St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-03-14
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall Physician Tell the Truth or Not
A Nice Point in Ethics
SENSIBLE HEALTH OFFICIAL.

Nice Point IN EkDLcSa
sEEsrBLE 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 remedy not in the modern
pharmacopoeia. DR.. 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 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
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
It was argued that to thus place limita-
ton on the acts of physician, and espe-
cially of a 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 a supernatural
halo, but now when thought should be free
and untrammeled, such things savored of
baTbarisnl. 1t was the duty Of physician,
especially of health officer, to condemn
publicly any remedy which he knew to be
ne should be debarred from testifying to
the merits of anything which he knew to
be good. If 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
hQnored customs, ethics, professional court
esy and traditions.
But the matter soon assumed a new and
surprising phase. A few days afterwards
a 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, emphatlcaly 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
deuce as this, but, as if 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 to
the City Fire Department, the Port phys1-
cian, vaccine physician and resident phy-
sicians of inffrmaries, 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 oplates or pol
sons, prevalent in other cough mixtures,
They further stated that they had been in4
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 a
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 third term, and has had
his appointment unanimously confirmed by
the City Council.
Owing to the high professional reputa-
ton of the gentlemen who endorsed his
action, as well as to the enviable standing
of the owners of the remedy, The Charles
A. Vogeler Company, of this city, wide
spread interest has already been created
in the subject, not only here but in Phila-
delphia, Washington and other netghbor-
ing cities. The feeling is generally ex-
pressed by professional men that Red Star
Cough Cure, on account OF its freedom
from narcotics and poisons, inaugurates a
most desirable new departure in medi-
cine. This is the pronounced opinion
of authorities like DIR. Fawcett, who
has been for thirty three years resi-
dent pk 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 long experience in civil
and military hospitals. Both of these gem
tlemen, together with no less than fifty
other practicing physicians of Maryland,
have pubscly 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 public opinion has completely vindi-
his whole course he was actuated simply
by an earnest desire to benefit the commu-
Y1itv at large.