KX
\0|
S2LI2C
e Members of the Homoeopathic
Profession on the Pacific Coast.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AT LOS ANGELES
ROBERT ERNEST COWAN
To the Members of the Homoeopathic
Profession on the Pacific Coast.
To the Members of the Homoeopathic Profession on the Pacific
Coast.
At a meeting of the "minority" of the California State
Homoeopathic Medical Society held February 1st, 1887,
the following report was submitted, unanimously adopted,
and ordered published by the committee:
Proof has been given us that an irregular diploma has
been issued by the Board of Trustees and Faculty of the
Hahnemann Medical College of San Francisco. That it may
be properly understood, it is necessary to give a brief history
of what has occurred.
At a meeting of the Board of Examiners of the Califor-
nia State Homoeopathic Medical College (composed of Drs.
J. M. Selfridge, G. M. Pease, E. S. Breyfogle, H. C.
French, G. E. Davis, Sidney Worth and A. C. Peterson),
held December 10th, 1885, certain diplomas, issued by the
Hahnemann Medical College of San Francisco, were pre-
sented for examination, witli a view of granting the holders
thereof licenses to practice medicine and surgery in this
State.
One of the members of the Board of Examiners at that
meeting said, ho " suspected " that the diploma issued by
the Hahuemann Medical College of San Francisco to C.
Taubner of Sacramento (not, however, ono of the above
mentioned diplomas), and said to be an " tnf cnmh-ni M de-
gree, did not have "a>/ enndeni'' written upon it. In an-
swer to this, three members of the Board of Examiners, who
were also Professors of the College, and who were present
at this meeting, stated that C. Taubner had previously
graduated /// nirt/icinc. And one of the above three, Dr.
Hayes C. French, the then Registrar of the College, asserted
in the most positive terms that he wrote the words " ml
('tuutnn " upon that mi'i.o.MA. Cpon tliix lal'-m< nt ///< //rr^.sr.s
asked /<>r iri'i'i' l< in "
from the diploma of C. Taubner, was a "clerical error."
Dr. II. 11. Curtis, (also a member of the Kacultvi said it
was "generally understood" that it was to be tin "honorary
degree."
Dr. F. F. De Derky, (a member of the Board of Trus-
tees) said: "I labored over an hour with Dr. Pease to get
him to sign that diploma, and he would not sign it until I
promised him on my honor, as a gentleman, that I would
have 'adeundem' written on the diploma, and I did have it
written. 1 saw Dr. French write * ad eundem 1 on that
diploma.' "
He also acknowledged "that he knen- C. Taubner never had
any other medical diploma"
In corroboration of Dr. F. F. De Derky 's statement, is
the following affidavit by Dr. G. M. Pease:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, )
City and County of San Francisco, j '
G. M. Pease being duly sworn, deposes and says. One even-
ing during the month of November 1884, or thereabouts, Dr. F.
F. DeDerky, one of the Trustees of the Hahnemann Medical
College of San Francisco, who resided at that time in Sacramento
Cal. , called upon deponent who was then a professor in the above
named college and requested deponent's signature to a diploma
for one Taubner of Sacramento. All, or nearly all, the profes-
sors except deponent, had signed it. But there was a blank
where the name of said Taubner should be, and deponent re-
fused to sign any diploma until the name should bo filled in.
Dr. DeDerky explained that it was left blank because there was
some uncertainty as to the full name of said Taubner, and it was
necessary to have it correctly written. Deponent further ob-
jected because said Taubner had riot attended the lectures in said
college, nor had he passed an examination. Dr. DeDerky told
deponent that, it was not necessary, as Taubner had years before
attended college in Germany, or elsewhere, and had other diplo-
mas, that he had practiced medicine before deponent was born.
Deponent said lie did not know that fact, and had not seen the
diplomas.
Dr. DeDerky replied that he liad seen them, and tliat it would
do no k'ood {'or deponent t<) try to talk with said Taubner. as lie
could not speak English and deponent did not speak (lerman.
