The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-18
DOCTORS FURIOUS.



BALTIMORE, MD.-A decided stir has been
caused here over the question as to the right
of a physician to certify to the merits of q
remedy not in the modern pharmscopoiis.
DR.. James A. 6teuart one OF tho most emf
nent physicians In the South, and Health
Commissioner OF this city, had analysed a
newly discovered article snd certified Of
ficially rot only TO It's efficacy but to tue fact
that IL replaced old time preparations Of
a similar character which, analyses had
proved, were adultersted and poisonous.
The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty, OF
which he ie member, held that he had
violated the code OF medical ethics, and
much public interest was aroused because OF
the con hdence felt both In his professio AL
stsndirg and official integrity.
IL was argued that 10 thus place a limita-
ton on the acts OF physician, add espe.
cially OF health officer, vas opposed TO the
spirit OF the age; that such reasoning might
have been logical enough when II was TO the
Interest OF rulers or societies to invest them.
selves with supernatural halo, bat now
when thought should be free and untram.
meled, such things ssvored OF bsrbsrism. 1t
was the duty OF physician, especially OF a
health officer, to condemn publicly any
remedy which he knew to be iniurious bat
Ii was not right 10 say that he should be de.
barred from teaiifyipg TO the merits OF any
thing which he knew TO be good II thls
were go. the world would not receive the
benefit OF haif the discoveries made IN art or
tcisnte Thus the people argued. while the
faculty threatened expulsion, and talked oil
time honored customs ethics. professional
courtesy and traditions
But the matter soon assumed a new and
surprising phase. A few days afterwards q
certificate appeared in the daily papers bear.
l.. H. .ssHa
McLane, Attorney. General Roberts, Mayor
Latrobe, CITY Postmaster Adreon. chiefs OF
State and municipal departments Judges
and Clerks OF Courts, Federal officials aud
Copgretsmen, emphaticslly endorsing the
action OF the Health Com missioner, aud
concurring In his opinion as 20 the efficacy
OF the remedy, asserting that they did 30
from personal experience with IL aud prac.
tical tests and observations.
There could be no gAinssyiog such evil
dence as this. but, M II 10 cap the climax,
shortly afterward there appeared another
certificate with su togrsph signatures OF lead.
ing practicing physicians from all parts OF
the State, including the ply sicians OF all
the leading hospitals, the physician TO the
City Fire Department, tho port physician.
vaccine physlcisn and resident pb ysicIans OF
ipi,rmaries. all indorsing the discovery and
stating that IL had been tested by them in
hospitals and private practice FOR weeks
"
alysis had shown NJ trace OF opiates or pois-
ons 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
oo,ics and poisons and OF the dangers conse.
qusnt on their use. The remedy in question
10 Red Star Cough Cure. Such conclusive
answer as this to ths narrow arguments of
The few, arrsyed public sentiment on the
side OF the Health Commissioner. and Ii Is
significant tSat DR.. Steuart has since been
appointed to office 10y the Mayor for third
term, and has had his appointment unan-
imously confirmed by the City Council.
Owing to the high pro essional reputation
OF the gentlemen who Endorsed his action, as
well as to the envia ole standing of the own
ers 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 Philadelphia, Washington
and other neighboring cities. The feeling is
gene rally expressed by professional men that
Red Star Cough Cure, on account oil its free
dom from narcotics and poisons, inaugurates
q most desirable new departure in medicine.
This Is the pronounced opinion OF
s sa. 5ssn 6r like R TS0
ident physician Of the Union Protestant
In Urinary, in this city. and Professor John J.
Caldwell, M. d., member OF medical societies
OF Baltimore, New York and Brooklyn, aud
with a long experience in civil and military
hospitals Both OF these gentlemen, together
with no Lees than t other pTscticins ply
selves on record as to the evil oi..narcotc
medicines, and the consequent value and
in portan ce OF the new discovery referred to.
1t is COL coded that public opinion has COM
pletely vindicated DIR. Steuart in his action,
and that in his whole course he was sctuated
simply by an earnest desire 10 benefit the
M mil at