Report of the trial of Dr. Samuel Thomson, the founder of the Thomsonian practice, for an alleged libel in warning the public against the impositions of Paine D. Badger, as a Thomsonian physician sailing under false colors, before Judge Thacher, in the Municipal Court of Boston, April term, 1839.

  • Thomson, Samuel, 1769-1843.
Date:
1839 [©1839]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the trial of Dr. Samuel Thomson, the founder of the Thomsonian practice, for an alleged libel in warning the public against the impositions of Paine D. Badger, as a Thomsonian physician sailing under false colors, before Judge Thacher, in the Municipal Court of Boston, April term, 1839. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    hired Lectures to be written for him, and Imposed on avidiences, and that in con- sequence of his deceiving his patients neither law nor justice would demand pay- ment from them, did at said Boston on said twenty-fifth day of said January, un- lawfully and maliciously compose, write, print and publish, and cause and pro- cure to be printed and published in a certain Newspaper printed in said Boston and of extensive circulation in said Boston, and through the said Commonwealth of Massachusetts, called American Traveller, a certain false, scandalous, and malicious libel of and concerning said Badger, which said false, scandalous and malicious libel, among other things contains the following false scandalous and malicious words, of and concerning said Badger, that is to say, Beware of imposters, (meaning that said Badger was an imposter.) Mr. Edi- tor, (meaning the editor of said Newspaper,) seeing (meaning said Thomson seeiuT) in your papar (meaning the said Newspaper) a Notice of P. D. Badger, (meanino- said Paine D. Badger) Botanic Physician, has returned to this city, (meaning said Boston,) and resumes his (meaning said Badger's) professional duties, (not imposition) (meaning said Badger had resumed imposition) said Badger (meaning said Paine D. Badger) has strove hard to sail under my flag (meaning said Thomson's flag) for several years, both in this city (meaning said Boston) and Nashua, where he (meaning said Badger) has met with deserved contempt and put flown : he finding hiinself not able to sail under the Thomsonian he has substituted Botanic Physician (not imposter) (meaning said Ba<lger was an imposter) I (meaning said Thomson) would ask said Dr. Badger a few ques- tions, did or did you (meaning said Badger) not open a letter of mine (meaning said Thomson's) at 554 Washington-street, and agree to answ«r an order for medicine of fifty dollars, and have it ready for Mr. Kingsley by to-morrow noon, (meaning that said Badger did do so) which I (meaning said Thomson) discov- «red and\nswered myself, did you (uieaning said Badger) not sell and clear out to escape an indictment, (meaning an indictment for some criminal misde- meanor,) depend upon it. Sir, (meaning said Badger.) you (meaning said Badg- er) are not yet-out of danger; (meaning that said Badger was in danger of in- dictment for some criminal offence) you (meaning said Badger) had better clear again and hire some more Lectures written for you to read to your (ineaning said Badger's) imposed audience, (meaning said J^adger had Lectures written for hun and he imposed on the audience and those who heard him.) When you (mean- ino- said Bado-ei) was advertised in Nashua, did you not clear out with the loss ofseveral hu'tidred dollars, as your (meanino said Badger's) patients would not pay for your deception, as neither law nor justice demands it, (meaning said Badg-er had deceived his customers and patients, and law and justice \yould not demand payment of his claim and charges from thern.) 1 (meaning said Thom- son) say beware of the man, (meaning said Badger.) ^ ^ - V 6 b SAMUEL THOMSON. to the great scandal, disgrace and injury of the reputation, character, business, gains and profits of said Badger, and to the great injury of his feelings, and great anxiety of his mind, and against the peace and dignity of said Commonwealth. A true Bill. ' . , ^ ■, r J. W. LKWIS, Foreman of the Grand Jury. SAMUEL D. PARKER, JiUorncy of Coiumomccalth. The following specifications of the ground-s of defence were filed for the Defendant by his Counsel, in pursuance of a rule of the Court, which requires that when the truth is plead as a justification of a libel, the Defendant shall file specifications of all he expects to prove. COM MON WE ALT I-I~Ofm A SS ACKUSETTS. Suffolk ss. ,^ r^ a „ Mpkicipal Court or the City of Boston, March Term, 1339. COMMONWEALTH vs. SAMUEL THOMSON. Specification of Defendant's Defence. The Defendant expects to prove—That the said Thomson is the author of a System of Medical Practic-e, founded upon principles original with himselt,