The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-01

tors are after the Volstead law in
sofar as the prohibition enforce
ment act interferes with or regu-
lates the practice Of medicine. Suit
has been brought in the United
States district court in New York
to annul the provisions OF. the law
that restrict physicians to limit
ed amount of whisky or other alco-
holic beverages in the treatment OF
sick persons, and it is announced
that the case will be carried to the
supreme court of the United States
for a final decision.
Preliminary to this action the
New York physicians organized the
Association for the Protection OF
Constitutional Rights, and it is
stated that similar bodies will be
formed in other cities and states to
cooperate in the fight The gentle
men of the medical profession say
they have been silent too long under
the injustices of the Volstead law
and that they purpose a campaign
that will at least be instructive to
the general public even il it does
not result in a modification of the
statute which they find obnoxious.
There is no connection between
this new association and any lay
organization or any movement that
is opposed to prohibition. In fact,
it is said that Some of the doctors
are themselves ardent prohibition
lists. 1t happens, however, that
they are equally ardent in cpposl-
ton to any governmental interfer-
ence with their methods of practia-
ing therapeutics. That is something
that congress is not supposed to
know anything about.
In commenting upon the resort
to the courts one of the officers Of
the association said that there was
nothing hasty or ill-consfdered
about it. They had pondered over
the problem for months with grow
ing irritation, for they had wit
messed needless suffering and
threatened death or else had delib-
erately violated q law which they
look upon as stupid and unjust.
| The law says that a physician
may not prescribe more than a
pint of whisky or brandy for a pa
tient within Today period. The
doctors claim the right to prescribe
as much more in that period as
their Judgment and knowledge OF
medicine tells them the patient re-
quires, and they contend that nc
one but physician is competent
Judge of what that requirement
may be.
Lawmakers Practced Medicine.
When congress passed the Vol
stead act the lawmakers were
undertaking to practice medicine
according to the doctors, and were
assuming to know more about whai
patient needs than his physician
This is regarded by them as the
vulnerable feature OF the law and
the one which the courts will MOI
uphold.
\ The method of presenting the
case so as to insure reasonably
speedy judicial determination was
simple. Upon petition OF attorneys
representing DR.. Samuel W. Lam
bert. Dean Emeritus of the College
of Physicians and Surgeons of Co
lumbia University, subpoenas wert
issued by the clerk of the United
States district court requiring Ed
ward C. Yellowley, acting prohibi'
j ton director for New York; Davit
IT D,,;r- ,o,,p,;pyiopar Cf iDtprpa
revenue, and William Hayward
United States attorney for that dis
trict, to appear before the court ant
show cause why the provisions o
laws enacted under the Eighteenth
amendment insofar as they relat
to physicians in the practice o
medicine should not be judicial.
declared imperative.
DIR. Lambert is the president o
} the new organization formed b,
the doctors, and his associate Off
Gals are DR.. James F. McKernon
vice president; Dr. Warren Cole
man. secretary; DR.. Frederic (
Sondern, treasurer, and Drs. Nathal
E. Brill, William X. Draper, Charlie
l.. Dana, F. T. Gorton and ]. Bent
ley Squier, executive committee
man.
Dignity and Importance ar
claimed for the movement on tn
strength of the personnel of the as
ISOLATION. It's members are me
mature in judgment and experience
, and all are said to be men OF ma