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
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 / [John Stephen Bartlett]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    by the society. There are some more vague and general charges against the society or its Fellows, in Dr. B’s tnemorial, which I believe to be utterly groundless. There was a diveisity of opinion about his expulsion. Some thought it inexpedient, for reasons already stated by other witnesses. The majority, however, thought otherwise. There was no manifestation of ill will towards Dr. Bartlett, that I am apprized of, by any member of the Medical Society. I believe the influence of the Medical Society on young members to be in the highest degree beneficial. I form this opinion from my own experience. I very well recollect, that soon after I commenced practice, I inquired of a phy¬ sician, advanced in life, whether there was any tribunal to which I could go to prove my qualifications, saying, it would be worth a hun¬ dred pounds to a young man. But, although a Fellow of the society, he said there was not, and that it was of no consequence. At that time licenses were granted by the society, and degrees at Cambridge, but they were not regarded as of essential importance. So satisfied, however, did I become of the utility of a regular introduction into the profession, that I took a degree two years after I commenced business. I did this that I might more consistently enforce the principle in future on others. The medical diploma does not certify as to the natural abilities or talent of the graduate, but that he has pursued a proper course of study, and passed the requisite examination. The older members of the profession labor for the benefit of the younger. 1 have never known any leaguing of the few to control the many. Dr. Waterhouse has not been considered a member of the society since about 1805 or 1806. As a matter of courtesy he was marked on the catalogue as a retired member. That mark has a more definite meaning now than it had at that time. I never saw him at any meet¬ ing of the society that I can remember, and certainly not since 1806. He has not been charged with assessments since that period, as I be¬ lieve, nor do I think him to have been amenable to the by-laws, since « the year he is marked as having retired. Cross-examined by Dr. Bartlett. Dr. Jackson, allow me to ask, if the immortal Jenner had come here for a few weeks to practise, and diffuse the knowledge of vaccination, would you, as a member of the M ass. Medical Society, have consulted with him? Ans. Such a case is hardly supposable, for medical men, of real worth and eminence of character, do not travel from place to place to practise. I should suspect such a man, and avoid him. Jenner pub¬ lished his discovery for the good of mankind, and his publications