The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-03-12
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall . Physician Tell the Truth or Not {
A Nice Point in Ethics.
A SENSIBLE HEALTH OFFICIAL.

A SENSIBLE HEALTH OFFICIAL
BALTIMORE, MD.-A decided stir has
been caused here over the question as to
the right Of a physician to certify to the
merits of a remedy not in the modern
pharmacopeia. DIR. James A. Steuart,
one of the most eminent physicians in the
South and Health Commissioner of this
city, had analysed a newly-discovered
article, and certified officially not only to
its efficacy but to the fact that it replaced
acter which, analyses had proved, were
adulterated and poisonous. The Medical
and Chirurgical Faculty, of which he is a
member, held that he had violated the
code of medical ethics, and much public
dence felt both in his professional stand
ing and official integrity.
It was argued that to thus place a imita-
tion on the acts of a physician, and espe-
the spirit of the ages; that such reasoning
might have been logical enough when it
was to the interest of rulers or societies to
invest themselves with a supernatural
halo, but now when thought hould be free
and untrammeled, such things savored of
especially of a 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 testifying to
UQe merlCS OIL anyUQ1nS WHICH ne Knew 10
be good. If this were so, the world would
not receive the benefit of half the discov-
cries made in art or science. Thus the
people argued, while the faculty threat
ened expulsion and talked of the time
honored customs, ethics, professional court.
esy and traditions.
But the matter soon assumed a new and
surprising phase. A few days afterwards
a certificate appeared in the daily papers
bearing the autograph signatures Of Gov
rn4 Me- .14 Af0nn--nanaro p4HArf.
Mayor Latrobe, City Postmaster Adreon,
Chiefs of State and Municipal departments,
Judges and Clerks of Courts, Federal Off
Gals and congressman, ~emphatically en-
sioner, and concurring 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 evil
dence as this, but, as if to cap the climax,
shortly afterwards there appeared another
certificate with autograph signatures of
leading practicing physicians from all parts
of the State, including the physicians of
all the leading hospitals, the physician to
clan, vaccine physician and resident ply
sicians of infirmaries, all endorsing the
discovery and stating that it had been
tested by them in hospitals and private
practice for weeks with wonderful
curative effect, and that analysis
n prevalent in other cough mixtures.
They further stated hat they had been in
duced TO take this step in view of the many
hurtful preparations which contained mar
sequent on their use. The remedy in
question is Red Star Cough Cure. Such q
conclusive answer as this to the narrow
arguments of the few, arrayed public
sentiment or the side of the Health Com.
missioner, and it is significant that DR.
| Steuart has since been appointed to Office
by the Mayor for a third term, and has haG
his appointment unanimously confirmed by
the City Council.
Owing to the high professional reputa.
|. ton of the gentlemen who endorsed hi
action, as well as to the enviable standing
of the owners of the remedy, The Charles
A. Vogeler Company, of this city, wide.
spread interest has already been created
aelphia, Washington and other neighbor'
ing cities. The feeling is generally ex'
pressed by professional men that Red Sta
Cough Cure, IN account of its freedom
from narcotics and %poisons, inaugurates {
most desirable new departure in medi
of authorities like DR.. Fawcett, wht
has been for thirty three years resi-
lent physician of the Union Protestant
Infrlnary, in this city, and Prof: John J
cieties of Baltimore, New York and Brook
lyn, and with a long experience in cfvi
and military hospitals. Both of these gen
tlemen, together with no less than fifty
other practicing physicians of Maryland
nave publicly put themselves on record a
to the evil of narcotic medicines, and tn
consequent value and Importance of thu
new discovery referred to. 1t is conceded
that public opinion has completely vindi'
Gated DIR. Steuart in his action, and that il
his whole course he was actuated simply
by an earnest desire to benefit the commu'
nifty at large.