New Britain herald., 1922-02-03

sgem to the luyman to be their duty to do go Such conservative physicians would not think Of advertising to the world, or what would probably offend their scnsihililles more, of advertising to their arquaintanees that they were pecuhurly well fitted to handle q eer- Itgln disease, Vet such physicians, huNing discovered some cure for q disease, would deem it absolutely hcnnlrary to their Ideals as physicians to hold back such discovery and not make il known for the benefit of suf- ferers of humanity,
 Human life Is being prolonged, Many formerly fatal diseases have been changed 10 that recovery there from Is now the rule rather than the exception, Freely 1t Is stated that certain lisrases would be stamped out completely if knowledge of them and and their cure were general The ethi- cal rule that physicians may not ad- vcrtisc and stlll be recognized as men of proper standing in the profession makes for ignorance.and physicians will agree that ignorance is diseases most loyal ally.
 The medical profession has no right to take this stand, old and as absurd as the old-time habit of keep young people in ignorance of the things q Iknowledgc Of which might prevent a ruined life.
 It may be said that all this is true; that people should know of these things, of the cures being made, of the suffering being alieviated, but that such knowledge should come through some federal state or municipal chan enl Thus, it might be said, the proper rule of physicians that they must re- frain from advertising might be main- tained.
 The fault with this argument is that such knowledge coming from the gov ernment would not be needed as it would if brought to peoples attention by the men who stand ready to make those cures, to alleviate that suffer- ing. Indirect advertising of the first named character pays in some cases. But the direct, strong, impressive word of man to man found in a direct state ment to the people is the only sort that would give the information which would be of such inestimable value to humanity
 There may be a question raised as to the good taste displayed by phy- sician who boldly asserts that he can cure disease A newspapers taste Imay be questioned for advocating ad- vertising. The physician makes his liv- ing through treatment of disease; the newspaper exists because of it's ad- vertising.
 But there are matters which tram |SCend even good taste. II d man sees another dying he has no right to stop
 to wonder if he is properly clothed before he goes to that mans rescue. If a newspaper sees some evil which it may help destroy it should not re- frain from speaking because it may be accused of ulterior or selfish mo- tive. Men and publicity organs should be bigger than that
 False modesty, pretense, adherence
 to old rules which have no good reason
 for existence should fall before the
 greater desire to spread knowledge to the end that disease may be con- quered. And the fact that physicians will profit by advertising must not be held up against them. It will be - hard for many to break the old rule; many will shrink from doing so Only when the most idealistic oi them sec it as their duty will they join in the custom which is bound te come, letting the old, conservative
 dignity of modesty pass just as mucf s of the worlds disease will pass under the new light of knowledge that il Il bound to come.