USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > A documentary history of recent dissensions in the District Medical Society of the County of Hudson, N.J. > Part 5
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Dr. Lutkins arose to a question of privilege. Dr. Culver had raised a P question in regard to his membership in this Society, and he desired to know upon what grounds such a personal attack is P made. He has for many years considered himself a regular member, and has been so considered by others. P. The Dr. called upon the President for a reply to his question, "Am I a member of this Society ? "
Dr. Morris requested the privilege of replying to Dr. Lutkins' question. Dr. Morris referred to the minutes of the Society, and read a motion, offered by himself (Dr. M.), January 8th, 1867, which expunged from the minutes all action of this Society in reference to the P rejection of Dr. Lutkins, con- sequent npon his failing to sign the Constitution and By-Laws. +4 Dr. Morris explained that the only charge ever made against Dr. Lutkins was that he did not sign the Constitution and By-Laws and attend the meetings.
Drs. Buck, Hunt, and Vondy also spoke in reply to the question of Dr. Lutkins ; each of these gentlemen confirming P Dr. Morris' statement of facts. P
Dr. Lutkins expressed himself satisfied with the assurances made P of his being in regular membership, and hoped this would settle the question .* P
Dr. Forman moved to erase from the preamble and resolution offered
* Extracts from the Minute Book :
REGULAR MEETING, May 5th, 1852.
Dr. Olcott proposed the name of Dr. A. A. Lutkins, and having vouched for his being a licentiate,* he was elected a member of this Society unanimously.
* Not a graduate.
REGULAR MEETING, August 9th, 1854.
On motion, it was resolved that the Secretary of the Society notify Dr. Lutkins that he may sign the Constitution and By-Laws, and comply with the rules of the Society, on pain of suspension.
NOTE .- Over two years after election.
REGULAR MEETING, November 8, 1854.
The Secretary then reported having notified Dr. Lutkins to attend and conform to the rules of the Society, on pain of expulsion. Report approved.
REGULAR MEETING, February 22d, 1855.
Dr. Lutkins' election to membership was reconsidered, and he was unanimously rejected. (Vide Minutes).
N. B .- The By-Laws permit no second reconsideration. This is final, if legal.
REGULAR MEETING, January 8th, 1867.
Dr. Morris moved that all these proceedings be expunged from the minutes, except his election to membership (Nearly fifteen years after proposal, and twelve years after final action thereon).
NOTE .- But this motion certainly did not re-elect him. His admission was most irregular, if not altogether contrary to law.
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by Dr. Morris, the reference to Dr. Miller. Seconded by Dr. Morris .* P (Where is the vote on this ? )
Dr. Watson moved to amend by including the reference to the name of Dr. McGill. Seconded. The previous question was now moved by Dr. Hunt. Secondod. This motion was declared " ont of order," by the Chair. P Dr. Morris appealed from the decision of the Chair. Confusion here took place; Dr. Watson having the floor, and speaking in defense of Dr. McGill's action in retaining possession of P the minutes of the January meeting.
Dr. Vondy moved to appeal from the decision of the Chair, declaring the " previous question " out of order. Seconded by Dr. Bird. Dr. Watson still claimed the floor, and was P declared " in order " by the Chair. Inter- ruptions from many of the members, and great confusion here followed.
The Chair called for a vote on the motion for the previous question, when the motion was carried.
Dr. Watson's amendment P being called for, however, P it was, by request of the President, stated by the Secretary as follows :
Dr. Watson moved to amend the motion of Dr. Forman, to include in the erasure, the name of Dr. McGill. P
A vote being taken on this amendment, it was lost. Dr. Hunt's motion, " To adopt the preamble and resolution, offered by Dr. Morris," being now in order, it was acted upon, and passed by the following vote : the Aves and Nays being called. P
Ayes-Cornelison, Elder, Vondy, Buck, Lutkins, Morris, Buffett, Hunt, Noble, Craig, Burdett, McDowell, Hardenburg, Selnow, Viers, Geisler, Prendergast, Bird, Avery, Mitchell, Freeman, Van Houten, Morgan, Paul, Eddy, Everett, Stont .-- Twenty-seven.
Nays-Culver, Forman, Watson, Benson, Gilman, McLoughlin, McBride -Seven.
Dr. Hunt moved to reconsider the P vote by which the preamble and resolution, offered by Dr. Morris, P was just passed. Seconded by Dr Prender- gast. Ayes and Nays were called for, and taken as follows :
Aves-Forman, Benson, Gilman. P -- Three.
