The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-03-20
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
shall Physician Tell the Truth or Not
A Nice Point In Ethics.

SENSIBLE HEALTH oFFiLiAL~
BALTIMORE, MD.-A decided stir has
been caused here over the question as to
the right Of physician to certify to the
merits Of 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 newly discovered
article, and certified officially not only 70
old-fime preparations Of SIMILAR char
acter which, analyses had proved. we're
adultcrated and poisonous. The Medical
and Chirurgical Faculty, OF which he Is
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.
II was argued that 10 thus place limita-
ton on the acts OF a physician, and espc-
cially Of health officer, was opposed to
the spirit Of the age, that such reasoning
was 70 the interest Of rulers or societies To
invest themselves with a supernatural
halo, but now when thought should be free
and untrammeled, such things savored OF
barbarism. TWAS the duty OF ply scian,
especially of health officer, TO condemn
publicly any remedy which he knew 10 be
Injurious, but IL was not right TO say that
ne should be debarrcd from testifying to
the merits OF anything which he knew y
be good. III 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
encd expulsion and talked OF the time
honorcd 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 Mc1.ane, Attorney General Roberts,
Mayor Latrobc, 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 op Mon as to
the efficacy OF the remedy, asserting that
they did so from personal experience with
il and practical tests and observations.
There could be no gainsaying such EVIL
shortly afterwards there appeared another
certificate with autograph signatures Of
leading practicing ply scians from all parts
Of the State, including the physicians Of
all the leading hospitals, the physician 70
the City Fire Department, the Port physi-
clan, vaccine physician and resident ply
sicians Of inhrmaries, all endorsing the
discovery and stating that IL 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 pol
sons, prevalent i'm 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 nar-
cotics and poisons and OF the dangers con-
segment ON their use. Tho 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 Conn
missioner, and IL Is significant that Dr.
Steuart has since been appointed 70 Office
by tho Mayor for n third term, and has had
his appointment unanimously confirmed ny
Owing to the high professional reputa-
ton OF the gentlemen who endorsed his
action, rs well as to the enviahle standing
OF the owners OF the remedy, The Charles
A. Nogeler Company, Of this city. wide-
spread interest has already been created
In the subject, not only here but In Phila-
dclphia, Washington and other neighbor-
ing cities. The feeling II generally ex-
pressed by professional men that Red star
Cough Cure, on account OF its freedom
from narcotics and poisons, inaugurates q
most desirable new departure IN mcdi-
cine. This Is the pronounced opinion
OF authorities like DIR. Fawcett, who
has been for thirty-three years resi-
dent pi ysician OF the Union Protestant
Infirmary, In this city, and Prof. John j.
Caldwell, M. d., member OF medical So
cictics IL Baltimore, New York and Brooke
lyn, and with a long experience In civil
and military hospitals. Both OF these gem
tlernen, together with no less than fifty
other predicting physicians OF Maryland,
have pubs ely put themselves on record as
"a the evil OF narcotic medicines, and the
consequent valuo and importance Of the
new discovery referred 70. IL Is conceded
that public opinion has completely vindi-
Gated DR.. Steuart in his action, and that In
his whole course he was actuated simply
by an earnest desire to benefit the commute
atty at largo.