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 / [John Stephen Bartlett].

  • Bartlett, John Stephen, 1812-1840.
Date:
1839
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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 / [John Stephen Bartlett]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/56 (page 18)
    Ans. No, because the city, not the society, paid him. I wanted to get out of the so iety, and told them so. 1 requested to withdraw from the Boston xMedical Association. Dexter. When, where, and by whom was it said that “ the laws of the Massachusetts Medical Society do not recognize the sentiment, that a regard for morality and the general good of mankind is in any wise incumbent on its members; and that its members are bound to obey the by-laws of the society without reserve, even though the sacri¬ fice of human life be the consequence?” Ans. It was said, at the time of my trial, by Dr. Abel L. Peirson, of Salem. I thought at the time this language was a part of the by¬ laws of the Mass. Medical Society. I afterward found my mistake. I contemplated, when Dr. Peirson uttered these words, to do what I am now doing. I make the deduction that this is the spirit of the by-laws, from what Dr. P. said. I did not state this in my letter to the society. I purposely reserved it. Dexter. In reply to this part of Dr. Bartlett’s testimony, I will here read, with the permission of the Committee, a certificate from Drs. Warren, Hale and Homans. It is as follows: “ The undersigned certify, that they were present at the impeach¬ ment, trial and expulsion of Dr. J. S. Bartlett from the Mass. Medical Society, at their annual meeting in 1836, and heard the remarks made by Dr. Peirson in reply to Dr. Bartlett, and that there was no such language or sentiment expressed by Dr. Peirson on that occasion, or any other within their knowledge, as those which are imputed to him by Dr. Bartlett in his petition to the Legislature. Boston, March 18, 1839. JOHN C. WARREN, President in May, 1836. ENOCH HALE, Cor. Scc’ry at the same time. JOHN HOMANS, Pec. Sec’ry at the same time. Dexter. Dr. Bartlett, do you think any members of the Medical Society were actuated by unfriendly feelings at the time of your trial? Ans. I think one individual was ; Prof. Roby, of Bowdoin College. In his report of my trial he appended as a note, a quotation from Mil- ton, intended as I thought, to ridicule my person. I wiote him about it, but obtained no satisfaction. I