Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1885 — DOCTORS FURIOUS. [ARTICLE]

DOCTORS FURIOUS.

Shall a Physician Tell the Truth or Hott-A Nice Point in Ethics. A Sensible Health Official. Baltimore, Mil —A decided stir has .been caused here over the question as to the right of a physician to certifyto the merits of a remedy not in the modern pharmacopoeia. Dr. James A. Steuart, one of the most eminent physicians in the South, and Health Commissioner of this city, had analyzed a newly discovered article, and certified officially, not only to its efficacy hut to the fact that It replaced old-time preparations of a similar character which, analyses had proved, sere adulterated and poisonous. The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty, of which he is a member, held that he had violated the code of medical ethics, and much public interest was aroused because of the confidence felt both in his professional standing and official integrity. It was argued that to thus place a limitation on the acts of a physician, and especially of a health officer, was opposed to the spirit of the age; that such reasoning might have been logical enough when it was to the interest of rulers or societies to invest themselves with a supernatural halo, but now, when thought should be free and untrammeled, such things savored of barbarism. It was the duty of a physician, especiallyof a health officer, to condemn publicly any remedy which hb knew to be injurious, but it was not right that he should be debarred from testifying to the merits of anything which he knew to be good. If this were so, the world would not receive the benefit of half the discoveries made in art or science. Thu’s the peonle argued, while the faculty threatened expulsion and talked of time-honored customs, ethics, professional courtesy, and traditions. But the matter soon assumed a new and surprising phase. A few days afterwards a certificate appeared in the daily papers bearing the autograph signatures of Governor McLane, Attorney General Roberts, Mayor Latrobe, City Postmaster Adreon, chiefs of State and municipal departments. Judges and Clerks of Courts, Federal officials aud- Congressmen, emphatically endorsing the action of the Health Commissioner, and concurring in his opinion as to the efficacy of the remedy, asserting that they did so from personal experience with it and practical tests and observations.

There could be no gainsaying such evidence as this, but, as if to cap the climax, shortly afterwards there appeared another certificate with autograph signatures of leading practicing physicians from all parts of the State, including the physicians of all the leading hospitals, the physician to the City Fire Department, the port physician, vaccine physician, and resident physicians of infirmaries, all endorsing the discovery and stating that it had been tested by them in hospitals and private practice for weeks with wonderful curative effect, and that analysis had shown no trace of opiates or poisons, prevalent In other cough mixtures. They further stated that they bad been induced to take this step in view of the many hurtful preparations which contained nareotios and poisons, and of the danger consequent on .their use. The remedy in question is Red Star Cough Cure. Such a conclusive answer as this to the narrow arguments of the few, arrayed public sentiment on the side of the Health Commissioners, and it is significant that Dr. Steuart has since been appointed to office by the Mayor for a third term, and has had his appointment unanimously confirmed by the City Council. Owing to the high professional reputation of the gentlemen who endorsed his action, as well as the enviable standing of the owners of the remedy. The Charles A. Vogeler Company, of this eity, wide-spread interest has already been created in the subject, not only here, but in Philadelphia, Washington and other neighboring eities. The feeling is generally expressed by professional men that Red Star Cough Cure, on account of its freedom from narcotics and poisons, inaugurates a .most desirable new departure in medicine. This is the pronounoed opinion of authorities like Dr. Fawcett, who has been for thirty-three years resident physician of the Union Protestant Infirmary, in this city, and Prof. John J. Caldwell, M. 8., member of medical societies of Baltimore, Mew York, and Brooklyn, and with a long experience in civil and military hospitals. Both of these gentlemen, together with no less than fifty other practicing physicians of Maryland, have publicly put themselves on record as to the evil of narcotic medicines, and the consequent value and Importance of the new discovery referred to. It is conceded that public opinion has completely vindicated Dr. Steuart in his action, and that in his whole course he was actuated simply by an earnest desire to benefit the community at large.