Nays-Cornelison Culver, (not present), Elder, Vondy, Buck, Lutkins, Morris, Buffett, Hunt, Noble, Craig, Burdett, McDowell, Hardenburg, Sel- now, Viers, Geisler, Prendergast, Bird, Avery, Mitchell, Van Houten, Mor gan, McLoughlin, Panl, MeBride (not present), Eddy, Everett .- Twenty- eight. + Dr. Watson refused to vote. P
Dr. Hunt moved that the record of the transactions of the Jannary meeting be declared correct. ¿ Seconded.
Dr. Watson P moved to amend by striking out the word "correct." Seconded.
Upon a vote being taken on the amendment, it was lost. Ayes-Three. Nays -- Twenty-seven.
A vote being taken on Dr. Hunt's motion, it was carried as follows :
Aves-Cornelison, Elder, Vondy, Buck, Lutkins, Forman, Morris, Buffett, Hunt, Noble, Craig, Burdett, McDowell, Hardenburg, Selnow, Viers, Geisler, Prendergast, Bird, Avery, Mitchell, Van Houten, Morgan, Paul, Eddy, Everett .- Twenty-six.
Nays-Benson, Gilman .- Two. Dr. Watson refused to vote.
It was moved and seconded to adjourn. Carried.
The Society now adjourned.
NOTE .- The above minutes have been sadly and significantly tampered with. There are
* This motion was carried, though it is not so stated in the minutes.
+ Drs. McBride and Culver were not present when this vote was taken ; but the Secretary here records their vote in the negative.
+ Voted " correct," after adoption When a naughty boy fibs, he often feels prompted to
deny peremptorily all consciousness of lying.
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nineteen pasters used, and numerous interlineations. The reader will please compare the true minutes * of January 7th meeting, with the bastard ones of which Dr Morris was delivered.
Dr. Mitchell added a false heading and false date, and copied the "Morris-record" into the minute book.
THE SECESSION-AND FORMATION OF A RIVAL SOCIETY.
The writer has seen a part of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Hudson County District Medical Society, held in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Freeholders, near the Hudson County Court House, March 4th, 1873, as written in pencil by Dr. Henry Mitchell, Secretary. They are characteristically kept. They are too erude, disjointed, and incomplete, to be printed. Suffice it to soy, that there is clearly visible in them an effort to criminate those gentlemen who were being abused, and to protect and parti. cipate with the varlets who were maltreating them-to libel the innocent, and shield the guilty.
At roll-call it became evident to all in attendance, that the conquering cohorts of Drs. Hunt, Morris, Vondy, and Co., were ont in full force-men)- bers and non-members. Burlesque meetings were not to the taste of the more conservative members of the Society, many of whom remained at home. Those present counted only as a minority of the Society. They severally protested against calling on the roll the names of any persons who were not members. This brought Dr. Morris to his feet. He made his stereotyped motion, and then the Secretary called the roll as he saw fit. The President strove in vain to maintain order. The majority appealed from, and voted down, his every decision, however reasonable and just. They even expressed the sentiment that might makes right, and they would have their way.
Dr. B. A. Watson read the following protest : To the
DISTRICT MEDICAL SOCIETY FOR THE COUNTY OF HUDSON, STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
The undersigned protests against the regular meetings of said Society, held on the seventh day of January, fourth day of February, and the special meeting, held on or about the eleventh of February last past, for certain illegalities and irregularities in the action of the Society generally ; against the false minutes pretended to have been adopted and approved, and all recognition to expelled members recorded, and specially as to the pretended reconsideration of the vote of the expulsion of certain persons; and the undersigned most respectfully yet earnestly protests against the action of said Society.
B. A. WATSON, M.D.
Jersey City, N. J., March 4th, 1873.
Dr. Miller, the President, rose amid blatant confusion, and when order was somewhat restored, essayed to speak. He deprecated the hostilities evinced since his term of office began, exhorted the members to orderly and honorable conduct, and, as he sat down, implored them "not to convert a sorry farce into a damning tragedy." (Dr. Prendergast, who was a listener, published, three days afterwards, in the secular papers, that Dr. Miller spoke of the termination of the existence of the Society in a bloody tragedy ; " an anamorphosis diabolical enough to be quite satisfactory to a then blood- thirsty Prendergast).
The minutes of the special February 11th meeting-(which see)-were read and discussed. Dr. Forman moved to approve the minutes, falsehoods,
Page 28, et seq.
