The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1921-06-17
THERAPEUTIC SOCIETY QUESTIONS RIGHT
OF STATE TO REGULATE PRESCRIPTIONS
Exclusive Society of Medical Men Vote Petition President
Prohibition Commissioner Lift Ban Prescriptions; Init
Principle Stake Endorse Medical Alcohol

The American Therapeutic Society
on June ) after debate in executive
council decided to petition the Presi-
dent of the United States, the variou:
committees of Congress and the Pro
hibition enforcement officer to lay
aside all rigid restrictions which now
prevent physicians from administer.
ing or prescribing alcohol unless
they are branded as potential boot
leggers." The action was taken al
the twenty-second annual meeting Of
the society assembled at the Airing
ton Hotel Washington, d. c. The
supporters of the resolution which
opposes the manner in which physi
clans are restricted by the Prohibi-
ton enforcement officers were led by
DR.. Jacob Diner of New York City
specialist on internal diseases. A
memoranda prepared by DR.. Diner
says:
Appeal to President
alcohol is drug with a definite
action. drug that is useful in many
conditions. 1t is not only useful but
it is necessary in the treatment oil
certain diseases. 1t is also useful
from the surgical standpoint. Be il
therefore resolved,
That physicians and surgeons
should have the uniinpaired right OF
prescribing this drug without any
foolish restrictions. We do not mean
that we approve of liquor prescribing
physicians nor do we wish to inter
fere with or violate the Prohibition
Amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States, but we do maintain
that no legislative body or enforce
mcnt authority should limit or ham,
per a doctor in the Legitimate prac-
tice or legitimate exercise of his func-
tons as a physician.
There have been eminent men OF
the profession who proved conclu-
sively that alcohol has its beneficial
effect or gastric conditions, on the
proper function OF metabolism-which
has to do with the building up and
breaking down of tissue-and that
alcohol is also beneficial in conditions
such as diabetes, sugar in the blood
In many instances alcohol has warded
off fatal termination of diabetic con-
ditions.
at is therefore logical that the
American Therapeutic Society conf
posed OF men who make their life
work the study OF preventive medi-
cine, should take action at this. time
and call upon the President OF the
United States and the various inter.
ested committees OF Congress along
with the various enforcement socie.
ties, for relief from the provisions that
are hampering them in the practice Of
their profession"
Not in Accord With American Medi.
cal Association
In as much as it is a well-knowr
fact that the American Medical As.
ISOLATION, the most important and the
most representative organization Of
physicians and surgeons in the United
States, has gone on record opposing
alcohol as medicine Git admits it:
possible value in the treatment Of
certain ailments but points to the fac
that in such cases there are substi
tutes for alcohol just as effective ant
devoid of the dangers accompanying
the use OF alcohoD, the action of the
Therapeutic Society no doubt will
confuse many people. Furthermore
il is a well-known fact that the Off
cial journal OF the American Medica
Association has taken high ground ii
the matter of enforcement of thu
Prohibition law and has supported
unqualihedly the regulations govern
ing the prescribing of alcohol unde
the terms of the Volstead Act. Ii
fact, this journal has nade it plaii
that it is TO the best interests of th'
physicians themselves not to take per
mits for the prescribing OF alcohol
Naturally people interested in TIL
subject of medicinal beer and tn
right of physicians TO prescrib
whisky, will wonder why this differ
ence of opinion of these two medica
societies.
At least a partial accounting 70