The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-09-12
BRUTALITY OF MEDICAL ETHICS.
A Great Surgeon Barred from Mem
bershiP In Medical Association.

Or. Augustus Charles Bernays, who
died a few days ago in st. Louis. was,
probably, the foremost surgeon in the
United States. His fame was CO.
extensive with the civilized world He
was not only an operator Of the high
est order, but a tireless and exhaus-
tive worker In the field Of original
surgery. He performed the FIRST sue
cessful Caesarian section Ia 1889 in
81. Louis. and also the first successful
cOeliotomy for gunshot wound Of the
abdomen and the hrst gladstone opera.
ton in Missouri. A record held by
DR.. Bernays has never been equaled:
Out OF eighty-one successive cases
Of appendicitis which neeessltated
operations, seventy-one In succession
were with perfectly satisfactory re-
suits, the seventy-second patient fail.
ing Of recovery. but the subsequent
nine cases were successfully treated.
And yet. with such a record. match
less as was his skill. varied and ex-
tensive as was his learning. wonder
ful 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
never the subject OF attack: he was
never accused Of having done any.
thing unbecominE a man or q gentle
man. The head and front Of his Of.
Tending had this extent-no morel"
He dared TO think, lie refused 10
mold his opinions and TO govern his
actions by the arbitrary rules which
those whom he knew to be his Infer.
Tors had set up for his guidance. In
other words, he could not regard the
Code Of Ethics Of thp American Medi-
cal Association as being Inspired. or
having any binding authority on him
where his judgment told him Il was
wrong, And so. twenty years ago
or more. on account OF some trivial In
fraction OF this sacred Code. a
movement was started TO eXpeI him
from the local association. which vas
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 socle-
ties, his name was dropped by the
national organization.
And so, though he had saved thou.
sands Of lives; though other physi.
clans had pronted by his art; this
brilliant surgeon; this great and able
man, has, during all these years, been
an outcast--a medical "scab;" @
recognized as ethical" or worthy OF
fellowship by that body OF physicians
banded together ia tho American Med,
icai Association,
And this Is the association which.
under p%rctense OF working for the
public good. IS. In reality, only seeking
TO control Congress and the State
Legislatures 10 the interest OF their
own selfish sehomes: which Is trying
70 create a Cabinet position and TO
place one OF SIS members On that DO
Hltion. which Is eudeavorlur boy law
TO exclude from ghe use OF the malls.
an manufacturers Of medicines who
do not comply with the absurd re-
quirements that they choose 10 set
up; which. IA short, &c trying 10 put
upon the statute books OF state and
nation laws that win, In effect. ostab
fish a Kind Of medical priesthood. TO
which oHly their own members will be
eligible with power and control over
the health and lives OF the peoplei
God help tho druggists, the drug
manufacturers. physicians not mem
beers Of their guild. and the people
generally, II this association ever sue.
ceeds Ia ATS undertaking. II Il does.
Il win after the fashion Of the labor
unions, dictate a CLOSED shop" aud
say TO doctors who prefer 20 be indie
pendent. you must join u union
or. falling TO do SO. compel them to
get out OF the business. II will say
what medicines shall be taken. and
how they shall be made. u viii hedge
the people about With a lot OF petty
regulations under p~rotense Of protect
ing the public health. In fine. a me3i
cal bureaucracy viii be established 10
yranniEe v er the people.
Let no man call this false alarm
II there are those who are incllned
10 do so, let them read tho Journal Of
the A. NJ. A. let them scan the
PROCEEDINGS Of the association. held
always behind closed doors. and care
fully edited. as they are. before they
are published IN rs official organ. II
they viii do this they viii See that NO
are not trying TO create a bugaboo 70
frghton their umid souls.
Sends Emlarants 20 Canada.