Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-06
American Association Head
Says Complete Freedom
Is Unlikely.
COMMITTEE TO REPORT
AFTER EXHAUSTIVE STUDY
Profession and Public Protection
Held Necessary-Subject Is
Described as "Vexing."

prescribing AlCOnOl CdIlIlOL DC eHpeCbtu
at this time DR.. william Gerry Morgan
president Of the American Medical As
ISOLATION, told the Medical Society OF
the District of Columbia at it annual
meeting today.
committee of the association, DR.
Morgan explained, now is at work on
draft of regulations which will meet the
approval of prohibition authorities, and
which afterward will be submitted as
an amendment to the Volstead act, the
object OF which will be to give the in
dividual physician much greater free
dom than is accorded him under the
present law.
Measures Held Necessary.
After long and exhaustive study OF
the situation as it applies to medicinal
alcohol" DR.. Morgan said, Il have come
to the conclusion that some regulatory
measures for the safeguarding of the
profession, as we'll as the public, are
still vitality necessary. l would that the
situation were otherwise, but 1t is nee
esSary for Us to recognize conditions as
they are and map a course Of action in
accordance Herewith.
Perhaps no questi vexing the pro-
fession during the p st half century
has been so critically studied by the
board Of trustees of the American Med
ical Association. feel certain that they
are in whole hearted accord with the
desire of the profession to be relieved OF
all Gripping restrictions to the daily
practise of medicine. However, after
considering every conceivable angle OF
this question they are forced to recog-
nize that We cannot get through Con-
gress a bill which does not carry with 1t
protective regulation. / emphasize this
in order that we may all be prepared to
accept the final conclusions which come
from the trustees and be prepared to
present the backing of the solidifed
sentiment of the profession"
1t was not the original intent OF the
trainers OF the eighteenth amendment
to interfere with medical practice, DR..
Morgan said. Only after alleged abuses
had been reported was any restriction
placed upon prescriptions.
Bill Being Drafted.
The committee appointed by the
trustees OF the association, under au-
thority of a resolution adopted at the
1925 convention, DR.. Morgan said. lis
in the process OF drafting bill. together
with regulatory provisions looking to-
ward the removing of the restrictions
imposed by Congress on the practice of
medicine, the medicinal alcohol item
being but incidental to the basic prin-
ciple involved.
II want 20 emphasize again and
again" DR.. Morgan said, that 1t is not
primarily the medicinal alcohol regula-
lions that we are fighting, but the much
more basic principle of freeing the pro-
fession from humiliating Gripping and
unnecessary restrictions in the pursuit
of our calling Different groups in the
practice of medicine differ widely in
their attitude toward the use OF alco-
hol, each group having logical rea-
son for its belief. This divergence Of
opinion should not ALLEVIATE the support
Of any group in this fight for the es-
Enlistment of a basic principle"
The House Of Delegates Of the Amer
lean Medical Association, DR.. Morgan
said, repeatedly has emphasized that it
is not concerned with prohibition itself
as an issue. but only with such parts of
the Volstead act as might actually pre-
vent a physician from acting on his
best Judgment in treating an individual
patient. ANY such prohibition" he
said. lis a reproach to our profession. "
The honor of the profession. DR..
Morgan emphasized, is in the keeping
Of every individual physician. even with
the present restricted privileges OF pre-
scribing alcohol. When he accepts
license to prescribe alcohol. DR.. Morgan
said, he becomes, in the eye OF the law,
a public officer to the extent that he is
permitted to dispense an article for the
public good which no other class OF So
ciety has the right to do"
Must Act Temporarily.
I'm seeking relief from Congress" ne
continued, 1T will be necessary to con-
vince that body that the removal OF
such restrictions will promote SOUND
medical practice and that their removal
will not facilitate evil practices. We
must continue to act temporarily but
firmly and demand Of Congress the
rights which are ours. We have in our
keeping the honor of the profession and
when a substs initial number Of that pro-
fession does believe Fundamentally in
the use of alcohol in the practise OF
medicine and their right to that use is
denied by Congress we are summoned
TO decisive action"
The annual meeting of the society
opened with an address by DR.. William
II. Hough, president, after which scien-
tfic papers were read by Dr.. w. Warren
Sager, DR.. Walter Freeman. Dr. Alexan-
der B. Moore, DR.. Harry H. Kerr, DR.
Joseph J. Mundell DR.. J. Russell Yer
brycke, IT.. Dr. w. Calhoun Stirling
all OF Washington, and DR.. John B
Deaver of Philadelphia.
Plan Hospital Conference.
There will be a hospital conference
tomorrow afternoon and public meet
ing tomorrow night, when, DR.. c. Rufus
Rorem will speak on the findings to
date OF the Committee on the Costs OF
Medical Care; DR.. William A. White,
superintendent of st. EliZlbeth's Hos
pital, on The Responsibility OF the
Citizen for the Health CT the Commu-
nifty" and DR.. j. j. Durrett, chief of the
Drug Control Administration Of the De-
partment OF Agriculture on Some Fads
in Medical Frauds"
Thsre also will be a symposium on
lip reading with talks by DR.. John H
Trinder, Miss Betty c. Wright and Miss
Frances H. Dcwnes.
The annual election OF officers will be
held tonight
The following attended the banquet
DR.. Truman Able. DR.. Roy D. Adams
Dr. w. p. Argy, DR.. John S. Arnold
DR.. Wade Atkinson, DR.. F. S. Avery.
DR.. John Baber, Dr. r. B. Bacon
DR.. Seneca Balm, DR.. w. NJ. Ballinger
Dr. j. M. Bankhead. DR.. Noble p
/ Barnes, DR.. Grant S. Barnhart, DR.
Lewis J. Battle, DR.. S. L. Battles, DR.
H. w. Baxley, DR.. &C. NJ Beall, DR.
| F. H. Behrend, DR.. V. v. Belle, DR.. N
; Belt, DR.. w. S. Benedict, DR.. A. B. Ben
{ nett DR.. Fred l.. Benton, DR.. Rober
| Bier. DR.. M. l. Bierman. DR.. @. C
! Birdsall, DR.. w. A. Bloedorn. DR.. Joe
T. Boone. Dr. d. J.. Borden, DR.. r. j
Bosworth. Or. A. K Bowie. DR.. G.
Bovine, DR.. Frank W. Bradep, DR.. w. II