New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-27
Medical Society Votes
Against Change by
210 TO 72
FEAR TO GIVE AID
TO ILLEGAL ACTS
Boos and Applause for Re
pOrt-Wile Scores Eel
low Physicians

The Medical Society of the County Of
New York. after heated discussion.
voted last night to accept the report
Of a special committee which recon-
mended that no change be made in the
law to permit dissemination Of facts
concerning birth control. The vote
stood 2lO to p. the four women pres
cnt voting with the minority.
Back and forth tho discussion ragged,
for two hours. at times the subject o;
intelligent. serious thought at others
detcrioratiug into. in the words of Dr.
Goldwater. talk" which was pcrilouslg
near the border Of vulgsrity.
The meeting was one of the largest
the society has ever held. When it be-
gan. at s:l5. Hosack Hall. II West For
tr-third street. was we'll filed. But by
o'clock. when tho subject OF contra
ception was introduced, there was not
2 seat left and The aisles we're crowded
with those who preferred 10 stand
rather than miss the argument.
Called an Education
In .hc absence OF Or. Abraham
Jacob. chairman Of the committee. the
majority report was read by DR.. q. W..
Kosmak. the secretary Of the commit
tee. II bore the signatures of six OF
the committee DIS. kosmsk, N. G..
O'Bren. Frank Van Fleet, {. +. Nam
mack, II. C. Taylor and W. II. Bishop
and declared that birth control was not
"a question Of state medicine but Of
education in a broad sense" The sub
iect was characterized as being IN
appropriate at this time on account Of
the senselcss and sensational propa-
ganda being circulated" by persons not
connected with the medical profession.
1t declared .hat change in the law
would spell opportunity for the illegal
practitioner. and further that the law
did not prevent the giving Of advice by
competent physician.
The minority report recommended
change in Section 1142 Of the Penal
Code. Illegal operations and preven-
tion Of conception were clsssed
together. il pointed out, whereas there
was. in the opinion Of the signers
DR.. A.. /. Goldwatcr. brother Of the
former Health Commissioner; Or. 5. A.
Tannenbaum. and Dr. Abraham Jacob
"A vast difference between the two.
And il was on this score after the
declaration that "there is no such
thing at the present time as legal pre-
vention" that recommendation TO
change the law was made.
DR.. Vile Is Kissed
DR.. Ira 5. Vile. of the Department Of
Health. stirred the audience wnen
he said: There arc those who are
performing ,:..val operations and are
still members Of this society" A
chorus Of Kisses greeted his words.
you may hiss continued the
speaker. "but t is true. gentlemen.
Several speakers said their say be-
fore any one questioned Dr. ile's
criticism Of the society. DR.. Morris
II. Kahn. who had been seated with
Mrs. Margaret Sanger now out on
writ after her arrest for running a
birth control clinic in Brooklyn, was
one Of these. He spoke in favor Of
"contraceptive advice giving, and
quoted figures and the remar Ks OF
patients i'm substantiation OF his
claims. c,-.
DR.. Andrew T. Currier and Dr. Cat
bourne also spoke before Dr. Van
Fleet. The latter was hissed when he
declared that mo man has the right
10 change the laws Of nature
"If any man makes charge sueh
as that made by DR.. Vile said DR..
Van Fleet. when he finally received
recognition from Or. Frederic Z. Son
dern, the president Of the society, who
was in the chair, "if any man gets up
and declares that there are prsctisers
OF abortion who are members OF TINS
organization. he is in honor bound 10
present the names of the Offenders or
10 apologize publicly. .
"The eyes OF the world are upon TINS
meeting" he continued. I'VE are mere
10 discuss the medical aspects OF the
case. The individual physician snould
do the thinking for himself. But so
ciety such as this should not, l think'
co on record as favoring a change IN
The legal side Of the question"
DR.. Adolphus Knopf arose then. and
in impassioncd tones declared that he
believed the "judicious practise Of pre-
venting conception to be not only not
q violation Of the Jaw, but the duty o.
a doctor"
Problems of Question
What shall do" he cried.
.ubercular woman comes 20 me. II
she bears child she will die. The un-
oh