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pasters, and interpolations included. Dr. Watson moved to amend, by strik- ing out all discourteous allusions to Dr. McGill from the " preamble and resolution." (Great confusion).
Dr. Culver called attention to the following errors in the record : 1. Dr. C. stated that Dr. Lutkins' admission to membership is irregular; not that he is not a member. 2. Dr. C. did not call Dr. Morris to order, as stated, but read a part of Section IX .- " No discourteous personal allusion shall be made or tolerated." An appeal was taken however, as stated, and the By-Law voted down. 3. The attributed statement that Dr. Forman's motion had been passed, and that Dr. MeGill changed his minutes to read that it had not been passed, is utterly false, and without a shadow of excuse. Dr. McGill has the original minutes, written in pencil, at the January 7th meeting, which can be examined by anyone who thinks fit. Concerning this matter, not a single interlineation, or erasure, or change of any kind, exists, or has ever been made. 4. Dr. Culver is recorded, in Dr. Mitchell's minutes, as having voted after he had left the room. Dr. Culver moved to amend by the correction of these grave errors.
Both amendments were seconded.
After a deluge of discourtesy from Dr. Avery and others-(" Very dis- respectful, indeed," is written by Dr. Mitchell)-Dr. Watson's amendment passed by a small majority.
The party leaders were herein unexpectedly discomfited. They rallied their commands forthwith ; and Dr. Culver's amendment was lost by a strict party vote.
This was the first time in the history of the District Medical Society that correction of the minutes had been objected to. In this instance it was disallowed by a majority vote of those present. Cui bono ? As already hinted, these fabrications were invented and written in the minutes to sub- serve a pre-arranged purpose. (See Dr. Vondy's charges).
The motion to approve the minutes of the February 11th meeting, was also passed by a strict party vote; thus sanctioning nineteen suspected pasters, and interlarded mythis, and slander without stint.
The first uproarions act in the "sorry farce," was completed. Dr. Vondy now stood up, and suddenly the silence of a deathi-bed scene came over his compeers, while, in drawling undertone, he began to read :
Mr. President :
It is with mueh regret that I feel it to be my duty to prefer charges against three members of this Society, viz., Drs. B. A. Watson, J. E. Culver, and J. D. McGill, for " continacionsly dishonoring the rulings of this Society, counterworking its objects and interests, and by such aets tending to degrade its standing and usefulness, and imperil its existence."
Specification 1st .- I charge that at the regular meeting of this Society, held at the Hudson County Court House, on Tuesday, January 7th, 1873, Drs. B. A. Watson and J. E. Culver did then and there rudely withdraw from the meeting without permission from the presiding officer, thereby vio- lating Sec. IV. of the By-Laws.
Specifieation 2 .- I charge that at a special meeting of the Society, held in the same place, on Tuesday, February 11th, 1873, Dr. B. A. Watson did contumacionsly refuse to vote when his name was called, although a motion to excuse him was almost unanimously decided in the negative, thereby violating Sec. VI. of By-Laws.
Specification 3 .- I charge that Dr. J. E. Culver did, at the same meeting, improperly and rudely assert that Dr. A. A. Lutkins was not a regular mem- ber of this Society, he knowing that the said Dr. Lutkins had been a member for nearly twenty* years, and in good professional and moral standing, there- by violating Sec. IX. of By-Laws.
* Since January 8th, 1867.
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Specification 4 .- I charge that Dr. J. D. McGill did, at the suggestion and with the connivance of Dr. J. E. Culver, so alter and change the minutes or record of the proceedings of this Society, at its meeting, on January 7th, 1873, as to make them untrue in certain particulars, and no longer a faithful record of the action at said meeting, thereby violating Article VI. of Con- stitution.
Specification 5. - I charge that Dr. J. E. Culver did conspire and con- federate with Dr. J. D. McGill, to alter and change his records or minutes of the proceedings of this Society, at a meeting on January 7th, 1873, and that he did so confess and admit before this body at its last meeting, thereby vio- lating Article VI. of Constitution.
Specification 6 .- I charge Dr. J. D. McGill with contemptuously with- holding the minutes of the regular January (1873) meeting of this Society, from the Secretary of said Society, che being the only proper custodian of all its papers), he, the said Secretary. having made regular application for them, both personally and by letter ; and I also charge the said Dr. J. D. McGill with having treated this Society disrespectfully, in that he, after being duly noti- fied of a special meeting, to be held for the purpose of considering, correcting, and approving these minutes, did write to the Secretary of this Society from Princeton, N. J., to the effect that the said minutes were yet in his posses- sion, thus withholding them from the Society in an irregular manner, and treating every member of this body with extreme discourtesy.
