That Pamphlet

Ths following relating to the medical department, is taken.from the proceedings of the board of regents published in the Detroit Post and Tribune Saturday: Prof. Frothingham, in the absence of Dr. Palmer, dean of the department of medicine and surgery, presented a eommunicalion, and asked that a committee be appointed for the purpose of mrestigating into a certain matter which was bringing reproach upon the department. He referred to a circular or pamphlet being sent broadcast over the coumry by a quack, calling attention to an electric beit. and as the Dames of several professors connected with the departmeut appeared in a ceuificate followiug the advertisement, he, for one, would like to know by what authonty his name appeared m the list. The doctor further stated that he was called upon by Dr. Joy, an assis'.ant in the universuy, to whom he gavea certiücate, nerer for a mement expecting that it would be put to a base use as he feit constrained to cali it. The attention of Dr. Joy had been called In the matter some two inontns agu, and it had been understood through Dr. Joy that the parties promised lo withdraw the pamphlet. In the pamphlet was also a letter relating to the electric belt and sigued by Dr. Joy, which he had long ago pronounced a f orgery . Prof. Frothinghani thought it a very serious matter, as the Detroit Medical Ñews had published an article on the subject, entitled "Quackery in High Places," which was aimed at the professors of the n.edical department. Kegent Shearer thought it was a matter whicii dia not concera the board and with which they should not be mixed up; that it was with the gentlemen who had been injured. A brother of Dr. Joy stated that in conversatioD with the publisher of the pamphlet he admitted that the letter was not written by the doctor. Prof. Langley slated that Dr. Joy had offlcially denied that he wrote the letter; that early in the week he received a telegram from the doctor, who was in New ork on important bum'hat he would be present at the meeting of the Doard if thought advisable. His opinión was thit it was not nectssary. While the regents were in session, however, Dr. Joy put in an appearance, having returned from Xew York. It is understood that the whole matter will be referred to a special committee. The followiug is the communication referred to: The undersigned members of the faculty of the college of medicine and surgery, beg leave to state, that the interest of the college, and the university, h&ve become seriously involved and they are in great danger of becoming materially injured by the appearance of a disgracefully quackish publiiation sent forth widely over the country and made to appear to have the sanction of the university, and in fact to have originated from it. An unauthorized use of the statements of members of the faculty has compromized their professional honor and standing, and they are publicly accused of compheity with a production calculated ani intended to deceive the public and disgruce the college. We therefore respectfully ask for an investigation by your honorable body of the facts in the case, and request that it be ascertained wnether auy one connected with the university is respoasible for the unauthorized use of the statements of members of the faculty, or for the contents and character of this publicatiuu which is calculated to grossly deceive the public, and is in violation of the principies of ethics held by the profession. We respectfully ask that the interests of the college and the reputation of its faculty be as far as possible protected. We see no way to accomplish this but by having it clearly and satisfactorily shoun that no one connected with the college is responsible for the quackish and uuprofessional proceedings referred to; or else that any one found responsible for such proceedings and publications be promptly removed from the university. Very respectfully submitted, A. B. Pai.mek, Geo. E. Frothingham, A. B. Prescott. Since it has been decided as necessary to refer this matter to the regents, I concur in the above reuuests.