Apparently, it was after Dr. Lowenthal’s return from the Pacific Coast that he commenced to announce his “Post-Graduate Course of Lectures and Clinics” to the physicians of Chicago, Denver, St. Louis, Columbus, etc.—and, incidentally, to bring to the attention of the medical world the alleged virtues of the products of the American Organo-Therapy Company.—(From The Journal A. M. A., July 3, 1920.)
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
From “Division of Fees” to “Down with Autocracy”
The “Medical Society of the United States” has for its “Honorary President” one A. H. Ohmann-Dumesnil, A.M., M.D., M.E., Sc.D., Ph.D., and for its “Secretary and Treasurer” one Emory Lanphear, M.D., C.M., Ph.D., LL.D. As originally planned, the “society” seems to have been based on the idea of organizing the “fee-splitters.” In May, 1916, the birth of the organization was announced to the medical profession through a letter signed Emory Lanphear, written on the stationery of the “Medical Society of the United States.” Even in its embryonic state the society had A. H. Ohmann-Dumesnil, A.M., M.D., M.E., for its president, and Emory Lanphear, M.D., Ph.D., LL.D., as its treasurer. The letter read in part:
“We—the majority of the medical profession—who believe in division of fees (i. e., that the surgeon should not ‘hog’ the whole of a patient’s money and leave nothing for the family doctor), are no longer welcome in the A. M. A. We are therefore organizing the Medical Society of the United States, which will not be conducted for the benefit of a few selfish egotists. We would like to have you with us.
“It costs only $1.00 to join. This covers dues for 1916, and includes expense for the beautiful certificate of membership (suitable for framing), which you will receive on admission. Fill enclosed blank and return to me with $1.00.”
But presumably the idea of organizing on a basis of “fee splitting” did not make a hit, so the lure was changed. Today physicians are approached with the plea that the “Medical Society of the United States” will make the medical world free for democracy; it is, we are assured, a “Society of Protest Against the Autocracy of the A. M. A.,” and a “Society of Medical Democracy.”
Membership costs “only $1.00 ... including the cost of a beautiful certificate of membership.” No penalties or punishments are involved for belonging to other societies, and:
“Joining our body need not affect your membership in any other society—even the A. M. A., if you wish to belong to it, and be ‘bossed’ by the ‘Simmons Gang’.”