The Washington times., 1932-11-15


their professional brothers.
Don't Call Doctor
You have, for instance, Dr. Morris Fishben, editor
of two journals of medicine for the doctor and
for his patient, enemy of the quack His book
is called Fads and Quackery in Healing Covci Friede
publish it, and is enormously entertaining It runs from
Elisha Perkins and his wonderful tractors to faceftng
ana includes gluttons for exercise advertisers who
offer everything studies in electric lamps healing by
radio and all the rest There is chapter the laws
passed to protect the public: In Alabama for instance
spoon handed to at soda fountain must be steri-
NED in Florida porter may not brush your clothes
In the middle of Pullman if it is in notion and
so on And there is chapter on the errors made by
writers when they mention medicine or disease but this
would make anyone blush, and will not quote. The
Whole book is interesting and amusing, and if it does
you will learn from it.
However Dr. Fshbein is protecting his profession not
accusing it. Turn to "Let's Operate" by DR.. R. H.
Mckay and Norman Beasley Nong & SMITH. It is
story of ignorance and imposition of doctors and sur
geons who colaborate too closely of diagnoses totally
wrong OF great sanarums built not science but on
front And involves of course lawyers Lawyers who
defend malpractice and lawyers who try to get money
a Of the fGr doing the tight thing happens
Shut Up!
Not such lawyers but those who engage in libel suts
among those present in Hold Your Tongue" (Wil-
liam Morrow & Co.. which is of course, written by two
of them: Morris Ernst and Alexander Lindey (Mr
Ernst wrote "Amercas Primer" and is friend in need
to liberal and women who need protecton) It is
discussion of libel and SANDER illustrated with cases
curious and famous from the Cherry sisters to who's
Looney Now" Chaloner and Oscar Wilde. The cases are
there and the verdcts: was accused of burning
down whole village, his wife accused of infidey-
who collected more in damages? grocer had wife
who helped him in his business SANDER said she had been
unfaithful the grocer sued-and what for? Not for
injury to her character to his PRIDE but for injury to
his business.
Is it belous to say by mistake that dealer in kosher
meats carries bacon? Is it belous for publisher to
that critic does not know his business Is it belous
to call fat? Ut is in one State at least) Can
you call man "a skunk" with mpunity? Is the old
maxim The greater the truth the greater the libel" still
good in practice? When you to call names consult
this book 1t is guide to the safer forms of abuse
No SANDER on the Air
One form of slander is still to be looked at by the
courts: sander the air So far American broadcast
ing self-censored with invisible censor the back
ground-the Federal Government, which can revoke or
refuse to license Because conspicuous cases
have to judgment speech the radio is timd you
can say frankly in newspaper what you cannot
hint to the microphone Powerful the great stations
of them is willing to make test case knuckling
under to any protest It is great pity.
"Hold Your Tongue" gives several examples of studio
censoring The worst is the refusal of station to al
low Norman Thomas to reply to libel which had been
uttered through that station The only absolute rule of
fairness that political candidates must have equal treat
ment but there again doubt whether Mr. Thomas and
Mr. Foster could have afforded to buy much time as
Mr.. Hoover or Mr. Roosevelt. What is more l doubt
whether the result would of od