Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-09
A Physicians Responsibility to the Public
IBy DR.. w. S. Devine, of Marshalltown]

vi NdalSIulllOWl.J
fly dropped, which, by way of inter-
pretation, comes from the greatest re-
spect he has for his profession, one of
whose cardinal doctrines is the elimi-
nation of any appearance of that
which attracts the attention of the
public, or that has the appearance of
salf-laudation. that even smacks of
foisting oneself on the public notice,
other than by merit alone, which leads
him to success, has held him aloof
from what l believe to be his plain
duty, nothing more, nothing less.
| First, in the code of ethics of the
great American Medical Society "a
physician should not only be ever ready
to obey the calls of the sick, but his
mind ought also to be tnbued with the
greatness of his mission and the re-
sponsibility he habitually incurs in it's
discharge and l take it no physician
has relieved himself of the RESPONSE
bility he owes to the public and hui
mainly in general, until that public is
made freely aware of the nature of
contagion and the ease with which it
may be combatted by the intelligent
and united effort of all. do not think
| IL IL QQCSllOll VI Sell llltl uluSl ne COu.
sidered, but rather, what can I do; so
brother physician, let us step into this
work and make the dark places bright
for our united efforts in the elimina-
ton of this one, great scourge, for, we
are possessed of sufficient knowledge
concerning it, to throttle and elimin
ate it from our list Of contagious dis
eases with. as l have said, the united
help of an enlightened and willing pub
lie. One more quotation from the code
of ethics, for l fear from expressions
heard many times, some physicians do
not make themselves familiar with the
intelligent guidance of the code that
should govern our relations with the
public in general, for, we learn "as
good citizens, it is the duty of physi-
clans to be very vigilant for the well
fare of the community, and to bear
their part in sustaining its institutions
and burdens; they should also be ever
ready to give counsel to the public
in relation to matters especially APP
pertaining to their profession as on
subject of medical police, public hy-
giene and legal medicine. 1t is their
province to enlighten the public in re-
location, arrangement and dietaries of
hospitals, asylums, schools, prisons
and similar institutions; in relation to
medical police of towns as drainage,
ventilations, etc, and to measures for
the prevention of epidemic and con-
tagious diseases: and when pestilence
prevails, it is their duty to face the
danger and to continue their labors for
the alienation of the suffering, even at
the jeopardy of their own lives"
The medical societies of the state
have earnestly advocated the estab-
lishment of a state sanitorium for the
treatment, cure and comfort of the con-
sumptive poor of the state, which will
again be up for consideration before
the present legislative session. 1t is
the duty of every physician and So
ciety in the state whose interest it
should be to eliminate tuberculosis, to
see ii it that the representative and
senator from their district, gets per-
sonal letter and an urgent request to
use his effort to pass this bill. Such
an institution will not only confer
benefit on the afflicted. but will be a
large factor in preventing the spread
of tuberculosis.
There is another bill before the pres
ent legislature which is of vital inn
portance to the public also. as we'll as
the physician That is the pure food
bill This bill is in the direct interest
of public health, and physicians, with
their friends all over the state, ought
to know why their representative or
senator cannot see why a fraud or a
poison article should not be sold to an
purchaser or why a
fraudulent article of food drink or
medicine should not be labeled as such.
but better forbidden entirely. If a
senator or representative, national or
state. can give no excuse for formal-
dehyde as a preservative in milk that
little sick children drink. can there be
any reason also for the use of wood all
cohol in about all favorng extracts
and essences? A poison case is re-
ported quite frequently in the daily
press from eating ice cream. Do you
know that it is was not from the wood
alcohol in the havoring extract? Wood
alcohol is sold at the present time I'M