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.

    293/522 (page 289)
    it up again by tlie representations of the institute that “we do absolutely guarantee that our treatment wdll check all unnatural losses and restore the organs to their natural size, strength and vigor, and as a result of such vigor you will certainly feel like a new man in three months.” In January, 1906, he was informed that “we are greatly pleased with the progress made thus far.” In March, 1900: “Although your improvement is quite slow, it is steady.” THE INSTITUTE SHOWS THE CLOVEN HOOF Mr. A finally became convinced that instead of curing him the institute was seriously endangering his health, and ceased the treatment and applied for the return of his money, in accordance with the company’s guarantee. He was ad- vised that the company had never guaranteed to cure him in any certain time; also that he had not been promised that all of his money would be returned, but that only the insti- tute fee would be refunded, if he was not cured, and that ALLCORPESPONOCNCE STRiCTlY CONriDENTIAL. Photographic reproduction (reduced) of a letterhead of Hibbard’s concern. Notice the statement printed at the top of the letter, “All correspondence strictly confidential then note (page 289) the threat made by these quacks to expose the weaknesses of a patient who demanded the return of his money. this fee was only “10 per cent, of all you paid us.” The insti- tute refused to return even this, pretending that it had not failed to cure him. He was further advised: “Let us tell you now that if you cause us any trouble about this matter, or try to do so, we will have good grounds against you for slander and defamation of character. We do not wish to get into any trouble with you about the matter, but if you persist in it and bring it on yourself, we are. sure that we shall defend ourselves to the limit, and tee iviU shoiv that at the time you began the treatment you teere practicing these secret masturbation habits. [Italics ours.—Ed.] We will also have something to say along other lines when you are done with all you wish to do—we will show you that this very letter in our possession to-day on this subject is a ground for blackmail on your part against us.”