Crawford avalanche., 1885-03-12
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall a Physician Tell the Truth or
Noti-A Nice Point In Ethics.
A sensible Health OmcIal.


BALTIMORE, MD.--A decided str has been
caused here over the question as 10 the right
OF physician 10 certify 10 the merits of a
remedy not In the modern pharmacopoeia.
DIR. James A. Steuart, one OF the most emf
nent physicians in the South, and Health
Commissioners of this city, had analyzcd a
newly discovered article, and certified Off
cially, not only to its efficacy but to the fact
that IL replaced od-time pre- parations OF n
similar character which. analyses had proved,
werc adulterated and poisonous. The Med-
cal and Chirurg cal Faculty, OF which he is a
member, held that he had violated the code
OF medical ethics, and much public interest
was aroused because OF the c6 nfidence felt
both In his professional standing and Official
integrity.
1t was argued that 10 thus place limita-
tion on :he acts OF n ply ysician, and especially
OF health officer, was opposed to the spirit
of the age; that such reasoning might have
been logical enough when II was to the inter-
est OF rulers or societies to invest themselves
with supernatural halo, but now, when
thought should DO free aud untrammeled,
such things savored OF barbarlsm. 1t was
the duty OF physician, especially OF a health
officer, to condemn publicly any remedy
which he knew to be Injurious but II was not
right TO say that he should be debarred from
testifying to the merits OF anything which he
knew TO be good. II this were so, the world
would not receive the benefit OF half the dis
coveries made in art or science. Thus the
people argued, while the faculty threatened
expulsion and talked OF time-honored GUS
toms, ethics, professional courtesy, and ira
ditions.
But the matter soon assumed new and
surprising phase. A few days afterwards q
cert ficate appeared in the daily papers bear
ing the autograph signatures OF Gov
ernor McLane Attorney General Roberts
Mayor Latrobe, City Postmaster Adreon,
chiefs of State and municipal departments
Judges and Clerks of Courts, Federal officials
and Congressman, emphatlcally endorsing
the action OF the Health Commissioners, 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 IL 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 the City
Fire Department, the port ply ysician, vaccine
physician, and resident physicians of inf1rm-
aries, all endorsing the discovery and stating
that IL had been tested by them in hos
pitals and private practice for weeks with
wonderful curative effect, and that analy-
SIS 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. ana OF the danger consequent On
their use. The remedy in question is Red
Star Cough Cure. Such a conclusive answer
as this to the narrow arguments of the few,
arrayed public sentiment on the side OF the
Health. Commissioners. Ap9v Il. ID, 9lspifea ut
Office by the Mayor for third term, and has
had his appointment unanimously confirmed
by the City Council.
Owing to the high professional reputation
OF the gentlemen who endorsed his action, as
we'll as the enviabe standing OF tho
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 neighboring cities. The feeling
is generally expressed by professional men
that Red Star Cough Cure, on account
of its freedom from narcotics and poisons,
inaugurates Il most desirable new depar-
turc In medicine. This is the pronounc-
ed opinion OF authorities like DIR. Faw-
cett, who has been for thirty-three years
resident physician OF the Union Protestant
lntirmary, in this city, and Prof. John J. Cald-
well, 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 practicing ply
sicians of Maryland, have publicly put them
selves on record as to the evil of narcotic
medicines, and the consequent value and i'm
portance of the new discovery referred to. It
IL cnpoadad that niiillia apinia-.-i.aS 1885,
and that IN his whole course he was actuated
simply by an earnest desire to benefit the
community mt large.