J. H. VONDY, M.D.
When the reading was finished Dr. Vondy, or one of his coadjutors, offered a Resolution to this effect that the charges be accepted as read. Dr. Culver moved to amend by striking out all after the word Resolved, and substituting so that the Resolution shall read as follows :
Resolved, that Dr. A. A. Lutkins, J. 11. Vondy, D. S. Hardenberg, F. C. Selnow, E. W. Buck, S. R. Forman, T. F. Morris, J. W. Hunt, Jas. Craig, S. V. W. Stout, C. H. Case, C. O. Viers, H. Mitchell, J. W. Van Houten, HI. M. Eddy, JJ. J. Prendergast, and J. R. Everett, members of the District Medical Society of the County of Hudson, N. J., have conspired together, and have confederated with Dr. J. M. Corneilison. E. P. Buffett, F. E. Noble, J. B. Bur lett, J. Q. Bird, A. G. Avery, L. W. Elder, F. Geisler, J. D. Mc- Dowell, E. J. Lowenthal, J. F. Morgan, and W. J. Hadden, who, last year, were expelled from membership in said Society, for violation of the Constitu- tion and medical ethics, and that they, the members aforesaid. all and every of them, have aided or abetted to counterwork the objeets and interests of the said society, contumaciously to dishonor its rulings and code of ethics, to degrade its standing and usefulness, and to imperil its existence ; and, therefore, Resolved, that the members above named be, severally and collectively, and they hereby are, summarily suspended from membership in the District Medical Society of the County of Hudson, N. J., and from all and every the rights and privileges thereto appertaining.
J. E. CUI.VER, M.D.
Section VIII. of the By-Laws requires, and the custom of the society upholds the rule, that the vote on an amendment shall take precedence of that on the main question. Article VI. of the Constitution denies to accused members the right to vote upon questions involving their own discipline. Dr. Culver had included in his amendment the name of every member present belonging to the usurping faction, so that there could be no negative vote. The ayes and nays were taken. The amendment was, of course, carried by a few votes ; but, to prevent the wholesale suspension imminent, and perchance simultaneously to rid the meeting of annoyance from intrnd- ers, Dr. Culver rose before the President had time to announce the result, and moved an adjournment ; reading deliberately and in a loud voice, from a written paper which he held in his hand, the following words :
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Mr. President : I move that the District Medieal Society for the County of Hudson, N. J., do now adjourn, to meet immediately in the District At- torney's room in the Court House in Hudson county, N. J.
Seconded by Dr. McGill. "Those in favor of such adjournment will please say Aye " said the President. " Aye " was the emphatie and numerous response. "Those opposed, Nay," continued the President. "Nay," in fewer and more seattering accen's, was the reply. "Carried " said the Presi- dent rising, " This meeting is adjourned."" "Ha! whereare you going ? The meeting is'nt adjourned," bawled the leader of the usurping cabal to one who was about leaving. Taking the cne, several of his disciples began to dispute the adjournment, some of them clamoring at the President, who turning to them said, "Gentlemen, the meeting is adjourned-I regard you all as a band of disorganizers." The Secretary at first gathered his loose papers into the Minute-Book as if to depart with the Society, but listening to his Chief, he quickly assumed a position significant of a determination to remain. Noticing this, and indignant at the unjust aspersions on his own character foully and with evil intent wrought into the Feb. 11 minutes during his ab- senee, which at this meeting had been ordered stricken out, but which, not- withstanding this order, were reiterated in " Dr. Vondy's charges "-firmly convinced that the minutes themselves would show who had garbled them, Dr. MeGill wrested the minute-book from the dastard grasp of the Secretary and walked toward the door. When half across the room, half a dozen as- sailants beset Dr. McGill, and, nearly overpowered, he called to Dr. Watson, who was a few feet in advance, and threw the book to him. Dr. Watson caught the book before it fell to the floor, and passed it onward. It landed
out doors on the front step. Dr. Watson cooly set about closing the front door. Meantime Dr. Varick, who had left the meeting prior to adjourment to visit a patient, espied the seuffle, the minute-book outside, and the papers blown about. He returned from the street, gathered them all up, took them into his earriage, and drove away .*
There was a struggle at the door. Some essayed to open it, some to close it. Dr. Prendergast's eyes were so intently fixed upon Drs. Hunt, Morris, and Co., that he did not comprehend what was doing until the minute-book had left the room. He then rushed across the room, threw himself upon Dr. Watson, and attacked him vigorously.
