Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-04-09
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall a Physician Tell the Truth or Not?
A Nice Point in Ethics.
A Sensible 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 a remedy not in the modern
pharmacopGia. DR.. James A. Steu-
art, one of the most eminent physicians
in the South and Health Commissioner
of this city, had analysed newly dis
covered article, and certified officially
not only to its efficacy but to the fact
that it replaced old time preparations
of q similar character, which analysis
had provsn, were adulterated and
poisonous. The Medical and Chirurgi-
cal 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 confidence
felt both in his professional standing
and official integrity.
1t was argued that to thus place a
limitation on the acts of physician,
and especially of 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 supernatural halo,
but now, when thought should be free
and untrammelled, such things savored
of barbarism. 1t was the duty of a
physician, 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. 1t this
were so, the world would not receive
the benefit of half the discoveries made
in art or science. Thus the people ar
gued, while the faculty threatened ex-
pulsion and talked of time-honored GUS
toms, ethics, professional courtesy and
traditions.
But the matter soon assumed new
and surprising phase. A few days
afterwards a certificate appeared in the
daily papers bearing the autograph
signatures of Governor McLane, Attor-
ney. General Roberts, Mayor Latrope,
City Postmaster Adreon, chiefs of state
and municipal departments Judges and
Clerks of Courts, Federal officials and
Congressman, emphatically endorsing
the action of the health commissioner,
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 obser.
vations.
There could be no gainsaying such evil
dence as this, but as if to cap the climax,
shortly afterwards there appeared an
other certificate with autograph sigma
lures of leading practicing physicians
f.,>, re- of
the physicians of oil the leading hospi-
tails, the physician to the City Fire De-
partment, the Port physician, vaccine
physician and resident physician of in
firmaries, 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 poisons, prevalent in other
cough mixtures. They further stated
that they had been induced TO take this
step in view of the many hurtful prep
arations which contained narcotics and
poisons and of the dangers consequent
upon their use. The remedy in question
is Red Star Cough Cure. Such con-
elusive answer as this to the narrow
arguments of the few, arrayed public
sentiment on the side of the Health
Commissioner, and it is significant that
DIR. Steuart has since been appointed to
office by the Mayor for third term,
and has had his appointment unani-
mously confirmed by the City Council.
Owing to the high professional repu..
tation of the gentlemen who endorsed
his action, as well as to the enviable
standing of the owners OF the remedy,
The Charles A. yogeler Company. of
this city, widespread interest has al
ready been created in the subject, not
only here, but in Philadelphia, Wash.
ington and other neighboring cities.
The feeling is generally expressed 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 resident
physician of the Union Protestant In
Urinary, in this city, and Prof. John j.
| Caldwell, M. D., member OF medical
societies of Baltimore, New York and
Brooklyn, and with long experience
| in civil and military hospitals. Both of
these gentlemen, 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 public
opinion has completely indicated DR..
Steuart in his action, and that In his
whole course he was actuated simply by
an earnest desire TO benefit the COM
munitv at large.