The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-12
Couldn't Preserve the Parity Be-
tween Editors and Doctors.
ALL ABOUT ADVER Using
THE DOCTORS ARE "FBRNlNSTS'
IT-EDTTORS ALL FAVOR
PRESIDENT muaPAY's ADDRESS
Or. p. |. Murphy, the RetirnS Preei'
dsnt, Read an interesting 40
dress "A Fine Body
of Men.
of MEN.

Moreheau lily, ~ u, JuhS L. NAA
torial Correspondenee.l DIR. Blacknail
has been trying this week TO the best OF
'his capacity land that is great to pre-
serve the parity between the editors and
the doctors These are the two most
useful professions known among men,
and ordinarily there is a oneness among
them that that ought TO exist among men
fighting to exterminate the germs of ig-
norance and disease. They do more
work for less pay. they bring more con-
ISOLATION and cheer to the hearts of men,
and they are. | believe, esteemed most
highly by the general public.
They have a common purpose also in
the presence of so many delinquent sub
scribers and so many non-paying men
and women who have been raised up to
health by the physicians skill.
1t would seem that these reasons
would knit the doctors and the editors
together, and make them firm and last
ing comrades. DR.. Blacknall no doubt
reasoned that it would be SO when it
was arranged that these two professions
should hold their annual sessions on the
same days at this delightful resort.
But it is not so. Though bearing in
many ways kindred burdens, there is
cause of war between these two profess
sions that may be called another TIRE
L
in advertising, and he thinks the man or
profession that discounts the good results
of judicious advertising is an enemy to
the newspaper men. The DOCTOR while
not disbelieving in the value of advertis-
ing for others, holds that it is unprofes-
sional for doctors to advertise. He does
not stop there, but criticizes the editor
for publishing the advertisements of
patent medicines. 1t is hard enough for
the editor ITO forgive the refusal on the
part of the medical profession TO adver-
tise in his columns, which he regards
as the best if not the only correct and
sure method of reaching the people, but
WHICH ht ltlIOWS up h1iS yCOlI VI Ills
columns for his own use by claiming a
censorship on the advertisements an
editor inserts, the editor feels that a
point has been reached at which for
bearance ceases to be virtue, and that
the time has come for open warfare.
During the session of the Medical con-
yention just adjourned, more than one
physician declared his hostility to
newspaper advertising by physicians,
and at least one of them took occasion
to criticize strongly those newspapers,
particularly those of the religious press,
who advertised what he termed ''patent
nostrums." There is no difference be-
tween the editors and the doctors upon
the ethics of advertising a humbug,
whether medicine or anything else.
There is wide difference in the defni-
ton of "a patent nostrum." Many doc
tors, il not most of them, include the
old and reliable standard patent medi-
zines, as "nostrums" while the editors
put in that definition none except those
compounded by "quacks' or that have
been shown to be dangerous to life and
injurious to health. They are very
wide apart, and I see no way Of their
getting any closer together, if the spirit
manifested here by members of both pro.
fessions is a good indication Of how
far apart is the divergence.
One editor, as a means of restoring
the entente cOrdiale between these two
great professions, proposed that if each
doctor would agree to insert simple
card in his home paper at the rate OF
forty dollars per year, the editors would
decline all patent medicine advertise,
ments. This proposition was not ser.
iously considered by either, the doctors
holding that it was contrary to the
ethics Of the medical profession for them
ITO advertise at all, no matter what the
inducements and the editors declining
to permit any censorship ON their col
umns, or to close them to worthy adver
tisers who have remedies, recommended
by those who have been cured, which
they desire to offer to the public at large
One editor, more facetious than wise
told medical friend that he had found
a sure and safe way to bring the doe
tors to terms. eff they will not adver
tise in my paper and if they will criticiz,
me for publishing notices recommending
patent medicines, I will get even will
them yet"
How will you do itT' he was asked
Il will insert in every funeral notict
this sort of a paragraph: "A large compa
ny of Borrowing friends were IN attend
ance OH the funeral of the :ate jeremiah
Jones. The funeral was conducted by