The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-09-13
BRUTALITY OF MEDICAL ETHICS.
A Great Surgeon Barred from Men,
bership in Medical Association.

Qrrom the National Druggist for June.
1907
DR.. Augustus Charles Bernays. who
died few days ago in ST. Louis, was,
probably, the foremost surgeon in the
United States His fame was CO.
extensive with the civilized world. lie /
was not only an operator OF the high |
est order. but tireless and exhaus-
tive worker in the field OF original
surgery. He performed the first sue
( cessfui Caesarian section in 1889 In |
ST. Louis. and also the first successful
coelotomy for gunshot wound or the
abdomen and the first gladstone opera
( ton In Missouri a record held by
| DR.. Bernays has never been equaled:
| out o. eighty-one successive cases
OF appendicitis which necessitated
! operations. seventy-one in succession
were with perfectly satisfactory re
suits. the seyenty-se second patient fail
ing of recovery. but the subsequent
nine cases we're successfully treated.
And yet, with such record match
less as was his skill. varied and ex'
|
full as were his accomplishments. he
was not considered. by the American
Medical Association. as worthy OF
| membership in that organization.
No charges were ever brought
against him which. in the remotest
degree. reflected on his qualifications
as a surgeon: his moral character was
/ ~ OF
never accused OF having done any
thing unbecoming a man or gentle
man. The head and front Of his Of
Tending had this eXtent-no more.
He dared 10 think, he refused TO
mold his opinions and to govern his
actions by the arbitrary rules which
those whom ne knew TO be his infer
iors had set up for his guidance. In
other words. he could not regard the
Code Of Ethics OF the American Medi-
cal Association as being inspired. or
having any binding authority on hiR
where his judgment told him II was
wrong. And so. twenty years ago
or more, on account of some trivial In
fraction OF this sacred Code,
movement was started TO expel him
from the local association, which was
only defeated by his hastily sending
In his resignation. AS membership in
the A. NJ. A. is dependent upon mem
bership in the local and State socie-
ties, his name was dropped by the
national organization.
And so. though he had saved thou
sands OF lives; though other physi-
clans had profted by his art; this
brilliant surgeon: this great and able
: man. has, during all these years. been
an outcast-a medical scab; not
j recognized as ethical or worthy OF
: fellowship by that body Of physicians
landed together in the American Med
zeal Association,
And this is the association which
under pretense Of working for the
e public good, is, in reality. only seeking
TO control Congress and the state
Legislatures in the interest OF thei'
d own selfish schemes; which Is tryini
Il TO create a Cabinet position and Y
n place one Of its members in that po
a sition: which is endeavoring by Law
5. to exclude from the use OF the mails
Is all manufacturers Of medicines VIII
do not comply with the absurd re
le ouirements that they choose 20 Sc
'e up: which. in short. IS trying 70 m
Is upon the statute books Of State an
ID nation laws that will in effect, estal
n lish kind OF medical priesthood Z
re which only their own members will b
id , eligible with power and control owe
re the health and lives Of the people
m God help the druggists, the dru
manufacturers. physicians not men
rs beers OF their guild, and the peopl
.e- rencrally. il this association ever SUI
"a. recds in It's undertaking If il doc
II viii. after the fashion Of the labc
IA. unions. dictate closed shop. an
* say 10 doctors who prefer to be ind
Is. pendent. you must join our unto
he or. failing TO do so. compel them
in. get out OF the business. II viii sa
what medicines shall be taken. an
how they shall be made II will hede
the people about with a lot of petit
Oh. regulations under pretense OF protec
re ing the public health. In fine, a meC
an cal bureaucracy will be established
ne tyrannize over the people
i. Let no man call this a false alarr
ia II there are those who are incline
TO do So let them read the journal
the A. NJ a. Let them scan Il
proceedings Of the association he
set always behind closed doors, and car
all fully edited. as they are. before IN,
A are published in fits official organ.
set they will do this they will see that v
,ut are not trying TO create bugaboo
nd brighten their timid souls.