Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1922-01-27
Referendum on Alcohol
Results as Summed Up Prom
Answers by the Physicians.
(From the Journal OF the American Medical
Assoeiation1

|
In hearings before congress, IN tic discussion
OF regulations issued by the Internal Revenue de-
paFtmsht ~ Tact, in practically every discussion
| OF prohibition, contradictory statements have
been made as TO the views OF physicians on the
value OF alcoholic beverages as therapeutic
agents. Several scientific organizations have
! adopted resolutions on the subject, So lar as We
know, however, no attempt has heretofore been
made 10 ascertain IN direct way the opinions
OF any considerable number OF physicians,
Moreover, the medical association has been
subjected 10 rideule and criticism on account Of
the actions OF small number OF lis members
/ who are abusing their privileges and who have
assumed position in the public eye not efeda-
bic 10 the profession as a whole. II therefore
seemed worth while TO obtain the views OF a large
number OF physicians regarding tho effect on
medical practice OF the present regulations; 90
discover whether or not conditions might be ini-
| proved, and II so, how.
In order 10 secure the views OF a representa-.
| tive portion OF the medical profession a ques-
| tionnaire was sent 10 more than one-third-5S,-
| vOO-of the physicians OF the United States, OF
these, $4,000 were selected by arbitrarily taking
every other name on the mailing list OF the
Journal. In towns in which there was only ono
physician the QUESTIONABLE was sent 10 that ply
stefan, In addition, the QUESTIONABLE was sent
10 10000 physicians who were neither members
OF the organization nor subscribers 20 the
Journal These names were selected in a similar
manner, but from the medical directory.
The excellent response, reaching IS per cent
OF replies and representing 2l.s per cent OF the
physicians OF the country, percentage OF return
seldom attained by the QUESTIONABLE method. has
been gratifying as an indication OF the interest
taken by our profession in this attempt TO secure
an adequate expression OF its views.
As might have been expected the Journal
has been accused by many OF preparing these
,,sbo "a tf, ,pt. nt
and an equal number have asserted just as en-
phatically that the questions were intended as
the opening wedge Tor breaking down prohibit
iron.
Some have taken exception TO the word
necessary" claiming that no drugs arc abso-
lutely necessary and that desirable or "ad-
visable" would have been better word for the
purpose. This point was given careful consd-
Grafton in formulating the question. Moreover.
the word necessary is used in the national
prohibition act itself (section 7, TitleID;
). And no physician shall prescribe
liquor unless after careful physical examination
OF the person Tor whose use such prescription
is sought. Or if such examination is found i'm
practicable, then upon the best information OBJ
tainable he in good faith believes that the use
of such liquor as a medicine by such person is
necessary and will afford relief to him for some
known ailment.
The word advisable" or desirable would |
perhaps, too strong; necessary does not mean |
indispensable. and it was properly regarded by |
practically all who answered the QUESTIONABLE.
The criticism has been made that the question |
as to whether whisky is a necessary therapeutic
agent is scientific one and can not be decided
by resolutions or by votes. This is true; and the
referendum was to secure the opinions OF ply
sicians on the subject, not to decide a scientific
question 1t is granted that the physiologc ef-
fects of alcohol are matters which may be de-
termined in the laboratory; but therapeutics is
the application of such findings to the treatment
of disease as determined by the opinions OF ply
the opinions necessarily arc based
on experience and discretionary be de-
termined, as has been done, By the QUESTIONABLE.
Approximately one-third OF those replying
the general prohibition SITUATION
on the restrictions and regulations, or on some
allied topics The more interesting OF these COM
,nents have been published in connection with
reports on the individual states. Many OF the
views brought out in the comments OF value
to those who interested in the subject from
the sociological or from any other point of view.
For instance: Since national prohibition went
into effect, Judging by these comments there has
apparently been reaction against prohibition in
many states in which prohibition by state law
had become accepted and effective. This is es-
peciay noticeable in the comments from Colo
RADIO, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, |
and even from Maine. From the conf
ments, one must come to the conclusion that
homemade illegally distilled or chemically COM
pounded liquors--so-caled "noonshine
being extensively used in states in which this was
not the case three or four years ago. What has
produced this apparent change?
The QUESTIONABLE has brought out definitely
the fact that the present regulations governing
the medicinal use of alcoholic beverages are not
fact, many physicians declared
them "intolerable" Many who were convinced
that these drugs not necessary therapeutic
ally were emphatic in stating that other ply
sicians who believed them necessary were en-
titled to have their views respected, and were
warranted in efforts to have the drugs made
available without mourning the odium attaching
under the present regulations.
Evidently most physicians are satisfied with
the control of narcotics as regulated under the
Harrison narcotic law, and many expressed a
desire that the control of alcoholic liquors follow
such lines. A decidedly large number OF ply
'icans suggest that the government take over the
whisky, including its storage and sale, and sup
ply it in sealed packages-say of 8, Is and 81
medicinal use only, and at fixed !
price, under regulations similar to those of the
Harrison narcotic law, thus making available to ,
physicians drug of dependable quality. t