Deponent replied you can then make this diploma an "J
://!'/'///," and I \\ill sign it. Dr. DeDerky said, but tjieoldman
would prefer it to be a regular diploma, and lie does not intend
to practice. Deponent asked how he could have such a prefer-
ence when it would be quite as respectable to have it "ad eundem"
as showing previous qualifications. Deponent stoutly refused to
sign unless it was made "ad eundem," and after a long argument
Dr. DeDerky gave his word of honor, as a gentleman, that "ad
eundem" should be written upon the diploma. Even then de-
ponent objected to signing it until the words "ad eundem" were
actually written, but Dr. DeDerky said he wanted to return to
Sacramento early in the morning, and would have it written
ppon the diploma, at the same time the name of Taubner was
written.
In the course of the conversation deponent was told that
Taubner was a man of means, who wished to assist the college,
and had kindly paid the sum of three hundred and five dollars,
which was the amount of fees for a three years' course, and it
would please the old man to receive the diploma.
After these statements and assurances, deponent signed the
diploma.
(Signed) G. M. PEASE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, )
this 14th day of June, A.D. 188C. )
[SEAL.] JAMES L. KING,
Notary Public.
Dr. C. B. Currier (the Dean of the Faculty! said, "It
was understood that the diploma of C. Taubner was to con-
fer an ' honorary degree;' that lie could not understand what
the old man (meaning C. Taubner), said, because he could
not speak English; that Dr. Eckel talked with him." He
(Dr. C. B. Currier) did not mention the name of Dr. F. F.
De Derky at that time.
Dr. J. N. Eckel (the President of the Board of Trustees),
assented to the statement made by Dr. C. B. Currier by
keeping silent.
This is al! the evidence they had to offer against the
charge made in the beginning of the iliseussioM bv one of
the members, Dr. J. M. Self ridge, vix. : That the diploma
of C. Taubner was neither an " wl inni/< /// " nor an ''/, after the close
of a meeting of the " California State Homeopathic Medical
Society " we carefully examined the diploma issued to Charles
Taubner by the Hahncmann Medical College of San Francisco,
under date of October 150, 1SS4, at the office of the Secretary of
the Board of F.xaminers of the California State Homoeopathic
Medical Society, Dr. (i. M. Pease, 12o Turk street. San Fran-
cisco, and \vere unable to find aiiv words like " nil I'mnli /// " or
' lininii'iifi/ " written or printed upon said diploma.
A powerful magnifying glass was also used to ascertain if
there were evidences of erasure but none could be found.
At the ext renie lower edge, near the right hand c> >m T, beneath
the signatures on the margin, was a slight [roughening of the
parchment sii<-h as mi'jht easily be made b\ the < dge. of a glass
used in framing the diploma.
No other roughening of the surface was to be seen and there
was no evidence of mutilation.
(Signed) J. M. SELFRIDGE,
EDWIN S. BREYFOGLE,
J. M. YOUNG,
F. P. GREEN,
G. M. PEASE,
A. McNEIL. [SEAL]
Subscribed and sworn to before me, )
this llth day of February, A.D. 1887. )
.JAMES L. KING.
Notary Public.
After the meeting of the California State Homoeopathic
Medical Society, held Ma3 T 12th, 188G, a number of the
members believing a wrong had been committed, and believ-
ing it proper to inform the members of the Homoeopathic
Profession of the Pacific Coast, of this fact, called a meet-
ing to discuss the propriety, and advisability, of publishing
the above facts, and publication was agreed upon, but as an
attempt to preserve harmony, and in order to give the Board
of Trustees, another opportunity to correct this wrong, a
committee of t\vo, Drs. J. M. Selfridge of Oakland, and E.
S. Breyfogle of San Francisco, was appointed, and an ulti-
matum was given to them to present to the Board of Trus-
tees of the Hahnemann Medical College of San Francisco.
The committee (Drs. Selfridge and Breyfogle) after com-
municating with the Board of Trustees, through their Sec-
retary, Dr. \V. E. Ledyard, its desire to meet the said Board
"to present a subject of importance to the college and also
of importance to the general profession,'" was met by a com-
mittee from the said Board of Trustees, consisting of Drs.
J. A. Albertson, and William Boericke, and the subject, of
the charges above made, was fullv discussed, and the follow-
ing paper \vas given to the committee, (_Drs. Albertson and
Boericke, to be presented to the Board of Trustees.
8
Das. ALBERTSON AND BOERICKE,
Committee of the Board of Trustees:
GENTLEMKN At a meeting of a minority of the California State
Homoeopathic Medical Society, a paper was presented for publi-
cation, in which, with other items, the following fact was set
forth: That a diploma, pretending to be an "ad eundem," was
issued October 30, 1884, to one C. Taubner, of Sacramento, by
the Hahuemann Medical College, of San Francisco.
