Volume III Part 11 (1/2)

”Miss I---- S---- had a terrible case of consumption, together with catarrh and bronchitis. With this terrible complication, given up to die, she took the H---- treatment. She is now cured.”

Dear Doctor: I have been gaining rapidly. Have gained 17 pounds; weigh 150 pounds now and am getting quite strong, too.

I wish you could see me. You would be surprised. I look just fine. Everybody says they never thought I would get well. I can't thank you enough for it. I am feeling just fine, so I will close.

Yours truly,

Miss I---- S----.

The above testimonial reads quite convincing and doubtless was the means of influencing many other unfortunate victims to put themselves under the ”professional” care of Dr. H----. Investigation, however, revealed the fact that this optimistic young lady died shortly after giving the testimonial and that her death was, according to the transcript of her certificate of death issued by the State of Wisconsin, due to ”consumption.” The testimonial therefore cannot possibly have any value under the circ.u.mstances. Unfortunately, however, this doctor does not publish the death certificate with the testimonial, which latter he continued to use after her death.

After an exhaustive inquiry into the personality and business of the above mentioned M. D., the _Journal of the American Medical a.s.sociation_ said:

First. The H---- consumption cure is chiefly owned and controlled by men whose only qualification for treating disease is that they are business men financially interested in other medical fakes.

Second. The claims made in the advertis.e.m.e.nts, either directly or by implication, that these ”remedies” will ”cure”

consumption are cruel and heartless falsehoods.

Third. The methods employed to capture victims, by means of speciously worded circular letters disguised as personal communications, are an imposition, if not an actual fraud, on the ignorant and credulous.

Fourth. The drugs sent out by this concern as a ”trial treatment” are worthless as a cure for consumption.

Fifth. In printing endors.e.m.e.nts of himself, which this M.D.

received from ministers of the gospel, he grossly abused the confidence of men who did not know the use to which their letters were to be put.

Sixth. The testimonials from physicians which he publishes have been shown to emanate in some cases from men who themselves are employed in exploiting medical fakes.

Seventh. The claim he makes of being a graduate of Edinburgh University has been shown to be as false as the claims made for the nostrum he exploits.

Can a much more disgraceful business than the various ”consumption cure” humbugs be imagined? Founded on fraud, maintained by deceit, perpetuated by falsehood--the sick are exploited to pay dividends on corporate quackery. How much longer will this outrage on the unfortunate victims of the White Plague be tolerated? If not for humanitarian reasons, then for its own protection, at least, society should demand that such cruel frauds be suppressed. Their existence is a menace to public health and a disgrace to modern civilization.

Many fraudulent nostrums are advertised as blind advertis.e.m.e.nts in the ”Personal” columns of the daily press. The following recently appeared in the ”Personal” columns of papers all over the country:

PERSONAL--TO CONSUMPTIVES: I possess information which cost me a fortune, and feel that I should let every consumptive know about my experience. Mrs. R., Ohio.

To those who answered this advertis.e.m.e.nt was sent a letter written on pale blue stationery, such as is used for social correspondence, with the initials --. R. embossed, monogram style, in gilt on the paper and envelope, signed ”Mrs. --. R.” It is a.s.serted in this letter that the writer has cured herself ”in defiance of the world's scientists,” by the discovery of ”a combination of certain roots and herbs.” As a consequence of having made this discovery, and after spending a fortune in the quest of a cure according to the advertis.e.m.e.nt, we are informed that ”I am now devoting my life to saving others.” According to further information, her effort is apparently successful, because she ”finds it impossible to attend personally to the mult.i.tude of inquiries with which she is favored.” She finds it necessary, therefore, ”to refer your letter to my secretary, Mr. C----, from whom you will no doubt hear soon.” The secretary is very evidently on the job, ”for in the next mail there is delivered a letter from the ---- Company, signed H. W. C----, Sec'y.”

We can estimate the degree of Mrs. R.'s solicitude for the welfare of the race when we learn that the same concern was engaged in exploiting a syphilis ”cure” in Chicago a few years ago. In all probability the cure is the same for both diseases. It is difficult to tell of which disease it was that Mrs. R. cured herself.

Among the testimonials published by this concern in its booklet are quite a number in which the statement is made, frequently in glowing terms, that the writer has been ”cured” of consumption by ----. A few of these were investigated and in every instance the writer died of consumption. This mixture is, in the strongest terms that can be used, a fake, a fraud, and is not a ”cure” for consumption, as, of course, every intelligent person knows.

TO CONSUMPTIVES.

The undersigned having been restored to health by simple means, after suffering for several years with a severe lung affection, and that dread disease Consumption, is anxious to make known to his fellow sufferers the means of cure. To those who desire it, he will cheerfully send (free of charge), a copy of the prescription used, which they will find a sure cure for Consumption, Asthma, Catarrh, Bronchitis, and all throat and lung maladies. He hopes all sufferers will try his remedy, as it is invaluable. Those desiring the prescription which will cost them nothing, and may prove a blessing, will please address Rev. ---- W., ----, N. Y.

A reply to this advertis.e.m.e.nt brought the information that the Rev.

W---- contracted tuberculosis while in charge of a church in Maine, and after trying various treatments was finally cured by ”a famous Dr.

C----, of Paris, France.” It was now his intention to ”devote his life”

to aid suffering humanity, in a spirit of thankfulness, by giving away, free of all charge, a copy of the famous prescription.