Medicine: Whiskey Prescriptions

John Doctor, a huffy person when told what to do or not do by anyone outside the medical profession, last week got Congress to lift practically all restrictions on whiskey prescriptions. It was a long struggle of attrition against the Prohibitionists. Dr. William Creighton Woodward, Washington lobbyist for the American Medical Association, eventually won for John Doctor, helped by John Doctor’s telegrams, telephone calls and airmailed letters to Senators and Representatives.

The victory outmodes many a sorry practice of the past decade. John Doctor need no longer risk prison by selling his prescription blanks to druggists. The amateur cellarer need no longer cut a pint of genuine, drugstore rye with alcohol, water and sherry to get a gallon of drink with a palatable rye flavor. The druggist may cast off his furtiveness, again function as a respectable businessman.

Henceforth John Doctor may prescribe as much liquor as he pleases for any patient he pleases. But the patient must be bona fide. Otherwise sprightly Mr. Woodin, Secretary of the Treasury, may arrest John Doctor, and stern Mr. Cummings, the Attorney General, may throw him into jail.