New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-21
DIR. opPEyHETMER AND HIS CURE.
A TALK WITH PRESIDENT CROFT. OF THE BOARD
OF cHARrTIEs-THE TREATMENT IN THD
ALCOHOLIC WARD AT BELLEVUE


The alleged cure for alcoholism with which d.
Oppenhe.mer IL experimenting at Bellevue Hospital
has had much notice In the Newspaper shce
medical Journal denounced II edftoriay. ana spohS
Of its being the property OF stock company ~.
Oppenheimer has published letter. saying tnss ne
has no partners and that there Is no stock com.
pany. But the charge that he has been guilty OF
unprofessionaI conduct has not been denied In
view Of the stand which he had taken and his opeo
defiance Of the medical practitioners. there ID 90
sire on the part OF the public 20 know now ia
the Department Of Charities has become Interested
In the scheme. and what measures that Depart
ment has taken to test the efficacy Of the alleged
cure. Commissioner s c. Croft. president OK the
Board, sad to Tribune reporter yesterday that
the Oppenhesmer cure for alcoholism was brought
to the attention OF the Board by q Newspaper man.
who also explained It's properties 70 the Mayor.
The stories told about II. the testimonials which
were shown, and the experiences OF persons Who
had been under Or. Oppenheiner's treatment. had
warranted investigation and with that OBJECT IN
view IL decided to allow DR.. Oppenheimer 70
try the remedy In the alcoholic ward OF Bellevue
Hospital I'VE thought there could be no better
place to try the remedy" said Mr.. Croft, because
there are cases OF alcoholism there every day..
resolution was introduced by Commissioners
OBerne granting to DR.. Oppenheimer the privilege
Of treating patients suffering from alcoholism IN
the hospital ward in cooperation with Dr. Charles
L. Dana who at that time regularly In charge
OF the alcoholic department.
1t was explained that Dr. Dana, being regular
practitioner soon objected to the secret methods
Of the specialist and June 30 President Croft
wrote 10 Or. W. II. Thomson. president OF the
Medical Board OF the hospital. telling him thar
there was friction between the ply sicans In the
alcoholic ward. Dr. Dana also wrote that ne was
In his ward. He wrote that every year some ono
came with some remarkable cure. winch always
DT9 ed. s sh ana ns To the
Despite this protes, on the part OF the physician
In charge OF the alcoholic ward. Ward No IS was
regular physicians were relieved from attendance
on such patients as were turned over 10 Dr Oppen-
heimer.
which might arise from consultation with a
physician who had violated the medical code Of
I'VE have allowed DR.. Oppenheimer to treat the
cases in Ward No 80 ever since then he said and
yens has ay ss work SenS
watched carefully the cases are not allowed 10 get
away before II can be determined what effect the
treatment has produced. and within few days a
report will be ma de IN which the whoe matter VIII
be given TO the public"
The same person who first called the Boards
a member OF the hospital stan shortly after Ward
No 80 had been set aside for the OF DR.. Open
heiner's patients. In the interview, II was cor
helmer "quack" and says that not only did the
cure not cure" but that in one instance It haA
killed a patient.
reporter the office OF the Board Of Charities, %.
gether with reply from DR.. Oppenheimer. In WHEN
he denounces the physician.
In spite Of this recr1mination. while the Wr2nQs
ling goes between the physicians and the special:
ist who makes Of the fact that he violated
and does violate the ethics Of his profession patients
No SO Of Bellevue Hospital IN defiance of the med
ical board Of that institution.