The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-09-13
BRUTALITY OF MEDICAL ETHICS.
\ Great Surgeon Barred from Mem.
bership In Medical Association.

extensive with the civilized world. He
WAS not only an operator Of the high.
ct order. but a tireless and exhaus-
i've worker in the field Of original
surgery. He performed the first sue
cessful Caesarian section In 1889 In
Ct Louis, and also the first successful
eoeliotomy for gunshot wound Of the
abdomen and the first gladstone opera
ton in Missouri. A record held by
DR.. Bernays has never been equaled:
Out OF eighty-one successive cases
Of appendicitis which necessitated
operations, seventy-one In succession
we're with perfectly satisfactory re-
suits, the seventy-second patient fail
Ing Of recovery, but the subsequent
nine . ere successfully treated.
And yet, with such a record, match
less % was his skill, varied and ex-
tensive az was his learning, wonder.
ful % yer his accomplishments, he
was not considered, by the American
Medical Association. as worthy Of
membership in that organization.
No charges were eve brought
against him which, in the remotest
degree, reflected on his qualifications
~ q surgeon: his moral character wal
never the subject Of attack; he ri
never accused Of having done any
thing ~unbecoming q man or q gentle
man. THE head and front Of his of.
Tending had this extent-no more!"
He dared to think! He refused to
mold 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
other words. he could not regard the
Code Of Ethics Of the American Medi.
cal Association a. being inspired. or
having any binding authority on him
where his judgment told him 1t was
wrong. And 30, twenty years ago
Or more. on account Of some trivial in
fraction Of this sacred "Code." q
movement was started to expel him
from the local association. which was
only defeated by his hastily sending
IN his resignation. AS membership In
tho A. NJ. A. is dependent upon mem
bership in the local and State socie-
ties, his name was dropped by the
national organization.
And 30. though he had saved thou
oands Of lives; though other physi.
clans had profited by his art; this
brilliant surgeon; this great and able
man. has. during all these years. been
an outcast-a medical "scab;" not
recognized as ethical" or worthy OF
fellowship by that body of physicians
banded together In the American Med
lcal Association!
And this is the association which,
under pretense Of working for the
public good, is, in reality. only seeking
70 control Congress and the State
Legislatures In the interest Of their
own selfish schemes; which is trying
70 create q Cabinet position and to
place one OF its members in that po-
eition: which is e~ndeavoring by law
10 exclude from the use Of the mails.
al manufacturers Of medicines who
10 not comply with the absurd re.
Qpirements that they choose to set
up; which. in short, Is trying to put
upon the statute books Of State and
na4ion laws that will, in effect, estab-
tsh Z kind Of medical priesthood. to
which only their own members will be
Oligible with power and control over
~ health and lives Of the people!
God help the druggists. the drug
manufacturers, physicians not mem
bees OF their guild. and the people
generally. II this association ever sucs
coeds In its undertaking. II It does.
4 viii. after the fashion Of the labor
unions, dictate . CLOSED shop" and
~ TO doctors who prefer to be indie.
Dendent, "You must Join u union
o.. failing to do 30. compel them to
Ut out Of the business. It will say
What medicines shall be taken, and
INV they shall be made. It will hedge
- people about with . lot Of petty
regulations under pretense Of protect
lng the public health. In flne, . medi-
81 bureaucracy will be established to
1yrannise over the people.
Let no man call this . false alarm.
q theRo are those who are inclined
= 10 %. lot them read the Journal Of
- A. N. A. Let them . the
pcoceedings Of the association. held
always behind closed doors. and are
lnlly edited. - they are. before they
~ published In its oficial organ. II
N.Y. viii do this they will - that W
~ not trying to create . bugaboo -
1t1shton their tmid souls.
No amount Of practice ct leaping 10
nj fences here will give you spring
enongh 70 clear the walls Of the city
ehoro.
yIro. W1nelowss Soothing Syrup.
~ children ~ aing, sOfteas the guas, reduces a.
0mAstea a1lAyo pAan.euree win1 eolao. ooa bottjA
II the school Of experience some Of
- never get beyond the kindergarten
oDurDs.
M