Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-02
CHEMISTRY AND PosroFFlcE DE.
PARTMENTs IN FIGHT OVER
USE OF MAILS.
MAIL ORDER DOCTORS
ARE BEING BARRED
Physicians Who Profess to Cure Cam
Ger by Mail Being Put Out Of Bust
ness - Physicians of Antasonistie
Schools Getting Into the Game and
There's Trouble Ahead.
Especial Correspondence

| Washington, Feb. "A row of large
/ proportions is threatened over the ac-
tivities of the postoffice department
, and OF the bureau of chemistry of the
, department Of agriculture against par
ties who are treating cancer by mail.
The attention of number of mem
hers of congress has been directed to
what is being done with respect to
cancer cures by the postoffice depart
ment and the bureau of chemistry AS
the result, inquiries are being made
and there is even a prospect that the
matter will be aired on the floor in
senate or house and an investigation
asked for
The situation is one that is attract
ing much notice in the medical world,
because of the intense interest among
medical men in the subject of cancer
and the difference of opinion as to
whether cancer can be cured. The diff
ferences between the various schools of
medicine. the regulars, the homeopaths
and the eclectics, are alleged to enter
/ into the controversy to a certain ex-
! tent.
Where the Clash Comes.
Just now. the postoffice department
| is giving attention to considerable
extent to parties who are advertising
that they can cure cancer by mail In
number of cases, parties have been
shut out from use of the mails for the
purpose Of carrying on their business (
in dealing with cancer. The postoffice I
department has enlisted the efforts of !
n -
is reinforcing the postoffice depart |
ment, as to this particular matter. DR.. /
l.. F. Kebler, chief of the division of |
chemistry, who has active charge Of
the cancer question. But not only is
DR.. Kebler assisting the postoffice de-
partment when his aid is asked. but his
division is engaged in a campaign
against cures by mail under the pure
food and drugs act.
The particular case which has called
attention to the government crusade
against cancer cure is one which is
now being considered by the postoffce
department. The assistant attorney
general of the postoffice department,
Judge Goodwin, has been for several
days holding hearings to determine
whether there is objection to certain
cancer cures, and whether the use of
the mails should be barred for the pur
pose of carrying on this business. The
examination has called forth a mass
of expert testimony.
Testimony has been put in on the
question whether cancer can be cured
by the use OF s1lsdicine. Many nhysi-
clans contend that the knife is the only ]
cure for cancer. But there is also testi- ,
mony on the other side. t
Postoffice Department Concerned.
Postmaster General Hitchcock has
been dragged into the case and it has
been represented to him tnat there is
undue activity on the part of the as
sistant attorney general; that the issue !
Of orders barring concerns from the
mails is overdone and that he is not
giving the personal attention to orders r
barring from the use of the mails that i.
the law conten1plates. r
Complaint has also been made to Sec :
rotary Wilson and he has been in =
formed of the activity of the bureau of r
chemistry in making crusade against :,
cancer cures. To a member of con- :.
gress who called on him and took the :,
matter up with him. Secretary Wilson ;,
said he was unaware of the extent to :,
which the matter was alleged to have
oee0 carried.
The friends of one doctor charge that q
he controversy is really an effort on
he part of the allopathic schol of med
cine to strike at other schools. They
,harge that the American Medical As s
ISOLATION is unduly active in trying to
tamp out the treatment of cancer by
Medicine They also charge that a
wrong is being done in that two great
government departments are being, as c
hey say, used to settle a controverted Il
question of medicine, whether cancer n
IAN be cured by use of medicine. Il
Secretary Wilson has been furnished II
With written statement of the facts II
~ the supporters of one, Johnson, in a
he fight and will make an investiga- in
ION to see what has been done by the
bureau of chemistry, more especially
" DR.. kebler's division. 1t has been
epresented to him that some of his M
ficiaIs were being made tools of to
ettle oontroverted medical question.
DR.. Kebler. chief of the division of he
rugs, was asked about the fight his di
vision is making on cancer cures and sa
bout the johnson case. He said he was 81
laking war on cancer cure by mail, as VI
ANGER cure by mail was impussioie. Ho
7ould not discuss any proceeding that
ad relation to the postoffice depart
aent DR.. Kebler strongly denies that st
e or his division is making any at w;
ack on the homeopathic or eclectic re