We have all the interests of homoaopathy near to our hearts,
and therefore dislike to see any act or acts, from any source
whatever, brought forth, which will injure homoeopathy. It
was this same feeling that prompted us to ask a ' ' Committee of
the Whole" to discuss the subject at the last meeting of the
California State Homoeopathic Medical Society; the subject of
the discussion being mainly the issuance of a diploma, which
we claim is irregular. Should it not be proven as such, we, the
minority of the State Medical Society, when we stated facts,
which we considered proof enough to obtain the investigation
we desired, would most cheerfully give our full support to the
Hahnemaun Medical College, of San Francisco; but, unless
these facts can be disproved, we would recommend that, in
order to sustain the dignity and present high standing of ho-
moeopathy, and the good name of the college, and therefore our
own professional honor, that Drs. C. B. Currier, H. C. French,
and F. F. De Dcrky, the self-implicated parties, be dismissed
from the college.
We respectfully submit the above as a substitute for what
seems to us n very radical measure, namely: the publication of
the article prepared, signed and sworn to, which is only held in
abeyance that you may have an opportunity to stay the publica-
tion, and to />"///'."), Iu3 spont throe years at the
I diversity of JJerlin, pursuing philological and theological
studies. When finished lie traveled over Europe, anil the
Orient and in 1S4S, came to U. S. where he prac-
ticed medicine in Johnstown for many years. Surely a
sullicient preparation for an ad euudcm or honorary degree
from any inst it ution.
1 i' >:n thos-3 doijiiinonts th : following plain and simple
facts can be readily inferred:
11
1. Application was made for matriculation accompanied
by the fees for 3 full terms of lectures at the opening of
the first term.
This application was made by Dr. De Derky for his friend
Dr. Taubner, and accepted by the Dean. The statement of
the Doctor's classical studies was made by Dr. De Derky,
and of course considering the standing of the parties unhes-
itatingly accepted by the Dean.
2. That at the end of the first term in view of his former
graduation as a Doctor of Philosophy, his general learning
and experience, his age, and inability to attend the required
lectures for the full three terms, an Ad Eundem degree was
granted him instead of the regular degree. This, we are
assured, the College had every legal right to do.
3. The Diploma was designated Ad Eundem by the Regis-
trar's writing said words in the corner of the diploma. And
this we believe to be the sole mistake in the matter. It
ought to have been written in the body of the diploma
(where, indeed it is now) instead of in one corner, where it
was possible to erase it, and submit the diploma to mutila-
tion, as the subsequent history proved, without very materi-
ally altering the aspect of the diploma.
We have said that the words Ad Eundem wore written on
the diploma by the Registrar of that year, Dr. H. 0. French.
The following affidavit bears on this point:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ]
Couiity of Sacramento, j
Hayes C. French bcin^ first duly sworn, says That, I was Reg-
istrar of the Hahnemann Medical College of S. F. in 'Si;
that I, by direction of the Medical Faculty of said college,
wrote on the lower ri^ht hand corner of Dr. Taubner's diploma
the words Ad Eundem, and then delivered said diploma to the
proper officers, and said words were on said diploma when said
diploma was delivered to Dr. Taubner. The said words have
been cut off and erased from said diploma without my knowl-
edge or consent.
(Signed) H. C. FRENCH.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, )
this -2\) day of September, 1S8U. \
| SKAL. ] L. S. T \YLOK_
Notarv I'ulilif,
12
Again, the following copy of an affidavit by the Joint
Committee of the Board of Trustees and Faculty explains
itself:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, )
County of Sacramento, j
William Boericke and H. C. French and E. A. Schreck,*
being first duly sworn, each for himself deposes and says:
That on the 29 Sept., A. D. 1886, at Sacramento City, we
examined the diploma issued to Dr. C. Taubner on the 30 Oct.,
1884, by the Hahnem Med. C. of San Fr., which examination
was made in the presence of Dr. C. Taubner and L. S. Taylor, a
Notary Public.
