Report of the evidence in the case of John Stephen Bartlett, M.D. versus the Mass. Medical Society : as given before a committee of the legislature at the session of 1839.

Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the evidence in the case of John Stephen Bartlett, M.D. versus the Mass. Medical Society : as given before a committee of the legislature at the session of 1839. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Mr. Sprague suggested that the order of notice had been unusually short, the ordinary time for notifying cor- porations being not less than thirty days—that he conse- quently had found no time to prepare for the investigation. He thought Friday as early a day as he could proceed. The supreme court being now in session, his attendance there was unavoidable. If the Committee held another meeting at an earlier day, the Medical Society would be compelled to seek other council—and whether, at this moment, they could obtain it, was doubtful. Dr. Bartlett said he was anxious to proceed without delay. He had his documentary evidence with him, and was prepared to prove every charge he had made in his memorial. It was important to him that no interruption should take place. The session of the Legislature was drawing to a close. If laid over, he might never obtain a hearing. The next Legislature might not be sufficiently honest to grant him one. He was here without council, a friendless, unaided man. He had not means to protract the issue. He had suffered in his feelings and interests, and wished the Committee to afford him an opportunity to obtain justice. He did not ask this as a boon; he demanded it as a right—not for himself merely, but for the public. He wished expedition in the case, as some of the documents necessary could not be kept by him long. They must be in France in three months. Mr. Sprague said he knew nothing of Dr. Bartlett's grievances ; nor were they the question now under con- sideration. The question was concerning the charter of the Massachusetts Medical Society. The society certain- ly had a grievance. The annulment of its charter was demanded. He should confine himself to that. Against the demand to annul, the protest was entered. At this