Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-30
DR.. De Witt G. Wilcox Explains
Overture Made to American
Medical Association.
MILITANT METHODS URGED
IN EVENT OF REFUSAL
Addresses American Institute of
Homeopathy at Convention in
Atlantic City.

ATLANTIC CITY, N j., June 3O.-The
American Institute of Homeopathy yes
terday met for its annual convention here
where the American Medical Association
held its meetings last week. The presi-
dent. DIR. De Witt G. Wilcox Of Boston,
in his address last night. renewed the
proposition that the American Medical
Association should join with the Amer
lean Institute of Homeopathy in prov
ing 1.-The truth or error" of the homeopa-
thic theory and practice.
LAS Hahnemann besought his medical
conferees to investigate the results Of his
researches and give them a fair trial,
so today he said. the American Instt-
tute formally asks the American Medical
Association the same thing. We have
presented to them diGnif1ed but care
fully thought-out proposition to appoint
commission to cooperate with the Amer
lean Institute to make a scientihc ana
searching investigation into all our claims
and deductions. That proposition Is now
in the hands of the secretary Of the
American Medical Association awaiting
answer
Favors militant Homeopathy"
DIR. Wilcox declared in favor of
militant homeopathy" II the associa-
ton refused the proposition. and
militant homeopathy" he said. means
a return to the old-time warfare, where
lines shall be drawn hard and fast
He asserted that the homeopathic
school had gained ground in the west ana
quoted reports OF its growth IN anglano
Two features of his address were the
stress he laid upon the assertion that
alcohol is not medicine. and upon the
commercial tendency of the medical
address was Putting Away Childish
Things" and he included alcohol in the
category. 1t had been definitely set
tied, he declared, that alcohol had no
place in medicine. Whether food or
poison, its consumption was productive
Of physical and mental degeneracy.
Certainly" he said. Its old time 'habi-
tat as a stimulant' has been cleaned
out; utterly routed. Instead of being a
preventive of any disease 1t Is the best
possible persuader of all diseases, be-
cause it lowers the opsonic index and
the body resistance. That 1t hastens a
fatal termination of all brain, pulmo-
nary, kidney. liver and circulatory dis
has it place In medicine, except to
occupy the nurse in rubbing it on the
outside of the body?"
Should Prohibit Its Use.
He spoke Of the damaging effects of
even small quantities of alcohol "As
guardians Of the public health there is
but one attitude for the medical profess
sion to take upon this subject of alco-
hol-that is it's prohibitive use. No
compromise will effect the desired end"
Such '-insidious and malevolent ten
denotes of the profession" as fee split
ting or, commission paying, the speaker
attacked with force. THE instinct
which prompts a surgeon to offer a fee
or to bride the family physician for re-
ferring patients to him Is purely COM
mercial and 1t is most deadening to
professional idealism. It is an instinct
to build up by the power Of the al
mighty dollar and not by high merit. A
profession standing for high ideals and
purporting to be humanitarian in char
acter cannot long maintain Its position
before the public when such method
becomes known"