Official investigation of the charges preferred against J.W. Freer, M.D., surgeon of the Board of Enrollment, First Dist. of Illinois / by the Homœopathists of Chicago.

Date:
[1865]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Official investigation of the charges preferred against J.W. Freer, M.D., surgeon of the Board of Enrollment, First Dist. of Illinois / by the Homœopathists of Chicago. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Ans.—Yes, sir. Ques.—Who was lie? Am.—I don't recollect who. Q«c*.—Was he a Physician of recognized high-standiDg ? yj„s. S(.^£u- as I know, I cannot say whether he was or not. Ques. Do you not know that they regard it as an insult to he termed Allo- pathic Physicians? Ans.—I was not aware of it. ]¥. F. Cook, another complainant, being duly sworn, de- posed that he knew nothing of his own knowledge of the charges made against Dr. Freer in the letter to General Fry- signed by him. He signed it as one of a Committee. Cross Examination of Dr. N. F. Cook. Ques.— Doctor, do you remember a conversation with Dr. llurlbut a few months since in this city, at the dining saloon of Ambrose & Jackson, in which you stated to him your motives in commencing your practice in this city as a Homoeopathic physician ? If so, itate the conversation. Am.—I do not remember any conversation with him on the subject. Q„es.—T[;wc you ever had a conversation with Dr. Hurlbut respecting your motives in commencing to practice in this city a3 a Homceopathist ? Ans.—I never have. Thomas P. Byrne and Charles II Hudson, being severally introduced and sworn, deposed, in effect, that while being examined for exemption from the draft, Dr. Freer ridiculed Homoeopathic practitioners and their creed. Made no charges of unfairness or bad treatment in any respect or any attempt on his part to make his position subserve his private interest. William H. Boyle, being duly sworn, says: I am 24 years of agf, reside iu Chicago ; am wholesale dealer in fancy goods at 49 Lake street. I have seen Dr. Freer, enrolling Surgeon, once; am not personally acquainted with him. I eaw him, say between the loth and 19th of last August, at his office, corner of Clark aud Lake streets. I had been troubled with an affection of trie heart for about fifteen months previously. I went there to get examined. I went into his private office, and was there perhaps fifteen minutes. After the examina- tion was over, we came into his front office, and I asked him whether he thought my disease was of such a nature to exempt me from the draft. He said he thought it was caused by indigestion. I told him that could not be the case, as I had been under medical treatment for the past year. I also told him that I had been very moderate in my eating for a long time past, as I was distressed after eating. I also told him that I could bring him a certificate from Drs. Small and Hale, under whose treatment I had been. He answered that would not do, as they were nothing but pettifoggers. I told him I was very sorry to hear that, as they had been our family physicians for a long time. He then wrote me a prescription, which I have in my pocket; I have never used it. I supposed he was giving it to me gratis. He said it would be two dollars, which I paid. I did not use the prescription, as I was under treatment by Drs. Small and gale. There was nothing further took place. Two days after I left for New York, and I have not taken any medicine since. When he gave me the prescription he gave me directions for taking it. I do not know what was his
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