Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-03-13
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall a Physician Tell the Truth or Not I?
A Nice Point in Ethics.
A SENSIBLE uEAI.rH oFr1cIA1..


SENSIBLE HEALTH OFFICIAL.
BALTIMORE, MD.-A decided stir has
been caused here over the question as to
the right of physician to certify to the
merits of q remedy not in the modern
pharmacopeia. DR.. James A. Steuart,
ono of the most eminent physicians in the
South and Health Commissioner of this
city, had analyZed newly -dfscoyered'
article, and certified officially not only to
its efficacy but to the fact that it replaced
old-time preparations of n similar char
acter which, analyses had proved, were
adultsrated 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 conf
dence felt both in his professional stand
ing and official integrity.
1t was argued that to thus place limita-
tion on the acts Of a physician, and espe-
cially of health officer, was opposed to
the spirit of the age; that such reasoning
might have becn logical enough when it
was to the interest of rulers or societies to
invest themselves with u supernatural
halo, but now when thought should be free
and untrammeled, such things savored of
barbarian. 1t was the duty of a physician,
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 dsbarred 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 discov-
cries made in art or science. Thus the
people argued, while the faculty throat
,.ened expulsion and talked OF the time
honored customs, ethics, professional court
esy and traditions.
But tho matter soon assumed new and
surprising phase. A few days afterwards
a certificate appeared in the daily papers
haoripo fha 0ntnOranh SipuatlIra9 nf Cow
ernor McLane, Attorney-General Roberts,
Mayor Latrobe, City Postmaster Adreon,
Chiefs Of State and Municipal departments,
Judges and Clerks OF Courts, Federal Off
dorsing the action of the Health Commits.
sioner, and concurring in his opinion as to
the efficacy of the i-.--ly, asserting that
they did so from personal experience with
it and practical tests and observations.
There eGGd Ss be no gnHsayngb bs such co sy
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 loading hospitals, the physician to
the City Fire Department, the Port physi-
clan, vaccine physician and resident ply
sicians OF inflrmaries, all endorsing the
discovery and stating that it had been
tested by them in hospitals and private
practice for weeks with wonderful
|
had shown no trace of opiates or poi
| sons, prevalent in other cough mixtures
They further stated that they had been In
duced 10 take this step in Wow 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 9
conclusive answer as this to the narrow
arguments of the few, arrayed public
sentiment on the side of the Health Com
| fttfa IN Ia ginrpt Mt that
Steuart has since been appointed to otiic,
by the Mayor for third term, and has haC
his appointment unanimously confirmed by
tho City Council
tion of the gentlemen who endorsed hi
action, as well as to the epviable standing
of the owners of the remedy, The Charle
A. Vogcler Company, of this city, wide
spread interest has already been created
in the subjoct, not only hero but in Phila
delphia, Washington and other neighbor
ing cities. Tho feeling is gene ally ex
pressed by professional men that Red Sta
Cough Cure, on account Of its freedom
from narcotics and poisons, inaugurates
most desirable new @ departure in oIa;n, medi
Of authorities like DR.. Fawcett, VIII
Iias been for thirty three years resi-
dent pf ysician of the Union Protestan
Infirmary, In this city, and Prof. John j
Caldwell, M. D., member Of medical 80
cieties of Baltimore, New York and Brook
lyn, and with long experience In civi
and military hospitals Both OF these gen
tlemen, together with no less than fift,
other practicing physicians of Maryland
have publicly put themselves on record Al
to the evil OF narcotic medicines, and th
consequent value and Importance of th'
new discovery referred to. IL IL conceded
that public opinion has completely yindi
Gated DIR. Steuart In his action, and that Ii
his whole course he was actugtod simpl,
by apearpest desire TO benefit the comhiu
! pitS kt large.