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.

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    to have been “cured” of deafness and his hearing made per- fect, when, in fact. Turner was so deaf that he was incapaci- tated for work—and Branaman knew it! In the Government’s case against Branaman, fraud on four different points was proved: Fraud Xo. 1.—Five different cases of incurable deafness from various parts of the country were accepted—and, as the evidence showed, intentionally accepted—for treatment and a promise of a sure cure made. The number indicated that it was Branaman’s practice to accept such cases and to make such promises. Fraud Xo. 2.—Branaman’s continued publication of Turner’s testimonial to the effect that his hearing was perfect and that he had been cured of deafness, when Branaman knew that Turner was so deaf as to be incapacitated for work. Fraud Xo. 3.—The inducement held out in the advertise- ments of a “free two months’ treatment” Avhen, in fact, the intent Avas to obtain $8 for goods costing Branaman $1.50. Fraud Xo. If.—The representation that the case of each patient would be considered individually and that “treat- ment” adapted to the necessities of the specific cases Avould be used, Avhen the evidence shoAved that the same “treatment” Avas sent to practically all persons sending the necessary $8. This constitutes, in brief, the Government’s case against Branaman. The details of t-.e case as given in the memo- randum of the Assistant Attorney General to the Postmaster General, are in part as follows: The Assistant Attorney General’s Report “The respondents [Dr. G. M. Branaman and the Branaman Remedy Company] are engaged at Kansas City, Missouri, in carrying on a mail order business for the cure of deafness, and they also treat cases of nasal catarrh, asthma, head noises, etc. About three hundred letters a day are now being deliv- ered to them, and Dr. Branaman, at the hearing, said that the present monthly receipts are about $5,000 and are heavier during the winter season. These facts indicate the extent of the business. now PATIENTS WERE OBTAINED “Patients are procured by a system of advertisements in newspapers and magazines, and by correspondence. This sys- tem is in substance as follows: The neAvspaper and magazine advertisements are to the effect that Dr. Branaman is a specialist who can cure deafness by a system of home treat- ment, and the advertisements offer to send two months’ med- icine free to any one Avho will apply. When an observer of the advertisement AAU'ites to Dr. Branaman, he is mailed a book- let entitled ‘The XeAV Treatment That Cures,’ Avhich describes generally the treatment of Dr. Branaman and contains testi- monials of those who claim to have been cured; and he is also