Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-03-11
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
remedy not in the modern pharmacopRia.
DR.. James A. Steuart, one of the most emf
nent physicians in the South, and Health
Commissioner of this city, had analysed a.
newly discovered article, and certified Off
c1ally, not only to its efficacy but to the fact
That 1t replaced Od-time preparations OF
similar character which, analyses had proved,
we're adulterated and poisonous. The Medi-
cal 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 CT nldence felt
both in his professional standing and official
integrity.
1t was argued that to thus place limita-
ton on The sets 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 inter-
est Of rulers or societies to invest themselves
with q supernatural halo, but now, when
thought should be free and untrammeled,
such things savored of barbarism. It was
the duty OF physician, especially of health
of'cer' to condemn publicly any remedy
which he knew to be injurious but it was not
right to say that he should be debarred from
testifytng to the merits of nything which he
knew to he good. IT this were So the world
would not receive the benefit of half the dis
coveries made in art or science. Thus the
people argued, while the faculty threatened
expulsion and talked of time-honored GUS
toms, ethics, professional courtesy, and ira
ditiGns.
But the matter soon assumed a new and
surprising phase. A few days afterwards
cert ticate appeared in the daily papers bear
ing 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 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
tcsts and observations.
There could be Eainsaying such evil
dence 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 physician, vaccine
physician, and resident physicians OF infrm
aries, all endorsing the discovery and stating
that 1T had been tested by them in hos
pitfalls and private practice for weeks with
wonderful curative effect, and that analy-
SIS 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
preparations which contained narcotics and
pofSons. and of the danger consequent II
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 Commissioners, and it is significant
that DR.. Steuart has since been appointed to
OF &c by the Mayor for a third term and has
had his appointment unanimously confirmed
by the City Council.
Owing to the high professional reputation
OF the gentlemen who endorsed his action, as
well as the enviable staining of the
owners OF the remedy The Charles A. Fogeer
Company, of this city, widespread interest
has already been created in the subject, not
only here, but IN Philadelphia, Washington
and other neighboring cities. The feeling
is generally expressed b. professional men
that Red Star Cough Cure, on account
OF its freedom from narcotics and poisons,
iTaugurates a most desirable depar-
ture in medicine. This is the pronounc-
ed opinion of authorities like DIR. Faw-
cett, who has been for thirty-three years
resident physician Of the Union Protestant
Infirmary, in this city, and Prof. John ]. Cald-
we'll, NJ D. member of medical societies Of
Baltimore, New York, and Brooklyn, and
with long experience i'll civil and military
hospitals. Both of these gentlemen, together
with no less than fitts other practicing ply
sicians of Maryland, have publicly put them
selves on record as to the evil of narcotic
medicines. and the consequent value and i'm
portance of the new discovery referred to. It
is conceded that public opinion has com
piotely yindicated Or. Steuart in his acton,
and that IN his whole course he was actuated
simply by an earnest desire to benefit the
com! unity at large.