The San Francisco call., 1896-10-20
MEDICOS URGE
SECRET CIRCLES
Project to Ostracize Lodge
and Association
Doctors.
Regular Physicians Expected to
Exercise Discretion in
the Plan.
THE MYSTIC NUMBER NINE
Fancy of Ignatius Donnelly Employed
TO Secure the Greatest
Secrecy.
THE MYSTIC NUMBER NINE

A secret organization of medical men
has been formed in San francisco, and 1t
is possible that il may exert considerable
influence. 1t is organized on the plan OF
circles of nine, and each member IS to be
known by number and not by name.
The purpose of the organization is to
mitigate or abate various abuses deroga-
tory 10 the interests of the medical profess
sion. These abuses are said 10 be practiced
by lodge doctors, cllnicians at free clinics,
hospital associations that furnish TO the
members treatment by the year at fixed
rate per month, prescribing druggists or
drugstore Steerers, who divert patients
from the regular medical attendant to an
other for pay or favors, and medical men
holding public positions such as police
surgeons, also engaged in private practice,
who advertise in questionable manner
and use their public position "unprofes-
sionally'' for the purpose OF diverting
patients from their regular medical atten-
dants or family physician.
The secret organization will attack these
abuses and aim to secure the ostracism of
physicians whose methods are question
able.
A circular pertaining to the association
extended scope of the society:
The members of this association are also to
oppose in a secret and concerted manner any
non-medical persons who antagonize what Is
to the best interests OF the medical profess
sion well as fair TO patrons. 1t is not to be
expected that members of this association will
lose fees by refusing to consult with lodge oc-
tors, clinic physicians or hospital association
doctors, but they are expected to avoid con-
sultation with such when another can be con-
veniently substituted a preference for others
being always expressed when the case and the
circumstances viii permit or justify such
preference. In fact, they are not to call such
in cons ultstion or favor them in any manner
professionally otherwise, and are to avoid
re! onmending or sending patients to hospi-
tails or associations that furnish for members
treatment by the year at a fixed rate per
month.
The scheme for preserving secrecy is
remarka bic. 1t is said 10 be after a
fashion of an organization devised by Dr.
c. E. Farnum. for the purpose of organiZ-
ing the wheat and cotton growers of the
United States. The plan is really adopted
from Ignatius Donnellv's fancy of an
anarchistic society. In the first place
there is a self-constitnted central commit
tee of nine mem bers. From this may be
formed nine other circles. From these
nine new circles so formed eighty-one
other new circles are to spring. Each of
the eighty-one members selects for new
eight more to complete the circle. The
control of the association is to be by initia-
tive and referendum, each member having
the privilege of proposing any measure
and voting for the acceptance or rejection
of any measure proposed. Any informa-
lion 10 be proposed TO all the members is
to reach the committee through the heads
of the different circles, it being passed up
from the head of one circle to another.
If the membership of the central COM
mittee were not secret any measure to be
proposed might be sent direct to that
committee instead of through the heads
of the different circles.
1t seems that the plan renders it impos-
sible for q member to know more than
eight of his fellow members. All mem
bers are to be known by mum bers.
Physicians Of high standing who were
interviewed yesterday on behalf of THE
CALL admit that lodge doctors, association
doctors and others are responsible for
many grievances, but they doubt the pro-
priety or success of a secret organization.
The subject was recently brought before a
convention of physicians and was not
approved. The promoters of the secret
plan of dealing with the offenders have,
however. deemed it prudent to organize.
Santa Clara County is said to have a
similar organization which has proved
effective.