That said diploma was first examined in the frame and then,
by the consent of Dr. Taubuer, was removed from the frame, and
then carefully examined; that at the lower right hand corner of
said diploma were marks of a sharp instrument abraiding the
surface of the parchment, the same as would be necessary in
erasing writing or printed words, which abrasion was on the
lower edge, and extending a little more than an inch, and being
about a quarter of an inch wide; that we also, by a careful com-
parison of said diploma with one of the blanks used, we found
that said diploma had been mutilated by cutting a strip from
the bottom of the parchment between j| and half an
inch in width, commencing at the lower right hand corner and
gradually narrowing until it was ^ of an inch at the left
hand lower corner.
That at the same time the words Pro honoris causa were
written into the body of said diploma by E. A. Schreck.
That the parchments used for diplomas by said Medical Col-
lege is of uniform size, as used in the year 1884.
(Signed) H. C. FRENCH.
WM. BOERICKE.
E. A. SCII RECK.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, )
this 20 day of Sept., 18H6. |
[SEAL | L. S. TAVLOK,
Notary Public.
To which may bo added the following statement of tlio
Notary Public, a perfect stranger to us all:
iH-rciifter hi* name will be oiiiitti-'l in tin
13
I, L. S. Taylor, a Notary Public, hereby certify that I was
present at the examination of the diploma mentioned in this
affidavit, and saw the evidence of erasure and mutilation, and I
believe the statement within to be correct, and that the evidences
of erasures and mutilation are conclusive.
(Signed) L. S. TAYLOR,
Notary Public.
We cannot conceive how any fair minded man can help
abiding by the statements in above documents, which to us
are simply unimpeachable, and we have no desire to convince
anybody of the justice and reasonableness of our cause, if
the above documents are unable to do so. The unavoidable
difficulties that beset every new venture, besides the inex-
perience that characterizes all who enter upon any pioneer
work, not to speak of the determined opposition of some of
the members of our own household, are quite sufficient to
account for all mistakes, both apparent and real. We know
we have made such, but we know too, gentlemen, more than
you are ready to give us credit for, that in all our doings we
have been actuated solely by the real good of the cause of
homoeopathy, pursued according to the best light that we
had. We know this to be the truth, and fair, and just, and
unprejudiced investigation from any source will establish it.
As a contribution to such investigation \ve hope the above
statement of facts will be welcomed by every member of the
"minority of the State Society."
Very sincerely yours,
WM. BOERICKE, / ,
J. A. ALBERTSckP
In their reply, you will notice that the first point to
which our attention is called, is a sworn statement, by Dr.
( 1 . .!>. Currier, the Dean, in which.hr admits the receipt of
t/trcf Innxlrcd were not on said diploma, and nothing was
15
said about its being an ad eundem degree. That said De Derky
was in a great hurry to catch the next train, and represented that
all the other Professors would sign the said diploma, that had
not already done so. That upon the foregoing representations
deponent signed the said Taubner diploma.
Written the fourth day of January, 1887.
(Signed) B. P. WALL.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, )
this 5th day of January, A.D. 1887. )
[SEAL] A. B. MERHILL,
Notary Public in and for Alarueda Co. , Cal.
( ss.
> ^
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
City and County of San Francisco
G. M. Pease, being duly sworn, deposes and says that during
the college term of 1884 he was Professor of Gyn ecology and
Surgical Diseases of Women in the Hahnemann Medical College
of San Francisco, and neither during that time nor for a long
time after he signed a diploma for one Charles Taubner, of
Sacramento, did he know that said Taubner was not a previous
graduate in medicine; nor was he ever told or given to under-
stand until some time in November, 188G, that said Taubner
possessed a diploma showing him to be a graduate in Philosophy.
On the contrary he was, prior to May, 1880, made to believe
that said Taubner did possess a medical diploma and had been
in medical practice for many years as a graduate in medicine.
Further, he did not know during any part of the year 1884 that
said Taubuer had applied " for matriculation and for graded
course tickets i'or a full three years' course in said Medical
College, for which he paid the full fee, to wit: The sum of
$305." He only learned from rumor that said Taubner, being
a man of means, who wished to help the college, had donated
about three hundred dollars.
He did not know that " the Faculty of said Hahnemann
Medical College " had,- " in full faith, granted to said Taubner
an nd i iin/li'in degree. " Deponent further says that said diploma
was presented to him at his oih'ce in San Francisco by Dr. F. F.
