The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-30
How LIQUOR CAN
; Be SUPPLIED FOR
INFLUENZA CASES
Physician Must Make Oath He
Needs Alcohol and U. S. At.
torney Must Get Permis-
sion.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent Of The News
Seimltar.l

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-It's all very
Wen TO permit hospitals to lay in a
supply OF alcoholic liquors with which
no treat influenza patients, but how
about the thousands OF victims who are
confined to theirSh and whose ply
Siclans have had and may have diff
Guilty finding drug stores with stock
/of such stimulants?
Inquiry at the legal department of the
internal revenue office here, where d.
Iections are given for the national en-
loF' ement OF the prohibition law, yielded
!. some pertinent information as to the
manner In which the law Is being con-
strued as well as the legal method by
which the wants of anybody in the
United States suffering from influenza
or any other ailment for which ply
stefan declares alcohol Is necessary as
medicine can be supplied.
The process Is this: Any physician,
who sets forth under oath that he
needs alcohol, whether in the form of
beverage or anything else, and makes
the proper affidavit before United
States attorney can get the liquor. The
United States attorney, of course, must
apply to the federal court in his juris-
diction Nor the necessary permission
and If there is an available supply In
the hands of the collector of internal
revenue, obtained through confiscation,
the court may require the collector to
sell to physicians or to drug stores
who hold permits for the sale or dis
tribution Of alcoholic medicines.
Government Agency"
Under the law the United States
court may authorize the grant of liquor
free of charge to any government
agency Thus the army or navy could
get it from any collector of internal
revenue who happens to be nearest any
camp or port. Also, it is quite probable
that the American Red Cross would be
.. l. GIonyr ant ap NV -
The Red Cross hitherto has not supplied
medicines to influenza patients, but has
confined itself to the distribution OF
gauze masks and to furnishing nurses.
But it would appear to be possible
for the Red Cross to obtain supply of
liquor for distribution in needy cases,
though this point is still under discus
sion at the headquarters of the Red
Cross and at this writing no decision
has been reached.
Clearly, whether agents of the Red
Cross or physicians obtained liquor
from the federal courts, they would be
legally responsible for any abuse Of the
privilege and subject to the penalties
imposed by the court. Where would
the courts find supply Of hquor. Tor
distribution to agencies that should
/. have It? There are thousands of gal
Ions conflscated right along by the
collectors Of internal revenue every
where Liquor sent by express or other.
wise under false pretenses. or smuggled
in trunks or suitcases and left by the
owners who fear the consequences OF
clairIins their property, passes into the
hands Of the government at the end Of
60 DAYS.
And IL there is an epidemic In Okla
Soma and the collector of internal reVe-
nue. has no liquorson hand, the federal
court can ask him to obtain the same
from some other internal revenue dis
trict. say New York or Chicago where
any quantity on hand may be transfer
red to the point where II Is most
needed
Opinions Differ.
OF course, medical opinions differ as
to the value of alcohol as q medicine
At the offices Of the United States pub
lie health service no official opinion has
been rendered and probably will not be
1t was said, however. that the principa
physicians there did not consider alco-
hol necessary in the treatment OF influ-
en5a or pneumonia, but it might be use
accustomed to the use of alcohol Wher
the prohibition laws were under consid'
GRAFTON by congress the question OF the
use of alcohol as medicine was de.
bated from every angle. Physicians die
congress- expressed 1t this way:
"If you put all the physicians of thu
country In one room. one-third OF tht
number might say alcohol was unneces-
sary in treating their patients and an.
" and still another third might be on thu
fence, and would. not commit them
selves Even doctors Of the same sChoo
have differed on the subject. Therefore
the safest thing to do is to let those
physicians who say 1t is indispensable
to their practice have it."
Governments Attitude.
throughout the government ther'
seems to be, however, timidity abou
' expressing an opinion for or against thu
use Of alcohol as medicine Whethe
league, which has marshaled consider
able medical testimony to the effec
that alcohol is unnecessary, or whethe
it is genuine doubt Is hard to say.
Anyway the government is putting nj
obstacle in the path Of those physician
constituting section q of the prohibition
law in a manner that will permit indi
yiduals, whether in hospitals or else
where, to obtain liquor.
Officials at the treasury said that
lives could be saved by their co-opera
tion they would do anything they coul,
to cooperate. They gave the impress
sion, moreover. that they did not wan
to face the anger of individuals who's
relatives might die of the FLU G
pneumonia, and who would forever en-
terrain the idea that possession of som
alcoholic stimulant might have averter
death. There are many people her
who think the Red Cross ought TO TAX
up the whole thing and not only max
alcohol promptly available everywher
prevent drug stores from setting arbi
trary prices on the small quantitie
they have on hand.
Copyright. 1920, by David Lawrence.