The history of early medical Journals in California are reviewed. David Wooster becomes editor of Pacific Medical and Surgical Journal.
Editor Wooster betrays the confidence of Cooper and begins a vitriolic campaign against him in the Journal, alleging unethical Advertising.
The third Annual (1858) Session of the California State Medical Society meets in San Francisco. Cooper's enemies make an organized attempt to exclude him (the founder) from the Society. They accuse him ofunethical advertising. A heated discussion ensues and during a recess in the debate Cooper (a powerful man) "shook up" one of his adversaries. Various accounts of the event differ in the details. The attempt to expel Cooper from the Society fails, but the Society is mortally wounded and eventually expires.
Also at the Third Annual Meeting of the State Medical Society, Cooper reports a case of cesarean section with survival of the mother (the first in the West). To Cooper's utter surprise Dr. Wooster, who had assisted him at the operation, then arose to give his opinion of the procedure. He insists that the operation was unnecessary; that it resulted in the death of the infant and disability of the mother; and that it was clearly a case of malpractice.