New-York tribune., 1922-11-19
Sue to
Lift Rum Limit
For Patients
Organization Here Files
Action in Federal Court
TO End the Restrictions,
Terming Them Stupid
''Insult'' to the Profession
Declare Provision Concern
ing Alcohol for Illness
Hits Honor of Physicians

The medical profession Yesterday
made Its first concerted move against
the sections of the prohibition laws
regulating liquor prescriptions, when
injunction proceedings were begun in
the Federal Court, to restrain United
States Attorney Hayward, Prohibition
Director Yellowley and Internal
Revenue Commissioner Blair from en-
forcing these provisions of the
statutes. The papers were filed by DR..
Samuel w. Lambert as president of the
Association for the Protection of Con-
l;stitutional Rights, which was origi-
mated largely for this purpose last
February. Its membership includes
about 100 Of the best known practicing
physicians and surgeons in the city.
Leaders in the movement emphati-
cally denied yesterday that the or
ganization as whole is in any way
opposed TO prohibition as it applies
to liquor for beverage purposes. It's
members, it was said, are uninimous
only in the believ that Congress has
no right to regulate their descriptions
and methods of treatment and in re-
senting the suggestion implied in the
Volstead act that doctors would put
themselves on par with bootleggers
by prescribing liquor in cases where
it is not necessary.
Limitations Are Stupid"
"The limitations on the medical pro-
fession of pint day is stupid" was
DR.. Lambert's concise statement last
night on the reasons for forming the
association. ~ don't believe there is
a single doctor handling severe fever
cases to-day who is not breaking the
law. The ordinary prescription Of
alcohol for a fever patient is mini
mum of two ounces day, and that
would make pint in eight days.
Doctors don't like breaking the law,
and this thing should be settled"
Turning from the practical to the
constitutional side of the question, DR..
Lambert said simply that the associa-
tion believes the Eighteenth Amend
ment was passed as measure to stop
the sale of liquor for beverage pur-
poses and was never intended to inter-
| fere with the proper treatment of dis
eases. This contention is amplified and
rephrased in the injunction application
and will eventually be passed upon by
the Supreme Court in Washington if
| the plans of DIR. Lambert and his asso-
ciates carry through.
| Although the Association for the
Protection of Constitutional Rights
was formed nine months ago, it's ex-
| istence was kept as complete secret
as its aims and membership until the
filing of the papers yesterday. The
| skeleton of, the organization was made
public after the injunction applica-
| tion had become matter of court rec
ord.
| May Be Permanent Organization
| DR. Lambert, himself one of the best
known diagnosticians in the country,
is president. +. Warren Coleman, spe-
cialist in internal medicine, is secre-
tary With them are associated Dr.
Samuel A. Brown, dean of the New
York University Medical School; DR.,
| William Darrah, dean of the Columbia
| University Medical Schools DR.. Her
mann M. Bibbs, president of the State
| Medical Board; DR.. George E. Brewer
surgeon; DIR. Harlow Brooks, diagnos-
tician; r. Cornelius G. Coakley, nose
and throat specialist; DR.. Charles L.
Dana, neurologist, and DR.. Max Fin
horn. stomach specialist.
| Other doctors included in the or
ganization are ]. Clifton Edgar, OBJ
Austin Flint, John A. Fordyce, War.
cine at Johns Hopkins University
Menas S. Gregory, of Bellevue; Graeme
| M. Hammond, Reginald H. Sayre, Ed.
ward L. Keyes jr., Charles H. Chet
wood, former president of the New
fCoatJnued On baae t,xeIye,