Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-03-13
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall Physician Tell the Truth or
Not! A Nice Point in Ethics.
A Sensible Health omeiaI

BALTIMORE, mD.-A QSC1ueQ SUR mas
been caused here over the question as te
the right OF physician to certify to
the merits of remedy not in the mod
ern pharmacopeia. DR.. James A.
Steuart, one of the most eminent ply
sieians in the South and Health Com
missioner of this city, had analysed a
newly discovered article, and certified
officially not emily 70 its efficacy but TO
the fact that it replaced old time prep
arations of q similar character which,
analyses had proved, were adulterated
and poiSonSus. The Medical and Chirur-
gical Faculty, of which he is a member,
held that he had violated the code of
medical ethics, and much public in
tersst was aroused because of the con-
tidence felt both in his professional
standing and official integrity.
1t was argued that to thus place y
limitation on the acts of physician,
and especially 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 of societies to invest themselves
with a supernatural halo, but now when
Thoughts should be free and untrampel-
ID, such things savored of barbarian
1t was the duty of a physician, eSpeci-
ely of 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 testifyiny
to the merits of anything which he
knew to be good. II this were so, the
world would not receive the benefit of
half the discoveries made in the art or
science. Thus the people argued, while
faculty threatened expulsion and talked
CT Eims-honoree customs, ethics, pre-,
fessl NAL courtesy and traditions.
But the matter soon assumed new
and surprising phase \ few Gays
afterwards certificate appeared ia the
daily papers bearing the autograph Sig
natures of Governor McLane, Attorney
General Roberts, Mayor Latrebe, Civ
Postmaster Adre.n. chiefs of State and
municipal departments, Judges aaA
Clerks of Courts, Federal officials and
Congressman, emphatically endorsing
the action of the Health Commissioner,
and concurring ia his opinion as to the
efficacy of the remedy, asserting that
they did so from personal experience
with it and practical tests and observa-
tions.
There could be no gainsaying such
evidence as this, bat. as if to cap the
climax, shortly afterwards there APP
Feared another certificate with auto
graph signatures of leading Practicing
physicians FROM all parts of the state,
including the physicians of ali the lead
ing hospitals. the physician to the City
Fire Department.. the Port physician,
vaccine physician and resident phys!-
clans of infirnaries, all endorsing the
discovery and stating that it had btea
tested by them in hospitals and private
practice for weeks with wonderful
curative effect, and that analysis had
shown no trace of opiatcs 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 con-
tanned narcotics and poisons and of the
dengers consequent 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 Commissioner, and it is
significant that DR.. Steuart has since
been appointed to office by the Mayor
for third term. and has had his APP
pointment unanimously confirmed Ky
the City Council.
Owing to the high professional reru
tation of tie gentlemen who Endorsed
his action, as well as to the enviab'e
standing of the owners of the rene y,
The Charles A. Vogeler Company, of
this city, widespread interest has al
ready been created on the subject, L OF
only here, but in Philadelphia, Wash
jngton 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 now departure in medi-
cine This is the pronounced opinion
of authorities like DIR. Faucet, who has
been for thirty-three years resident
physician OF the Union Protestant Ia
Urinary, in this city, and Prof. John j.
Caldwell, M. D., member of medical
societies of Baltimore, New York and
Brooklyn, and with a long experience
in civil and military hospitals. Both
of these gentlemen. together with no
less than fifty other practicing ply
sicians of Maryland, have publicly put
themselves on record as to the evil of
narcotic medicines, and the consequent
value and Importance of the new dis
covery referred to. 1t is conceded
that public opinion has completely vim
Dictated DIR. Steuart in his action, and
that in his whole course he was actual,
ed simply by an earnest desire to benefit
the community at large.