Milford chronicle., 1885-03-27
DOCTORS FURIOUS.
Shall a Physician Tell the Truth or
NOtl a siec Point In Ethics
A eeneI4TI TII7TFTT 0mrIaI.

BALTINoRF, 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
I nent physicians in the South, and Health
Commissioner of this city, had analyzed
newly-discoyered article, and certified OH
cially not only 70 IS efficacy but to the fact
that it replaced d-time preparations OF
similar character which, analyses had proved,
were adulterated and poisonous. The medi-
cal and chirurgical faculty, Of which he Is a
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 stand
ing and official integrity
/ 1t was argued that to thus placea limita- |
! tion 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 inter-
est of rulers or societies to invest themselves
with supernatural halo, but now when
thought should be free and untrammeled, such
things savored Of barbarism 1t was the duty
Of physician, especially Of a health officer,
to condemn publicly any remedy which be
knew to be injurious, but it was not right 10
say that lie should be debarred from testify
ing 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 discoveries
made in art or science Thus the people ar
gued, while the faculty threatened expulsion
and talked Of time-honOred customs, ethics
professional courtesy and traditions.
But the matter soon assumed a new and
surprising phase A few days afterward
certificate appeared in the daily papers bear :
ing tho autograph signatures Of Governor
McLane, Attorney-General Roberts, Mayor
Latrobe, city postmaster AdreOn, chiefs of
state and municipal departments, judges and
clerks OF courts, Federal officials and Con o
5ressmen, emphatically endorsing the action d
II the health commissioner, and concuTTing
n his opinion as to the efficacy of the remedy, | ci
'sserting that they did so from personal ex- ol
'eIience whit and practical tests and obser- s.
'ailOns a.
There could be no gainsaying such evidence
IS this, but, AS if to cap the climax shortly after
7ard there appeared another certificate with Fl
Itograph signatures Of leading practicing rc
hyslclans from all parts Of the State, lnclud- fh
IS the physicians of all the leading hospitals, =
le physician to the city fire department the
0rt physician vaccine physician and resident !
lyslcEns OF lnfirmaries all endorsing the Phi
scOvery and stating that it had been tested | l.,
: them in hospitals and private practice for
eeks with wonderful curative effect, III
ID that analyses had shown no trace Of for
Mates or poisons, prevalent in other as
ugh mixtures They further stated that -
ey had been induced to take this step in | Oa'
sw Of the many hurtful preparations which aga
atained narcotics and poisons and Of the resi-
ngeTs consequent on their use The rene o1
IN question is Red Star Cough Cure Such
ellclusiNe answer as this 70 the narrow ar PAg
nents of the few, aIrayed public sentiment Pinl
the side-Of the Health Commissioner, and | sbcr
s significant that DR.. Steuart has since
n appointed to Office by the Mayor for a 10 81
rd term, and has had his appointment heal
confirmed by the City Council the
wing TO the high professional reputation vent
he gentlemen who endorsed his action as and
as to the enviable standing of the owners dies
he remedy, The Charles A. Vogeler Com and
u, of this city, widespread interest has This
ady been created in the subject. not only ''''
> but in Philadelphia Washington and III
r neighbOring cities The feeling is KIV
rally expressed by professional men that III
Star Cough Cure on account OF its free ,t,,,
from narcotics and poisons, inaugurates triis
st desirable new departure in medicine etcctl
Is the pronounced opinion of authorities cS,5 nysu
DIR. FaWcett, who has been for 1t All
y-three years resident physician Of the Irotec
n Protestant lntrmary, in this city, and pletel,
essor John J. Caldwell, NJ. D., member restor,
9dical societies of Baltimore New York smcll q
8rooklyn, and with long experience in HnT A
and military hospitals Both of these W. -
emen, together with no less than fifty A fe
practlcing physicians of MARYLAND meyg' i.gt m
publicly put themselves on record as to to use.
I'll of narcotic medicines, and the consa- mail or
value and Importance of the new dis '0i Vlio
y referred to- 1t is conceded that pub FL
,inon l1 o; has completely, vindicated Dr. VI
he vas actuated simply by an earnest -
to benefit the com1munity at lerge. az