De Derky, for his signature, said De Derky was in a great hurry
and represented that lie wanted to take the early train to Sacra-
mento. Deponent further s:iys that most of the Professors of
1G
the college had previously signed said diploma; that the name
of Charles Taubner was not on the diploma, and the words " ad
eundem " were neither printed or written anywhere on said
diploma, but that said De Derky gave his word of honor as a
gentleman that the words "ad eundem" should be written upon
said diploma.
(Signed) G. M. PEASE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this )
10th day of February, A.D. 1887. J
JAS. L. KINO,
[SEAL] Notary Public,
308 California Street, San Francisco.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, )
City and County of San Francisco, j 8
A. McNeil, being- duly sworn, deposes and says: That during
the college term of 1884 and 1885 he was Professor of Materia
Medica in the Hahnemann Medical College of San Francisco;
that in 1884 he signed a diploma which was represented to be for
one Chas. Taubner, of Sacramento; but that he did not know at
that time, nor did he know until May, 188G, that said Taubner
was not a previous graduate in medicine; nor was he ever told
or given to understand, until some time in November, 188G, that
said Taubner possessed a diploma showing him to be a graduate
in Philosophy.
On the contrary, he was, prior to 1886, made to believe that
said Taubner did possess a medical diploma, and had been in
medical practice for many years as a graduate in medicine. De-
ponent further says that he did not know, during any part of
the year 18S4, that said Taubner had applied " for matriculation
and for graded course tickets for a full three-years' course in
said Medical College, for which lie paid the full fee, to wit:
$305."
He only learned from rumor that said Taubner, being a man
of means, who wished to help the college, had contributed a
sum of money to said college as a donation.
He did not know that " the Faculty of said Hahnemann Med-
ical College hud in full faith granted to said Taubner an ' ad
I'luidt'ni ' degree. "
Deponent further says that, before affixing his signature,
many of the Professors of the College had previously signed
17
said diploma; that the name of Charles Taubner was not on
the diploma, and the words, ' ad eundem " were neither printed
nor written anywhere on said diploma; but deponent was led to
believe that they would be written upon it before it was de-
livered to said Taubuer.
(Signed) A. McNEIL.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, )
this 10th day of Feb'y, A.D. 1887. f
JAS. L. KING,
[SEAL] Notary Public,
308 California street, San Francisco.
The reply of the Board of Trustees further states " that
said Taubner had received the degree of Doctor of Phil-
osophy from the University of Geissen, Germany, on May
20, 1835." After this "he spent 3 years at the Uni-
versity of Berlin, pursuing philological and theological
studies,'' after "traveling," he came "to U. S., where
he practiced medicine iu Johnstown for many years."
" Surely (they say) a sufficient preparation for ;vn 'ad cnndeui
or 'Honorary Degree' from any institution."
One would suppose from the answer of the Board of Trus-
tees that the terms " (id eundem" and "honorary" were
synonymous; whereas, the meaning of "ad eundan " is "to
the same degree," (gradum being understood) and "pro
honor!* cansti" (Honorary) is "for the cause or sake of
honor/' An " ad eundeiu" degree in medicine can therefore
only be issued to one having previously received an n IK/ ugli-
fied diploma from a im-dical college in good standing.
An "honorary" (pro honoris causa') degree, in medicine,
may be issued only to a medical yradiiute who has acquired
E.MIXKXCK in his profession.
It appears that C. Taubner was a gentleman of great
literary attainments, -and was sai'i/imnii;i to the end, were taken without the
full cogni/anoo and concurrence of ever// ni<'ml><-i- of flu- l'\ic-
ullii;" and Drs. Boericke and French were members of the
"Joint Committee of the Board of Trustees and Facultv "
and \\r->te "///'/ /iniinnx rv"/.w ' "into the body of tin, 1
(1 ]>' miatliat Dr. C. 15. Currier Nif-arx was an "4'2:
C. Taubner "GRADUATED AT 25 YEARS OF AGE IN A GERMAN*
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, AND PRACTICED EVER SINCE."
C. Taubuer certainly had some "legal rights," because
he had paid $305 for an alleged "al eu.ndnm" degree, when
he should have had an unqualified diploma for -S50 (as is
shown by their annual announcements) if he was entitled
to any diploma, and since he finally received only an Jtn-
orart/ degree, he was entitled to the return of the foe of
$305, because an honorary degree is always complimentary.
But the fee ican nof returned.
