Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-04
The HQskin Letter '' ' : Rss21
DOCTORS ATTACK vOLsTEAD LAW

men of national and international
reputation. They are established in
the hospitals and medical schools of
New York and all are of middle age
or older.
That deliberation has characterized
the movement is attested by the fact
that it was started fully IS months
ago when eight prominent physicians
addressed a communication to the
members of their profession. Dis
claiming any intention of initiating a
propaganda for or against prohibition.
and declaring it to be immaterial
whether a physician does or does not
believe in prohibition, they asserted
that the point at issue is the right
of the physician to select his remedies
and decide what doses of those
remedies each patient should have.
Law Denies This Right
The yolstead act denies this
right" said the address. While rec
ognizing the medicinal value of alco-
hol, it says to the physician, Thou
shalt not give more than a pint of
whisky or brandy to any patient
within 10 days Further than this,
statements given by persons interested
in promoting similar legislation con-
tain the threat to prohibit altogether
the medicinal use of alcohol. While
there is a difference of opinion among
the physicians of the country with
respect to the therapeutic value of
alcohol, the number of those having
faith in it is sufficiently large to re
ceiye attention.
The medicinal restrictions OF the
Folstead act constitute an Indictment
of the integrity of the whole medical
profession, in that it is assumed that
many of its members, unless re-
strained by law, will pander for gain
to the peoples desire 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 q criminal by the
mere fact Of writing a prescription for
more than a pint of whisky for Il
patient within 10 days, and so far as
the revocation of his permit is con
cerned, is denied his constitutional
right Of trial by jury.
The precedent established by the
| Volstead act in restricting medical
practice should, if physicians value
their therapeutic liberty, be met with
a protest which will command atten-
ton. Today, it is alcohol. tomorrow it
may be any remedy which falls I'M
der the ban"
However. it is not 10 be concluded
that all physicians are up in arms
! against the Volstead law. In June,
, 1917, after DIR. Charles II. Mayo. the
! well known surgeon Of Rochester,
Mimi, had made Il strong address
~favoring prohibition. the house Of dele
gates of the American Medical asso-
citation adopted resolutions stating
that the use of alcohol is detrimental
TO the human economy and its use in
therapeutics as a tonic stimulant or
for food has no scientific value, and
! placing the association on record as
opposing the use of alcohol as a bev-
erage and discouraging its use as a
therapeutic agent.
This led to a questIonnalre under
the auspices Of The Journal Of the
/ American Medical Association which
was sent to more than $1,000 physi-
clans throughout the United States.
Approximately So per cent Of these
ubysicians voted in this referendum,
and in response TO the question as to
, whether they regarded whisky as a
necessary therapeutic agent in the
practice of medicine, 81 per cent Of
those voting answered yes, and 4a
per cent answered no.
Nothing has been said by or for tbs
new association to indicate whether
it will make Il fight for the amend.
ment of the Volstead act in event the
courts uphold its constitutionality with
respect to its Restrictions upon physi-
clans.
That is a bridge to be crossed after F.;
decision has been handed down in the
Ease brought in New York.
Meanwhile. prohibition will continue
to hold its pre-eminence as the most
discussed subject in the United
States. the weather not even excepted