Ile struck Dr. Watson's head against the door, and shattered the glass door-panel. The door bent like a withe, but Dr. Prendergast could not break it down, and Dr. Watson held it closed against all comers.
The coveted book, now at a safe distance, Dr. Watson loosed the door, and those near it walked forth. Peace reigned, and laughter began. A moment, and Dr. Prendergast danced about in Donnybrook-Fair fashion, and Dr. Mitchell said, " the man who took that book is a thief." Dr. McGill thereupon seized Dr. M.'s coat-collar, and Dr. M. suddenly changed his mind and begged Dr. McG. not to strike. Dr. McGill did not offer to strike. The insulting remark of Dr. Mitehell was the signal for a free fight on the part of the cycling Prendergast. He looked wild; and struck madly at one and another, and another ; and twice he was knocked down in return for his gratuitous blows. Not one of the conservative party struck a single blow, except in self-defence against the blow, of Prendergast.
Dr. Prendergast published a letter in the Evening Journal, March 7th, 1573, in which he says, "Circumstances forced it upon me." lle sought to exonerate himself, and to lay the blame on others; and he did not inform the public that he was the first and chief offender. The letter contains thirty- four sentences or periods. Twenty-six of these sentences contain misrepre- sentations, five are mere expressions of his opinion, two state facts, and one, the opening sentence, says, " Please give space in your valuable paper to a
*The minute-book was afterwards placed in the custody of Dr. Miller, the President.
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correct version of the fracas, etc." Dr. Prendergast signed this tissue of falsehoods, and circulated it among the baffled party for signatures. They responded thus :
We, the undersigned, consider the above statement correct.
Dr. A. A. Lutkins,
J. J. Vondy, M.D.,
E. P. Buffett, M.D., Jas. F. Morgan, M.D.,
J. W. Hunt, M.D., James Paul, M.D.,
Henry Mitchell, M.D.,
Sam. R. Forman, M.D.,
James Craig, M.D.,
J. W. Van Houten, M.D.,
F. E. Noble, M.D.,
J. B. Burdett, M.D.,
J. M. Cornelison, M.D.
Chas. O. Viers, M.D.
It is said that Dr. Morris refused to sign it on account of its falsity. This straining at a gnat after swallowing a camel, reminds us of the part he has taken in the disruption of the Society, and the abortive trick played at the St. Francis' Hospital. Let him nurse that conscience tenderly.
ADJOURNED MEETING, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ROOM, COURT HOUSE, March 4th, 1873, etc., etc.
The adjourned meeting of the District Medical Society was held imme- diately in the District Attorney's Room, in the Court House. Present-Drs. Watson, Mc Laughlin, Miller, McGill, Benson, Gilman, McBride, and Culver. Dr. McLoughlin was made Secretary pro tem. An adjournment was moved, seconded, and carried unanimously, to hold the next regular meeting at a place to be designated by the President, in the notices to be issued. * * *
Meantime Drs. Ilunt, Morris, Vondy, & Co., seceded, and returned to the room just vacated by the District Medical Society, where they organized by the appointment of officers. They adjourned, I suppose ; for on the 14th March, 1873, they published in the Jersey City Times, a daily paper, that ten members of the District Medical Society, and seven who are not mem- bers, had met, and " expelled Drs. Culver, McGill, Watson, Benson, and Miller." Dr. Varick was subsequently "expelled " by the same gang ; but whether they published him in the dailies or not, I do not know. In the Jersey City Times they style themselves "The Hudson County Medical Society." Dr. McGill jocularly calls them the Modocs, and their haunts the lava-beds. They meet often.
The District Medical Society lias since held its regular monthly meet- ings, and none others. They have been chiefly devoted to scientific discus- sions, details of interesting cases of disease, and the examination of many specimens of morbid tissues. The members have not lost temper, nor ex- pelled a member, nor published in the daily press or elsewhere distorted facts, nor have they made any appeal whatsoever to the forum of public opinion. Twenty-six members sustain the Society against about fifteen seceders. These latter have taken the expelled members into an alliance offensive and defensive ; but not more than four or five of them all have hitherto attended the meetings of the Society often, nor have any of them exhibited much interest in its welfare. The former, the loyal twenty-six, include in their number those who have, at all times, by a noble ex- ample, inculcated the advantages of untiring study, patient painstaking in practice, and good faith and mutual forbearance in all professional inter- course ; most conspicuous among whom is a former President of the Medical Society of New Jersey. Their influence and irreproachable bearing have sustained the Society to the present time.
