The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1885-03-14
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall Physician Tell the Truth or Mott
A Nice Point In EthicsI
A SENSIBLE HEALTH oFFICIA

Shall RnySlClan Tell the lTuun OF Nosf
A Nice Point in Etbics'
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 remedy not in the modern
pharnatopeia. DR.. James A. Steuart,
one of the most eminent physicians hi the
South and Health Commissioner of this
city, had analysed newly discovered
article, and certified officially not only to
its efficacy but to the fact that it replaced
old-time preparations Of a similar char
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
interest was aroused because of the contA
dence felt both in his professional stand
ing and official integrity.
TWAS argued that to thus place limita-
ton on the acts of physician, and espe-
cially Of health officer, was opposed to
the spirit of the age; that such reasoning
might have been logical enough when it
was to the interest of rulers or societies to
invest themselves with supernatural
halo, but now when thought should be free
and untrammeled, such things savored Of
barbarism. 1t was the duty of ply stefan,
especially 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 testifying to
the merits of anything which he knew to
be good. II this were so, the world ~ould
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 new and
surprising phase. A few days afterwards
certificate appeared in the daily papers
bearing the autograph signatures of Gov
ernor McLane, Attorney-Genera Roberts,
Mayor Latrobe, City Postmaster Adreon,
Chiefs of State and Municipal departments,
Judges and Clerks of Courts, Federal Off
Gals and Congressman, emphatically en-
dorsing the action of the Health Commits
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
iythS"oo "iou "uooSt aPn Si6 n'oui 20 VI
Leading practlcing physicians from al parts
OF the State, INCLUDING, the physicians Of
an me leading hospitals, the physician tc
the City Fire Department, the Port physl-
can, vaccine physician and resident phy-
siclans OF lntirmarles, all endorsing the
discovery and stating that 1t had been
tested by them in hospitals and private
practice for weeks with wonderful
curative effect, and that analysis
had shown no trace of opiates or poi
sons, prevalent in other cough mixtures
They. further stated that they had been i'm
duced TO take this step in view of the many
hurtful preparations which contained mar
cotics and poisons and of the dangers con.
sequent on their use. The remedy in
question is Red Star Cough Cure. Such 6
conclusive answer as this to the narrow
arguments of the few, arrayed public
sentiment on 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 hac
his appointment unanimously confirmed by
the City Council.
owing to the high professional reputa'