The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-03-21
DOCTORS FURIOUS.

a SENSIBLE HEALTH oFF1cfAfs

A SENSIBLE HEALTH oFFTcfAfs
BALTIMORE, MD.-A decided stir hs
been caused here over the question as to
She right of physician to certify to the
merits of a remedy not In the modern
pharmacopeia. DIR. James A. Steuart,
one of the most eminent physicians in the
South and Health Commissioner of this
city, had analysed q newly discovered
article. and certified officially not only to
its efficacy but to the fsct that 1t replaced
old-time preparations of a similar chars
acter which, analyses had proved, were
adulterated and poisonous. The Medical
member, held that he had violated the
code of medical ethics, and much public
interest was aroused because of the confi-
dence felt both in his professional stand
ing and official integrity.
TWAS 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 been logical enough when 1t
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 a hysician,
especially of a 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. IL 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 threat
ened expulsion and talked of the time
honored customs, ethics, professional court
esq and traditions.
surprising phase. A few days afterwards
certificate appeared in the daily papers
bearing 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 OFF,
Gals and congressman, emphatically en-
dorsing the action of the Health Commits
sioner, and copcurring in his opinion as to
the efficacy of the remedy, asserting that
they did so from personal experiences 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 tc
the City Fire Department, the Port physi-
clan, vaccine physician and resident ply
sicians of inf1rmaries, all endorsing the
discovery and stating that it 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 in
duced 10 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 Q
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'
ton of the gentlemen who endorsed hi
action, as well as to the enviable standing
of the owners of the remedy, The Charles
A. Vogeler Company, of this city. wide.
in the subject, not only here but in Phila
selphia, Washington and other neighbor
ing cities. The feeling is generally ex
| pressed by professional men that Red Stal
| Cough Cure, on account of its freedom
from narcotics and poisons, inaugurates q
most desirable new departure in medi'
cine. This is the pronounced opinion
| of authorities like DR.. Fawcett, who
has been for thirty three years resi-
| dent pt ysician of the Union Protestant
| Infirmary, in this city, and Prof. John j
| Caldwell, NJ. D., member of medical So
| cieties of Baltimore, New York and Brook.
| lyn, and with a long experience in civil
| and military hospitals. Both of these gen.
tlemen, together with no less than fifty
other practicing physicians of Maryland
have publicly put themselves on record as
| TO the evil of narcotic medicines, and the
consequent value and Importance of the
new discovery referred to. 1t is conceded
| that pub1ic opinion has cOmpletelv yindi-
Gated DR.. Steuart in his action, and that In
| his whole course he was actuated simply
by an earnest desire to benefit the commu-
| nifty at large.