Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-03-26
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall Physician Tell the Truth Or Not
A Nice Point in Ethics.
A Sensible Health Official.

BALTIMORE, MD.-A decided stir ha
been caused here over the question as Il
the right of physician to certify to tn,
merits of q remedy not in the modern
pharmacopeia. DR.. James A. Stuart
one of the most eminent physicians il
the South and Health Commissioner O.
this city, has analysed q newly discov
cred article, and certified officially moi
only to its efficacy but to the fact that i,
replaced old time preparations of SINH
lar character which, analyses had proved
were adulterated and poisonous. The
Medical and Chirurgial Faculty, of which
he is q member, held that he had viola.
ted the code of medical ethics, and much
public interest was aroused because OF
the confidence felt both in his profes.
sional standing and official integrity.
1t was argued that to thus place limi-
tation on the acts of q physician. and
especially of q health officer, was opposed
to the spirit of the age; that such reason
ing mighthave been logical nough when
it was to the interest Of rulers or socie-
ties to invest themselves with q super
natural halo, but now when thought
should be free and untrammeled, such
things savorec of barbarism. 1t was the
duty of q physician, especially off health
officer, to condemn publicly any remedy
which he knew to be injurious, but it
was not right to say that he should be
debarred from testlfying to the merits of
anything which he knew to be good. If
this were 30, the world would not re-
ceive the benefit of half the discoveries
made in art or science. Thus the people
argued, while the faculty threatened ex-
pulsion and talked of the time-honored
customs, ethics, profes; ionalcourtesy and
traditions.
But the matter soon assumed a new
and surprising phase. A few days after
wards certificate appeared in the daily
papers bearing the autograph signatures
Of Governor McLane, Attorney. General
Roberts, Mayor Latrobe, City Postmas-
ter Aderon, chiefs of State and munich.
pal departments, Judges and Clerks of
Courts, Federal officials and Congress.
men, emphatically endorsing the action
of the Health Commissioner, and con-
curing in his opinion as to the efficacy
of the remedy, asserting that they did
SO from personal experience with it and
practical tests and observations.
There could be no gainsaying such
evidence as this, but, as if to cap the
climax, shortly afterwards there appear
ed another certificate with autograph
signatures of Leading practicing ply
sicians from all parts of the State,
including the physicians of all the
leading hospitals, the physi-
clan to the City Fire Department,
the Port physician, vaccine physician
and resident physicians of infrmaries,
all endorsing the discovery and stating
that it had been tested by them in hos
pitfalls and private practice for weeks
with wonderful curative effect, and that
analysis had shown no trace of opiates
or poisons, prevalent in other cough
mixtures. They further stated that they
had been induced to take this step in
view of the many hurtful preparations
which contained narcotics and poisons
and of the dangers consequential on
their use. The remedy in question is
Red Star Cough Cure. Such a conclu-
s!ve answer as this to the narrow argu-
ments of the few, arrayed public senti-
ment on the side of the Health Commits
sioner, and it is significant that DR.. Steu-
art has since been appointed to office by
the Mayor for third term, and has had
his appointment unanimously confirmed
by the City Council.
Owing to the high professional reputa-
ton of the gentlemen who endorsed his
action, as we'll as to the enviable stand
ing of the owner OF the remedy, The
Charles A. Vogeler Company, of this city,
interest has already been
created in the subject, not only here, but
in Philadelphia, Washington and other
neighb boring cities. The feeling is gen.
orally expressed by professional men
that Red Star Cough Cure, on account of
its freedom from narcotics and poisons,
most desirable new depart
lre in medicine This is the pronounced
opinion of authorities like DR.. Fawcett,
who has been for thirty three years resi-
lent physician of the Union Protestant
[nfirmary, in this city, and Prof. John J.
caldwell, Nj. D., member of medical soci-
,ties of Baltimore, New York and Brook
yn, and with long experience in civil
md military hospitals. Both of these
together with no less than
ifty other practicing physicians of Mary
and, have publicly put Themselves on
'ecord as to the evil of narcotic medi-
ines, and the consequent value and i'm
,ortance of the new discovery referred
20. 1t is conceded that public opinion
has completely INDICATED DR.. Steuart in
his action, and that in his whole course |
,e was actuated simply by an earnest
lesire to benefit the community ct
arge. -
SENATE BILL NO. "A.