Boston medical police. Rules and regulations of the Boston Medical Association.

  • Boston Medical Library.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Boston medical police. Rules and regulations of the Boston Medical Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    pursued; and should even recommend a steady adherence to them, if they appear to merit approbation. DIFFERENCES OF PHYSICIANS. The differences of physicians, when they end in appeals to the public, generally hurt the contending parties; but, what is of more consequence, they discredit the profes¬ sion, and expose the faculty itself to contempt and ridi¬ cule. Whenever such differences occur, as may affect the honor and dignity of the profession, and cannot im¬ mediately be terminated, or do not come under the char¬ acter 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 Asso¬ ciation, 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 communi¬ cated 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. 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 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 mys¬ tery alone give it value and importance, such craft im¬ plies either disgraceful ignorance, or fraudulent avarice. 2