The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-15
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall a Physician Tell the Truth or Not?-A
Nice Point in Ethics.


BALTIMORE, Md.--A decided stir has been
caused here over the question as to the right OF
physician to certify to the merits OF remedy
not in the modern pharmacop9ia. DR.. James
4. Steuart one of the most eminent physicians
in the South, and health commissioner OF TINS
city. had anayzed newly discovered article,
and certified officially not only to its efficacy but
to the fact that it replaced od-tlme preparations
Of similar character which, analyses ma mao
proved, were adulterated and POISONOUS; +.
Medical ard Chrurgical Faculty. of when ne 70
mem oer .sv,a tnat he had violated the o4ou &c
medical ethins and much public interest was
aroused because of the confidence telt p?tA IL u's
professional STAN Sing and official integrity
1t was argued thai to thus place Limitation
on the acts of physiclsu, and especial, Oh IL,
health officer was opposed 10 the spirit or \,
age; that such reasoning might Fave been logical
enough when it was to the interest OF rulers or
societies to invest themselves with a super
natural halo, but now when thought should be
free and untrammeled such things savored of
oarbarism. 1t was the duty Of a physician, es-
pecially of 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 testfyirg to the merits of anything which
he knew to be good. If this were so, the world
would not receive the benefit OF half the dscov-
cries made in art or science. Thus the people
argued while the faculty threatened expulsion
and talked of time honored customs ethics, pro-
tesslonal courtesy and traditions.
But the matter soon assumed a new and sur
prlslng phase. A few days afterwards certifi
cate appeared in the daily papers bearing the
autograph signatures of Governor McLane, At
torney general Roberts. Mayor Latrobe, city
postmaster Adreon chiefs of State and munich
pal departments, judges and clerks of courts,
federal officials and congressman, emphatically
lndorsng the action of the health commissioner,
and concurring in his opinion as to the efficacy
of the remedy, asserting that they did so from
personal experience with IL and practical tests
and observations.
There could be no gainsaying such evidence
as this, but, as if to cap the climax, shortly af-
forwards there appeared another certificate with
autograph signatures of leading practicing physi-
clans from all parts of the State, includ-
ing npgsn; the physicians Of all the leading
fire department, the port physician, vaccine
physician and resident physicians of infrmaries,
all indorsing the discovery and stating that it
had been tested by them in hospitals and pri
vate practice for weeks with wonderful curative
effect and that analysis had shown no trace of
opiates or poisons prevalent in other cough mix
lures. They further stated that they had been in
duced to take this step in view of themany burt
full preparations which contained narcotics and
poisons and of the changers consequent upon their
use The remedy in question is Red Star Cough
Cure. Such conclusive answer as this to the
narrow arguments of the few, arrayed public
sentiment on the side of the health commits
sloner, and 1T is significant that Dr. Steuart has
since been appointed to Office by the mayor for
third term, and has had his appointment unani-
rnously confirmed by the City Council.
Owing to the high professional reputation of
the gentleman who Endorsed his action, as we'll
as to the enviable standing of the owners of the
remedy, the Charles A. Vogeler Company, of
this city, widespread interest has already been
created in the subject, not only here, but in
Philadelphia, Washington and other neighbor-
ING cities The feeling is generally expressed by
professional men that Red Star Cough Cure, on
account of its freedom from narcotics and pos-
ons inaugurates most desirable new departure
in medicine This is the pronounced opinion of
authorities like DR.. Fawcett, who has
been for thirty three years resident
physician of the Union Protestant In
Urinary, in this city and Professor John j.
Caldwell, NJ. D.. member of medical societies of
Baltimore, New York and Brooklyn, and with
long experience in civil and military hospitals.
Both Of these gentlemen, together with no less
than fifty other practcing physicians of Mary
land, have publicly put themselves on record as
to the evil of narcotic medicines, and the conse-
quent value and Importance of the new discovery
referred to. 1t is conceded that public opinion
has completely indicated DR.. Steuart in his &C
ton, and that in his whole course he was
actuated simply by an earnest desire to benefit
the community at large