Nostrums and quackery : articles on the nostrum evil and quackery reprinted from the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Date:
[1911]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Nostrums and quackery : articles on the nostrum evil and quackery reprinted from the Journal of the American Medical Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    121/522 (page 117)
    ]);ipers as are not above sliarino’ llte blood-money of the consiimption-cure glionla—a type of journalism, we are glad to say, that is yearly becoming scarcer. Second is the series of follow-up letters, so prepared as to simulate personal com- munications, but which are really printed, even to the signa- ture of the “physician” in charge. The only part of each letter of this series which has any remotely personal element in it is the name and address of the victim to whom it is addressed, these being “filled in” by means of a typewriter in the same style of type and color of ink as that used in print- ing the letters. Third, is the bait of a “trial treatment,” of which more later. Fourth, the inevitable testimonials—the sine qna non of the quack. THE TRIAL PACKAGE In his advertisements. Dr. Hill says he “cures consumption” and will send a trial package to all who will send 20 cents “to help pay for packing,” etc. Those who answer his adver- tisement are sent a four-page circular letter, the first of his follow-up letters, designated, for the convenience of Hill’s mailing force, “E 1,” together with the “trial package.” The package consists of a collapsible tube and three small card- board boxes, all contained in a larger cardboard box. The three small boxes are labeled, respectively: “Globules,” “Sys- temic AVafers” and “Laxative Tablets,” while the tube is labeled “Plasma.” Cursory examination shows: Plasma: A white ointment smelling strongly of wintergreen. The consumptive is directed to “rub in the upper part of chest and between shoulders.” He is told that “the ingredients of ])lasma are quickly absorbed by the hlood, thus the ])lasma helps to destroy the bacilli or germs in the blood . . .” fllohules: Xine flexible capsules each containing an oily liquid, having the odor of guaiacol. Floating in the li(iuid is a small pill. One globule to he taken three times a day. d'hey are claimed to “help supply the blood with what it needs to make strong fighting corpuscles . . .” Pystemic Wafers: Small pinkish-white tablet triturates, having a sweet taste. To be taken at 10 a. m., 3 p. m. and 7 p. m., and are said to “act specifically on the . . . lungs, imparting strength to them . . .” Laxative Tablets: Small chocolate-coated tablets. Says Hill: “They are wonderfully [sic] bowel regulators, act nicely on the liver and are a triumph in the art of chemistry, being pre- ])ared by one of the best known chemists and pharmacists.” TTIE FOLLOW-ER SYSTEM The first letter of Hill’s “follow-up” series siates, among oilier things: