made and a good deal OF
hard feeling was engendered.
The members Of the standing committee
stated that they had no report to present
inasmuch as they had not succeeded in get
ting all the testimony they wanted. The
end of the whole matter was that a decision
was reached to enforce the provisions OF
the rule in question. The action Of the
standing committee was Endorsed and the
committee will at once proceed with the
investigation Of the charges. DR.. Eliot will
be compelled to answer just as though he
were an ordinary member instead of presi-
dent The next meeting Of the association
Is consequently looked forward to with q
good deal more than the usual amount OF
interest on the part of the members.