The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-30
John BarIeyCOrn
And Influenza
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
tcopyrighs By Tho Intelltseneer1

UASHIEGTON. \. c. Jan cs.-ltS :
al vary well 10 permit hospitals to lay
N a supply OF alcoholic liquors with
which to treat influenza patients put
how about the thousands OF victims
abo ars conHnsd to their homes and
ahose physlCians have had ana may
have difticulty tndinS drug stores win
a stock Of such StimulantS:
INQUIRY at the legal department OF tne
Internal ReHeSue otnce nero wa ~
forcement Of the prohibition law yieia-
ed me some pertinent information as 10
tho manner in which tho law Is oelns
construed as we'll as the IeSai nie'n%u
By which the wants OF anyoooy "a lle
or any other ailment FOR which phySi-
clan declares alcohol is necessary as
medicine can be supplied.
The process is this: ANY PnySISla't
who sets forth under oath that ne heeu'
alcohol whether IN the toNn OF ocH-
erare or anything else and makes the
proper atiddavit before United states
attorney can get the liquor Inc ln1-
ted States Attorney OF course must ap-
plr 10 the Federal court In his Jurtsulc,
ton for the necessary PERMISSION ano
~ there is an available supply IN the
hands Of the Collector OF Internal rev
enue, obtained through CouhScation. the
. court may require the collector 20 sci!
TO physicians or 10 drug stores VINO hold
permits for the sale or dlstrioutioh VI
alcoholic medicines.
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 couIo get II
from any collector OF internal revenue
who happens to be nearest any camp or
port. Also IL Is quite probable that the
American Red Cross would be construct
70 be- government agency. The Red
Cross hitherto has not supplied meul>
cines 10 influenza patients out mas con
hrmed itself 10 the distribution OF
gauze masks and nurses. But it would
sppear 70 be possible for the Red Cross
TO obtain a supply OF liquor for distriou-
ton in needy cases. though this point
u Sxtll under discussion at the mead
quarters OF the Red Cross and at TINS
writing no decision. has oeen reScne9:
Clearly whether agents or the ked
Cross or physicians obtained liquor from
the Federal courts, they would be legal
iy responsible for any abuse OF the
privilege and subject to tho penaltles
imposed by the court.
Where would the courts 1nd supply
OF Houor for distribution TO agencies
that should have II? There are thous-
pnds OF gallons contiscated right along
by the Collectors OF Internal Revenue
everywhere Liquor sent by express or
otherwise under false pretences or
smuKgled In trunks or suitcases and
laft By the owners who fear the conse-
ouences Of claiming their property
passes into the hands or the government
NJ the end Of sixty days. And ~ there
Is an epidemic in Oklahoma and tho Col
ieetor Of Internal Revenue has no liquor
on hand. the Federal court can AJAX him
TO obtain the same from some other IN
Sernal revenue district. say New Iork
or CHICAGO where quantity on hand may
be transferred to the point where II Is
most needed.
OF course. medical opinions differ as
Al the offices Of the United States Pub
lie Health Service no official opinion has
BEEN rendered and probably Will not be-
Il was said however, that the princt-
pal physicians there did not consider
alcohol necessary in the treatment OF
Influenza or pneumonia but that II
might be useful in handling patients
who had been accustomed to the use OF
alcohol.
When ;hc prohi bit.on laws were under
consideration BY Congress. the question
Of IN. u~" al alcohol as medicine was
debated from every angle. Physicians
iid not seem I" agree. one member of
Congress oppressed il this way:
1T you put all IN" physicians OF the
country IN one room. one third Of the
number NIGH say alcohol was unneces-
snrv IN treating their patients and an
other thlrd might say Il was necessary
and sun another third might be on the
fence and would not commit themselves.
Even doctors uE the same school have
dr1. r.d uu n" subject. Therefor. the
SAFEST thing 10 dn - 1" let Those phys
,.nn> who Say - IS Indispensable 10 their
Orurt 80 have AZ
Thr"iehuur the government there
sccul> ," b.. however Il timidIty about
e>prrS, INK n opinion for ny against tho
as or rlruhni a. n ,n"GIcin". Whether
IL is f,;lr rf tho wrath "f tn" Anti-Sa-
loru I..rGr.,. Wu'vh has marShatlHd con-
S.drrah.. Iu.,Il".'l testimony L. the effect
'hrt 'tl,uAu' ., UuH.'c"~Sary or whether
Z - ;;.rIu'u. doubt Is hard IL say. Any
WAY. th, -"g,rum"ut - putting no OBJ
starlc ta th" pI'h - those physicians
rShv r,Gulr, u t"- their patients and j.
ruu~iri!.lrua; -'."rlvu 'U"nty-S"N"n Of thr
Prohibition law in a manner that will
prrul.i ,"dI, ',ua!S wh"th.r IN Hospitals
or .lScv h"r" :" obtain LIQUOR. Officials
m III. treasury SAID hat = lives could
he sa,,d ~ th"ir CO.. operation 'hcS
,vouIl 10 thtnE they could u ""-oper
otr rh.E c.,N" tho impression, more.
Over, 'h:t; 'h.v did not want to face ths
anger - 'i.isvriui'S Whose relatives
nigh. y, "t the ~! or pneumonia and
who N"'.il f"rHr"r entertain Nh, idea
th.; uu>~e..rn II Snr1n nlcohOl.C s,jnnu
LAM mi-h' hav.. avcrt"d death There
are rarr psvpl" h"r" who 'hink tho Rad
Cross ought :" iJhe UP n whole thlnG
md no. only make alcohol promp;ly
sva'lehls evsrvwh"rs I" rhos.. physicians
yyhn nd -. hut prevent druS stores
rrrnr -Ai!trg arbitrary prices or the
small uuautIt..~ rhcy have on hand