The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-18
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall Physician Tell the Truth or Not!
A Nice Point In Ethics.
A Sensible Health OniciaI.


BALTIMORE, MD.-A decided stir has been
caused here over the question as to the right
of physician to certify to the merits OF a
remedy not in the modern pharmacopedia.
DR.. James A. Steuart one of the most emf.
rent physicians in the South, and Health
Commissioner of this city, had analysed a
newly discovered article and certified Of
fcially not only to its efficacy but to the fact
that it replaced old time preparations of
a similar character 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 confidence felt both in his professional
s,sndiDg aud off i integrity.
1t wa srguec lat to thus place limita.
ticn on the &C Of a physician. aud esDe-
ciaily Ct health officer, was opposed 80 the
spirit OF the age; that such reasoning might
have besp logical enough when Il was TO the
interest of 4ulers or societies to invest them
selves With 3 surern atUrsl halo, but now
p hen thought should be ffes and untra n
meled, such things saYOred Of bsrbsrism. 1t
vas ire duty OF physician, especially of
health officer, to condemn publicly any
remedy which he knew TO be injurious bat
il was not right to say that he should be de-
barred from teslifying TO the merits of any
tang which he knew to be good. II this
were 60 the world would not re ceive the
beDefr of half the discoveries made in art or
sC'euCe Thus the people argued, while the
f-cuity threatened expulsion, and talked of
tine honOred customs ethics, professional
C n tesy and traditions.
But the matter soon assumed new and
surprising phase. A few days afterwards a
certificate appeared in the daily papers bear
irg the autograph SIGNATURES of Governor
McLsne, Attorney-G General Roberto Mayor
latrobe, City Postmaster Adreon, chiefs of
State and municipal departments, Judges
end Clerks of Courts Federal officials and
Ceugressmen, emphaticslly endorsing the
action OF the Health Commissioners. and
conCulripg in his opinion as TO the efficacy
OF tie remedy, asserting that they did SO
from personal experience with it aud prac.
tical tests and observations.
There could be no gainssyiDg such evil
dauce as this, but as II to cap the climax,
shortly aftGr1ard there appeared another
certificate with autograph signatures of lead
ing practioing physicians from all parts of
the State, including the physicians of all
this lesdiDg hospitals the physician to the
City Fire Department the port physician,
vaccine physician and resident physicians of
irfrmaries all indorsing the disc )very and
stating that IL had been tested by them in
hospitals and private practice for weeks
with wonderful curative effect, and that an
s!ysis had shown no trace OF opiates or pois-
ous, prevalent in other cough mixtures.
They further stated that they had been in
ouced to take this step in view OF the many
huTtful preparations which contained mar
cotics and poisons and of the dangers conse-
ouent on their use. The remedy in question
is Red Star Cough Cure. Such conclusive
the few, arrsyed public sentiment on the
de of the Health Commissioner, and it is
gnificant that DR.. Steusrt has since been
appointed to Office by the Mayor for third
I'm. and has had his appointment unan-
10 ously CT nfrmed by the City Council.
Owing 10 the high professional reputation
OF the gentlemen who iDdorsed his action, as
well as to the enviable standing of the own
eTs of the remedy, the Chsrles A. Vogeler
Company, of this city, widespread interest
has alrt ady been created in the subject, not
only here. but in Philadelphia Washington
snd other neighboring cities The feeling is
generally expressed by professional tnen tnat
Red star Cough Cure, on account of its free
dom from narcotics and poisons, inRugurates
most desirable new departure in medicine.
This is the pronounced opinion of
authorities like DR. FAwcett who
has been for thirtv-three years res
jdeut physician of the Union Protestant
Infrnsry, IN this city, and Professor john J.
Caldwell, NJ. D, member of medical societies
IF Baltimore, New YORK and Brooklyn, snd
with long experience in civil and military
hospitals. Both OF these gentlemen, togt ther
with no less than City other precticing ply
sicians of Maryland, have publicly put, chem
selves on record as to the evil of,nsrcotic
medicines, and the consequent value and
importance of the new discovery referred to.
/ 1t is conceded that public opinion has com.
pletely INDICATED DIR. Steuart in his action.
and that in his whole course he was actuated
simply by an earnest desire to benefit the
community at large.