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RECAPITULATION.
The loyal members of the District Medical Society have been content to watch the wily manoeuvrings of their assailants, and to checkmate them by strictly parliamentary action ; and, while they scorn to indulge in personal animosities, or to overreach by scheming or deception, they rely entirely upon the justice of their cause, confident of ultimate victory. " Thrice armed is he whose cause is just."
The conceit to organize disorganization within the Society had not a very remote origin. Drs. Hunt and Morris first took umbrage because certain mem- bers, proven guilty of unlawful association, having forfeited their membership by non-payment of dues, were, according to custom, restored to membership on payment thereof. Something more than a year ago, after having election- cered with caution, they sprung upon the Society unawares the brilliant pro- ject of surrendering its Charter, so as to get rid of misbehaving members. The project failed, and Drs. Hunt, Morris and Vondy were thereat deeply af- fronted. hale
Nearly a year afterwards, Drs. Hunt, Morris and Mitchell voted to haut before the Comitia Minora certain members charged with illicit association. The investigation sustained the charges. But on the question of expulsion, which was entertained, rather than that of suspension, out of deference to the strongly expressed sentiments of Drs. Hunt, Morris & Co., these quondam sticklers for consistency astonished their associates by casting a negative vote. Now came the Forman motion to reconsider, which was tabled, and then a ridiculous batch of amendments to the Constitution was proposed, with some indications of ill-blood from Drs. Hunt and Vondy.
At the annual meeting of the Society, December 3d, 1872, in the election of officers, the disorganizers were tabooed ; and this seems to have exasperated Drs. Hunt, Morris, Vondy & Co., beyond endurance. During the month fol- lowing, they enlisted all the disaffected, the indifferent and the new members whom they could persuade to join their cause. The January 7th, 1873, meet- ing, was packed in their interest ; the Forman motion of reconsideration, in itself a mere unparliamentary ruse, was taken from the table, and it failed to pass only through Dr. Morris's blundering. He was infuriate and overbear- ing, and the peaceably disposed were driven away.
At the February 4th meeting, three pioneers, not members, made their appearance, and, by collusion with the Secretary, took part in the pro- cecdings.
At the February 11th special meeting, nearly all the expelled gentlemen were present, presumably (to adopt the language of Dr. Buek) to put them- selves back into the Society. Their unauthorized enrollment by the Seere- tary, and their hasty recognition as members by the disorganizers, coupled together with the appointment, about this time, of several of the disorganizers on the staff of the defunet Hudson County Hospital, have the prima facie ap- paarance of a bargain struck. What was the bargain ? The disintegration of the District Medical Society was to be begun by the expulsion of its staunchest friends and supporters, the charges to be based on false and defam- atory assumptions. The publications in the daily papers are tinctured with personal spite.
The onslaught on loval members of the District Medical Society who are on the staff of the St. Francis' Hospital, commenced about the same time, has a special significance ; and had this been successful, the same role might have been attempted at the Charity Hospital and the St. Mary's. The attack was foiled. But the record of St. Francis' Hospital was carried off by Dr. Forman and has not been returned. Dr. Morris left no record of the cases
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under his care at this Hospital, for his successor, nor did he meet him to trans- fer them. The disintegrators affect to pass the loyal Physicians by whenever they meet, without recognizing them. Old pamphlets have been sent through the mails to physicians of the loyal party, addressed to them as " Ex-members H. C. M. S." This petty gratification of malice is too ridiculous to notice, only that it prompts the inquiry, " Was revenge in the bargain ?" Drs. Hunt, Morris & Co. are very bitter against those who have so often defeated their machinations. The best friends of the Society, and especially the punctual attendants on all the meetings, shared the ill-will of those whom they had ex- pelled.
Experience teaches that when an unworthy member of the medical pro- fession is charged with immoral or unprofessional behavior, however clear and explicit the proofs of his guilt, he immediately assumes towards the Society the role of injured innocence, and an air of contemptuous hostility ; complains to his friends and the public that the Society has been impelled in his ease, by improper and personal motives ; arraigns the conscientious judgment of his brother members before the bar of public opinion ; canvasses indefatigably for the false issue throughout the County, and garners from the domain abun- dant gleanings of sympathy. But nobody ever defends or sympathizes with the right-minded members of the Society, who, braving popular prejudices, perchance honorably silent the while, are persistently misrepresented, pestered, and persecuted, because of, and for no other reason than, their honest endeav- ors to sustain a Code of Ethics to which they had subscribed in good faith.
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