Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1907-09-12
BRUTALITY OF MEDICAL ETHICS.
a Great surs-on Barred f-o-- Ner--
eership IN Medical Assoc atic-.

eershir N Ne1ieSl Assoc atisr-
fFr1n the National Druggist Tor June.
E=-
Dr. Augustus Charles Be-uays. who
died a few days ago in ST Louis. vas.
probably. the foremost surgeon in the
United States. His fame vas Co
extensive with the civilized world. lie
vas 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 in isS9 in
St Louis. and also the first successful
coeliOtouy for gunshot wound Of the
abdomen and the first gladstone opera
ton in Missouri A record held By
Dr. Beruays has never been equaIed.
ont Of eighty-oae successive cases
OF appendicitis which necessitated
operations. seventy-one in succession
we're with perfectly satisfactory re-
suits the seventy-secoud patient fail
inS Of recovery. but the subsequent
nine cases we're successfully treated
And pet. With such 4 record. match
less as vas his sail. varied and Ok
reusive as vas his learning. worder-
fal as were his accomplishments. he
vas not considered. by the American
Medical Association. as worthy q
membership in that organization
No charges we're ever brought
against him which in the remosesr
degree reflected on his Qualifications
as a surgeon. his moral character vas
uever the subject OF attack. be was
never accused Of having doue any
thing unhecouinz Z man or a gentle
nan The head and front Of his Of
Tending had this extenJ-no more"
He dared IN think. He refused 20
uoit his opinions and TO govern his
actions By the arbitrary rules which
those whom he knew to be his infer
iors had set Up for his guidance, In
0ther words. he could not regard the
Code o. Ethics Of the American Medf-
cal Association as being inspired. or
having any binding authority on him
where his Judgment told him it was
wrong And 50. twenty years ago
Or more. on account of some trivial in
fraction Of this sacred Code I
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 = VI. \. is dependent upon mem
bership in the local and State socie-
ties his name was dropped by the
national organization
And 50. though he had saved thou
sands OF lives. though other physf-
Clans had prohted by his art. this
brilliant surgeon: this great and able
man has. during all these years. been
az Outcast-a medical -scsb.- not
recognized as ethical or worthy OF
fellowship BY that body OF physicians
banded together in the American Med
ical Association,
And this IS the association which.
under preteuse Of working for the
public good. Is. in reality. only seeking
10 control Congress ard the State
Legislatures in the interest Of their
own selfish schemes. which IS irving
70 create a Cabinet position and to
place one OF its members in that Do
sitiOl; which is endeavorins BY law
70 exclude from the use OF the mails.
all manufacturers Of medicines who
do not comply with the absurd re-
quirements that they choose to set
up; which. in short. IS trying 10 pue
upon the statute books OF State and
nation laws that will, in effect. estab-
lsh a kind OF medical priesthood. TO
which only their own members will be
eligible with power and control over
the health and lives Of the people,
God help the druggists. the drug
manufacturers. physicians not mem
bsrs OF their guild. and the people
generally. IL this association ever sue.
ceeds IN its undertaking. II it does.
IL will. after the fashion OF the labor
unions. dictate a closed shop and
say to doctors who prefer 10 be indie
pendent You must Join our union
or. falling to do 50. compel them TO
get out Of the business. Il will say
what medicines shall be taken. and
how they shall be made 1t will hedge
the people about with a lot OF petty
regulations under pretense Of prutec.-
ing the public health In fine. a naedf
cal bureaucracy will be established 70
tyrannize over the people.
Let no man call this a false alarm
II there are those who are inclined
TO do so. let them read the 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 IT'S Official organ. II
they will do this they will see that we
are not trying TO create a bugaboo To