Drs. William Boericke and Hayes C. French, the "Joint
Committee of the Board of Trustees and Faculty," K/rear
"that on the '2 ( M/t /"// <>/'
Ortober, 188-4." " That said diploma was y/V.s/ e.c mi, ,<<;K."
"That we also, by a careful comparison of said diploma
with one of the blanks used, we found that said diploma //"/
l>i-t'n iinililnli'il, bv cutting a strip from the /<-V/M/// of t';e
parchment."
20
In their written answer, the committee, Drs. Albertson
and Boericke, for the Board of Trustees, comment on the
above as follows:
"The diploma was designated 'ad eundem' by the Regis-
trar's writing said words in the corner of the diploma. And
this we believe to be the sole mistake in the matter. It ought
to have been written in the body of the diploma (WHERE,
INDEED, IT is NOW) instead of in one corner, where it was
possible to erase it and submit the diploma to mutilation, as
the subsequent history proved, without very materially alter-
ing the aspect of the diploma."
Drs. William Boericke and Hayes C. French swear, as
shown above, that they examined the Taubner diploma
nearlj 7 two years after this diploma, purporting to have been
an "ad eundem," was issued to 0. Taubner. Why did the
Board of Trustees and Faculty permit this loug time to
elapse (namely, from October 30, 1884, to September 29,
1886,) before examining the Taubner diploma, and why the
necessity of abrasion f any kind <>r defacement tens /'omul a/>ovc the
siy natures, neit/ter ///irhere <>n the parchment .
'/'/a retunral of the entire "parchment" heneath tin- xiyna-
21
tares WOULD NOT have been a "mutilation," because it deprived
the diploma of NO ESSENTIAL OR MATERIAL PART. This is
shown in the photographic copy of the diploma by the wide
margin remaining beneath the signatures and above the
alleged " mutilation."
The words "ad eundeni" should have been written "in
the body of the diploma," (as they admit) above the signa-
tures, before the signatures were written, the erasure of the
words "ad enndein" then, without the consent of all the
persons whose signatures were beneath them, ought to
constitute a felony.
"What right had this "Joint Committee " to write the
words " pro honoris causa" into the bodij of the Taubner
diploma, above the signatures, without the consent of all the
signers to the diploma. Was this a Ic'jal act?
We do not admit that the diploma was "mutilated," as
the alleged "mutilation" was under the signatures; but we
will admit that the words "adeitndem" were written "on
the lower right hand corner" of the blank parchment, as
sworn to by Dr. Hayes C. French; and we also admit that
the parchment under the signatures which contained the
words "ad etuidc.ni" was removed, possibly iu the process
of framing.
This admission, however, (foes not establish the truth of
the statement made by Dr. Hayes C. French to the l>oard
of Examiners, at the meeting held December 10, 188."), which
was "that lie wrote the words ' <>d cniidnn' upon that
DIPLOMA," which assertion secured licenses for all the grad-
uates of the Hahnemann Medical College of San Francisco
who had presented their diplomas and affidavits to the
Hoard of Examiners at that meeting, and also secured the
recognition of the Hahnemaun Medical College of San Fran-
cisco by the .hoard of Examiners.
Dr. Hayes C. French kn> ' at that time that ' 'ud <->in<7rnt^
was no/ written upon the /"/// of said diploma of C. Taubner,
but was written "on t IK; lower right hand comer, 1 ' far
bi'ncalli the signatures, where it would be covered /'/'framed,
ami where it did not <1rt,-n,-t mn pitrfi<-/< <>/' /, ) the
words 'pro honoris causa" 1 wore written into the /;/l><>t/>/ of the justice
and reasonableness of our cause, if the above documents are
unable to do so.'' Fs this a proper reph to Ljive to the
minority, which has honestly endeavored to correct this
great wrong done against the r ////Ye homoeopathic profession V
The minority is composed of " fair minded " men. and had
they believed the, statements made by the Board of Trustees
23
through their committee to the minority, they would have
abided by them; but the affidavits given above have ques-
tioned their statements, and therefore we are unable to see
the "justice and reasonableness" of their cause.
We do not admit that there were any "unavoidable diffi-
culties" in establishing this college as there is as good
talent among the members of the homoeopathic profession
on the Pacific Coast as elsewhere, and the standing of t/tis
college could have been as high as that of O.HIJ college if its
graduates had been made to fulfill the "Requirements for
Graduation," published in their annual announcements.
