Evening journal., 1914-02-16
SHOULD PHYSICIANS ADVERTISER

- article IN a medical Journal Of recognized stand
ing tho ethical prohibition which prevents physi-
Clans who wish to stand well in the profession, from
advertising, The burden Of that article was that
the prohibition to the pecunary benefit Of med
zeal oharstans to the dotrment Of honest and eff
eient physicians and the public subsequently,
published article contributed by Dr. James Il.
Morgan, OF this city, IN which he insisted that the
knife Is the only remedy for cancers, except those
Of a superficial nature and warning the public
against placing too much reliance 10 radiun
for that disease.
We ind IN e. Philadelphia newspaper this week the
following article which shows that the value Of pub
lcity in medical matters Is coming to be appreciated
by representative practitioners IN that city,
Widespread publicity Of the diseases symptoms and
early surgical treatment are the only weapons that
can be used against cancer, according 20 the physl
clans who spoke last night before the public meeting
held at Hahnemann Medical College Radum and
H-ray treatment declared 70 be hardly than
palliatng measures.
Dr. William Is. Van Lennep. dean OF the medical
school, the first speaker lie stated there are now
100000 cases Of cancer IN this country and that 75
600 persons tall before the disease every year. Radium
and N-ray treatments virtually of use. he said
In the last half century Dr. Van Lennep said.
has doubled It's percentage In the mortality rates IN
this city He spoke especially on cancer OF the fe-
male breast aud declared it usually fatal because
the average case has progressed for is months be-
fore being brought to medical attention.
Cancer OF women also the subject Of DR.. ID.
Bushrod James DR.. James said the great handicap
modesty which prohibits the physician from speaking
freely openly 70 the public. Publicity he asserted
to be the one measure OF Importance. He congrat-
ulated the medical profession on the fact that the
newspapers OF the country have done much as
they have in publishing information on cancer. He
declared he hoped the publicity would go far TO
keep the public from going TO charatans into whose
hands he feared the use OF radum Is 70 fall. Dr.
Ralph Bernstein the closing speaker.
In addition We have received the following eommu-
ncaton from DR.. Morgan OF this city. the matter
OF physicians advertising:
The Maryland Medical Society charges Dr. Howard
Kelly, the great cancer specialist and noted surgeon
OF Baltimore with violation OF its code of ethics be-
cause his name appears in newspaper articles regard
ing the value OF radum Il demands that he appear
before that body for punishment That IS only re-
cent evidence of the strictness with which this code
is observed by the medical profession. do not pro-
pose to discuss the DR. Kelly pro con- but to
acquaint the public with what consider obsolete
condition. that should be wiped from the unwritten
laws Of medicine.
Truly knowledge is tho foundation or human
progress In this ago the press ~ the great factor
through which knowledge is disseminated. O.ilterat-
ing all mercenary conditions benehtng the press. and
simply looking at the matter from a condition effect
ing one OF our great pretended sciences the Ques-
tion presents itself. "Shoud Physicians Advertiser?
Every commercial form OF business depends upon the
extent to which rs stock In trade Is known, both as
20 its source and The value Of the press IN ex
tending this information is without question. Il Is
really unnecessary TO discuss honest and dishonest
advertising. Tricks in advertising have become so
well known that nearly everyone realizes the nature
Of the same and If the people not check them the
Federal Government will do so Tho crooked adver-
tser no matter in what business, thryes but short
time.
The question OF physicians advertising Is a broad
one, Il Is pretty hard to stick close 70 the line The
science Of medicine Is OF the Oldest In existence.
So far as its maeria medlca Is concerned, is st far
from being science. surgery, by the aid Of anti
seDtcs, has advanced wonderfully. do not like TO
say IT, but the practice OF medicine Is haphazard
practice at the bes'-every fellow for himself With
the undertaker 10 hide his mistakes.
Physicians are divided into two classes: hrst. the
ambitious practitioner second. the Indifferent one.
There are positively many more drones than workers.
Just here is where the question Of advertising pre-
senis itself. Shall an active competent physic'nn
hide his ability and discoveries like ancient relics
or shall he make them known to the world? Shall
the science Of medicine move along with It's empirc
system reaching heyond the age OF mystery and
faith In family physician? Oh. that faiti in the
family physicanl Surely you would di, without him.
hut YOU must ptv the thousands who die with him.
Oh. that charming influence IN his silent demeanor.
and his wonderful medical explanations! This limit
viii never advance the science of medicine
What has nearly eliminated dphtheria, smanox.
yellow fever and cholera the noustive nress or tho
practicing physician? The who fails TO use
serums Is a criminal the man who fails to reveal
specific treatments discovered in his exnerience h
unfaithfu to the world. Recently we read of spec-
iaists. They are defined being those who know
little about ne disease. They stick TO that prac-
tice and produce results. They soon begin sending
70 their feloWphysicians circulars reporting results
in say sNtv-one cases OF gotre cataract or appen-
dectomy. Note. they are seldom oensur d. Well is II
any more a violation of ethics to properly advertise
am ing the public and allow the TO helm preserve
manknd7
Unquestionaby there IS a steadily-groving sent
ment in the medical profession that the successes o
physician surgeon shall receive the same pub
licy as do his failures. For instance if John Jones
be seized with an Illness which threatens his lite but
RECEIVERS under the able treatment Of DR.. Memo the
doctors name seldom Is linked with that OF his pa
tient in chroncllng the fact that Mr. Jones has re.
covered; but il Mr.. Jones die the public is informed
at that he "was attended in his last illness b,
Or. Memo" In other words. II patient live unde,
his treatment the community knows little nothing
about Il, but II patient die under his treatment the
public knows all about IT, That is an ethical situa
tion that perhaps does not exist in any other pro
fesson-to hide and permit failures to be
heraided to the world