The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-01
Frederick Haskin's Letter
Doctors Attack Iolstead Lau

tional and international rep,t,,,,.
They are established in Ia
pitfalls and medical schools ot w ~
York and all are OF middle ., w.
older. ~ y
That deliberation has ch,nu
ICED the movement is attest,S ~, :
the fact that it was started mn. y
months ago when eight pror;s =
physicians addressed a commra; ls
ton to the members of thei, -
fession. Disclaiming any ip,s.s,s ~
of initiating a propaganda - oa
against prohibition, and der,,.,s
it to be imma,erial whether ,
stefan does or does not be,,s,s
prohibition, they asserted that "a
point at issue is the right Of W.
physician to select his rem.a,. ~
and decide what doses Of in
remedies each patient should bs,s
Law Denies This Right
1.-THE Volstead act denies ~.
right" said the address. 4WSas
recognizing the medicinal yahs '.
alcohol, it says to the pbys,Si,ss'
Thou shalt not give more thss
pint of whisky or brandy to anv NJ
tient within 10 days Further ,har
this, statements given by persoss
interested in promoting similar ls,.
islation contain the threat to nrs
hibit altogether the medicinal mss =,
alcohol. While there is diiferenss
of opinion among the physicians At
the country with respect to tbs
therapeutic value of alcohol ths
number of those having faith IN i
is sufficiently large to receive Al.
tention.
"The medicinal restrictions n
the Volstead act constitute an in.
dictment of the integrity Of The
whole medical profession, in that
1t is assumed that many of Its mem.
bers, unless restrained by law, will
pander for gain to the peoples de.
sire for drink.
Further, it should be pointed out
that the Volstead act contains the
most drastic Legislation affecting
the medical profession yet enacted.
A physician becomes criminal by
the mere fact Of writing a prescrip-
ton for more than a pint Of whisky
, for one patient within 10 days, and
so far as the revocation Of his per.
nit is concerned, is denied his con.
! stitutional right of trial by jury
THE precedent established by TIL
/ Volstead act in restricting nledica
practice should, if physicians yslu
/ their therapeutic liberty, be ,tne
! with a protest which will comman'
! attention. Today. it is alcohol, to
morrow it may be any remed
which falls under the ban."
| However, it is not to be conclud
ed that all physicians are up
arGs against the Volstead law, !
June, 1917, after DR. Charles I
Mayo, the well known surgeon
Rochester. Mimi, had made str0r
address favoring prohibition, Il
house of delegates of the America
| Medical association adopted resol1
tions stating that the use OF ale
hoI is detrimental to the humi
economy and its use is therapeutl
as a tonic stimulant or for food n
no scientific value, and placing L
! association on record as opposil
| the use of alcohol as a beverage a.
discouraging its use as a tneI
! peutic agent.
/ This led TO a QUESTIONABLE und
the auspices of The Journal Of
| American Medical association Whl
was sent to more than $4,000 phys
ians throughout the United stale
| Approximately IS per cent
these physicians voted In tins rel'
j endum, and in response to the CUE
ton as to whether they regard
/. whisky as a necessary therapea
agent in the practice OF m'Slcil
4 81 per cent Of those voting q
| swered yes, and 40 per cent
swered no.
! Nothing has been said by or
| the new association to l'sllcs
whether it will make a fight
the amendment of the Folstead
j.. in event the courts Uphold us c'
stitutionality with the respect 10
; restrictions upon physicians,
That is bridge TO be cross
after a decision has been manu-
down in the case brought IN -
, York.
, Meanwhile, prohibition VIII CT
tinue to hold its pre-emlnence
| the most discussed subject III
United States, the weather nol e'
: excepted.