The only "opposition in our own household" is the
determined .stain I of honest members of the Homoeopathic
profession against the isstdny of irregular diplomas, the
gradation of incompetent persons, and the admission to the
college of uneducated matriculants. Is the doing of these
things advancing the cause of homoeopathy?
No attempt was made by the Board of Trustees and
Faculty to change the Taubner diploma from an unqualified
diploma to an " honorary" diploma until after our proof
that they had issued an unqualified diploma to C. Taubner,
at the meeting of the California State Homoeopathic Medical
Society, held May 12, 188G, and said change was made
September _M>, 1880, by Drs. William Boericke and H. C.
French, b}" writing " the words 'pro honoris causa'' into the
body of the diploma," above the signatures, without the
consent of "// the signers, and in the face of the fact, re-
peatedly sworn to by themselves, that the diploma should
have been an " '/'/ ( tun/cm," and, furthermore, while charg-
ing upon others the mutilation of an important document,
by removing essential words, how can they relieve them-
selves from the graver charge of having totally changed the
character of that document by the insertion of words to
which, !>v their own admission, it was not entitled?
In ('. Taubner's affidavit accompanying his diploma sent
to the Hoard of Kxaminers to obtain a license, he .svrr<'r.s
''that he is the person named in the diploma accompanying
this affidavit ; that he is the lawful possessor of said diploma;
24
that said diploma was procured by affiant in the regular
course of medical instruction, and without fraud or misrepre-
sentation of any kind;" whereas, in tbeir written answer, the
Board of Trustees state " that at the end of the first term
an ad cundtm degree was granted him instead of the regular
degree."
If C. Taubuer attended the lectures for the one term how
did he, " with an imperfect knowledge of the English lan-
guage," derive sufficient benefit therefrom to " pass all the
regular examinations ?" There is no evidence to show thai
he did " pass all the regular examinations," and there is an
affidavit from Dr. G. M. Pease, a professor at that time,
that he did not examine him.
As they admit in their written answer that he had no
diploma /// medicine, and "that he was granted an (id cun-
dtm degree at the end of the first term," and as he did not
fulfill an// of the " Requirements for Graduation," as pub-
lished in their annual announcement for 1884, he was not
entitled to an// diploma, notwithstanding he " paid the full
fee, to wit, the .sum of 8305."
RESUME.
I. C. Taubner did not receive an "ad cmtdcin" degree
from the Hahnemann Medical College of San Francisco.
See photograph of diploma; affidavits of Dr. A. McNeil,
Frank Swift, and the joint affidavit of Drs. Selfridge, J>re.y-
fogle, IVase, Given, Young and McNeil.
II. C. Taubner never received a medical education
from any college; and therefore had no medical diploma
before the one he procured from the Hahnemann Medical
College of S;m Francisco. See affidavit of Dr. A. McNeil;
the statement of Dr. De Derky, at the State Society meet-
ing, held May \'2, lssr, and the, joint affidavit of Drs.
JJoericke and French and E. A. Schreck.
III. C. Taubner was not entitled to an "ml cuuilnn"
degree in medicine, he being only a graduate; in Philosophy.
See statement of Dr. De Derky, at the Slate Soeietv meet-
25
ing, and the joint affidavit of Drs. Boericke and French and
E. A. Schreck.
IV. C. Taubner was not entitled to an honorary degree
in medicine, (he being only a Ph. D.) and for the reason
that such degrees are granted to such only as have acquired
eminence in the medical profession, and are always compli-
mentary.
V. C. Taubner received a regular diploma from the
Hahnemanu Medical College of San Francisco, with "ad
eundem " written on the margin of the lower right hand corner
of the parchment, which was probably cut off in the process
of framing, and as such was held until September 29th,
1886 (nearly two years), for which he paid $305. See affi-
davits of Dr. A. McNeil and Dr. H. C. French; joint affi-
davit of Drs. Boericke and French and E. A. Schreck;
photograph of the diploma; affidavit of Dr. C. B. Currier.
VI. That this regular diploma was change 1 to an
honorary degree, September 29th, 188(5. See joint affidavit
of Drs. Boericke and French and E. A. Schreok. Notwith-
standing Dr. C. B. Currier sicears that an " nd ennarchment did not mutilate the DIPLOMA of C.
Taubner, because being far beneath the sly nafn r