and dignity of the profession, and cannot immediately be terminated, or do not come under the character of violation of the special rules of the association otherwise provided for, they should be referred to the arbitration of a sufficient number of members of the association, according to the nature of the dispute; but neither the subject-matter of such references, nor the adjudication, should, if it can be avoided, be communicated to the public, as they may be personally injurious to the individuals concerned, and can hardly fail to hurt the general credit of the Faculty.

DISCOURAGEMENT OF QUACKERY.1

The use of quack medicines should be discouraged by the Faculty as disgraceful to the profession, injurious to health, and often destructive even of life. No physician

1 At a meeting of the Councillors of the Massachusetts Medical Society, held February 3, 1858, the following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved, That the Massachusetts Medical Society deem it dishonorable in its Fellows to append their names in any way recommendatory of secret or quack remedies, and any Fellow so exhibiting his name, shall be considered as acting in a manner derogatory to the dignity of a Fellow of this society.

Resolved, That if any physician or chemist, through inadvertence or misapprehension, shall have been induced to give his recommendation or authority in any way to promote the circulation or sale of any secret or empirical medicine, he shall be expected publicly to disclaim or revoke the

same.

Resolved, That the Fellows of the Massachusetts Medical Society regard with disapprobation and abhorrence all attempts to procure abortion, except in cases where it may be necessary for the preservation of the mother's life.

Resolved, That when any Fellow of this society shall become cognizant of any attempt unlawfully to procure abortion, either by persons in the profession or out of it, it shall be the duty of such Fellow immediately to lodge information with some proper legal officer to the end that such information may lead to the exposure and conviction of the offender.

Resolved, That no person convicted of an attempt to procure criminal abortion can, consistently with its by-laws, any longer remain a Fellow of this society.

or surgeon, therefore, should dispense a secret nostrum, whether it be his invention or exclusive property; for, if it is of real efficacy, the concealment of it is inconsistent with beneficence and professional liberality; and, if mystery alone give it value and importance, such craft implies either disgraceful ignorance or fraudulent avarice.

CONDUCT FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE MEDICAL CHAR

ACTER.

The esprit du corps is a principle of action founded in human nature, and, when duly regulated, is both rational and laudable. Every man, who enters into a fraternity, engages, by a tacit compact, not only to submit to the laws, but to promote the honor and interests of the association, so far as they are consistent with morality and the general good of mankind. A physician, therefore, should cautiously guard against whatever may injure the general respectability of the profession, and should avoid all contumelious representations of the Faculty at large, all general charges against their selfishness or improbity, or the indulgence of an affected or jocular skepticism concerning the efficacy and utility of the healing art.

FEES.

General rules are adopted by the Faculty, in every town, relative to the pecuniary acknowledgments of their patients; and it should be deemed a point of honor to adhere to them; and every deviation from, or evasion of, these rules should be considered as meriting the indignation and contempt of the fraternity.

Gratuitous services to the poor are by no means prohibited; the characteristic beneficence of the profession is inconsistent with sordid views and avaricious rapacity. The poor of every description should be the objects of our peculiar care. Dr. Boerhaave used to say they were his best patients, because God was their paymaster.

It is obvious, also, that an average fee, as suited to the general rank of patients, must be an inadequate compensation from the rich (who often require attendance not absolutely necessary), and yet too large to be expected from that class of citizens who would feel a reluctance in calling for assistance, without making some decent and satisfactory remuneration.

EXEMPTION FROM CHARGES.

All members of the medical profession, together with their families, should be attended gratuitously; but visits should not be obtruded officiously, as such civility may give rise to embarrassments, or interfere with that choice on which confidence depends.

But distant members of the Faculty, when they request attendance, should be expected at least to defray the charges of travelling.

Omission to charge, on account of the wealthy circumstances of the physician, is an injury to the profession, as it is defrauding, in a degree, the common funds for its support, when fees are dispensed with which might justly be claimed.

VICARIOUS OFFICES.

Whenever a physician officiates for another by his desire, in consequence of sickness or absence, if for a short time only, the attendance should be performed gratuitously as to the physician, and with the utmost delicacy towards the professional character of the gentleman previously connected with the patient.

SENIORITY.

A regular and academical education furnishes the only presumptive evidence of professional ability, and is so honorable and beneficial that it gives a just claim to preëminence among physicians at large, in proportion to the

degree in which it may be enjoyed and improved. Nevertheless, as industry and talents may furnish exceptions to this general rule, and this method may be liable to difficulties in the application, seniority among practitioners of this town should be determined by the period of public and acknowledged practice as a physician or surgeon in the same. This arrangement, being clear and obvious, is adapted to remove all grounds of dispute among medical gentlemen; and it secures the regular continuance of the established order of precedency, which might otherwise be subject to troublesome interruptions by new settlers, perhaps not long stationary in the place.

Standing Committee - Drs. George Hayward, Francis Minot, C. D. Homans, Buckminster Brown, J. C. Warren.

MEMBERS.

S. L. Abbot.

F. S. Ainsworth.
G. O. Allen.
Andrew Alexander.
William Appleton, Jr.
J. F. Appell.
James Ayer.
J. B. Ayer.
W. H. Baker.
H. H. A. Beach.
C. B. Belt.
G. A. Bethune.

G. F. Bigelow.
H. J. Bigelow.
Jacob Bigelow.
G. H. Bixby.
C. J. Blake.
J. G. Blake.
F. M. Blodgett.
W. E. Boardman.
J. N. Borland.
W. P. Bolles.
H. I. Bowditch.
E. H. Bradford.

W. P. Brechin.

Buckminster Brown.
F. H. Brown.
C. E. Buckingham.
F. E. Bundy.
A. T. Cabot.
Samuel Cabot.
B. F. Campbell.
W. H. Campbell.
D. W. Cheever.
H. G. Clark.
Luther Clark.
E. H. Clarke.
W. W. Codman.
D. T. Coit.
C. H. Colburn.
Algernon Coolidge.
B. E. Cotting.
Edward Cowles.
P. M. Crane.
T. B. Curtis.
Hall Curtis.
J. W. Cushing.
Stephen Cushing.
E. G. Cutler.
W. J. Dale.