CONSUMPTION CURES.
Nostrums and quack medicines vary greatly in the extent to which
they constitute deliberate fraud. In the case of some of them, it is
easy to believe that the makers themselves have a certain faith in
their preparations, and recommend them in cases for which they are
unsuited with that bona fides which arises from ignorance, assisted,
unconsciously perhaps, by an appreciation of the profitable nature of
the business. Such preparations frequently contain some one or more
of the drugs in common use for the complaints for which the nostrum
is offered, and are even, occasionally, combinations compounded in
the first place from a medical prescription which may have been found
useful in certain appropriate cases. The injury to the public in such
instances arises from the excessive nature of the claims made, the
excessive price usually charged, and the probability of the advertised
medicine being taken in cases for which it is quite unsuitable, when it
may do harm positively by its effects or negatively by preventing the
sufferer from seeking proper advice.
But with other proprietary medicines it is quite clear that the
makers cannot in the slightest degree believe in the claims they
make; the “remedy” in these cases is some substance or mixture
devoid of medicinal activity, or possessing some slight therapeutic
property having no relation to the disease for which the nostrum is
put forward as a cure. It is often, indeed, for inert preparations
that the most extravagant and emphatic claims are made; the makers,
and the advertisement-writers whom they employ, are untrammelled by
any necessity of squaring their statements with the real properties
of the thing to be recommended, and having set out consciously and
deliberately to deceive, they are able to give their whole attention to
telling the most effective stories in the most plausible manner, and
reaping the maximum of payment for the minimum of expenditure. People
who are ill or suffering are to be frightened with impressive pictures
of the aggravated suffering and premature death that await them unless
they take the “only cure” in question, therefore let them be frightened
thoroughly. Careful suggestion will induce people who are not ill
to believe that they or some of those dear to them are in the early
stages of some disease; therefore let everything possible in the way
of striking advertisements, personal letters, and repeated assertions
be utilised to produce the result. It is the victim’s money that is
wanted; therefore let the price be fixed high, and the advertisements
be written up to it. If it should be discovered by correspondence that
so much cannot be cajoled or frightened out of an individual sufferer,
the price can be reduced gradually as “special concessions,” in return
for which testimonials may be extracted.
Of quack medicines the sale of which is conducted more or less on these
fines, two examples are described in this chapter, and other examples
will be enumerated later.
One of the two now dealt with is “Tuberculozyne,” largely advertised
in Great Britain but apparently of American origin; it affords an
instructive example of the methods of the Transatlantic nostrum monger.
The two liquids sold under this name consist of little more than
coloured, flavoured water, but the modest price demanded is £2 10s. for
a month’s, supply. No effort is spared to induce the victim to continue
the “treatment” month by month, in spite of the evident absence of any
benefit, which is unblushingly accounted for by the seriousness of the
particular case, while the necessity of getting the system thoroughly
permeated with the remedy is insisted on. The sale of another
preparation advertised as a cure for consumption, Stevens’ Consumption
Cure, is conducted in a very similar way, but this time the herbs
are said to be African, and the odd names they bear certainly have
a Kaffir flavour. The vendor considerately warns the public against
American quacks and impostors and against the preposterous and wicked
swindles of Polish or German Jews. Although Stevens is so engagingly
candid about his rivals he follows the plan of sending one letter after
another to any sufferer whose name he may have obtained, a system which
seems to have been invented in America; it is certainly cheaper than
bold advertisement in newspapers, and is apparently found even more
satisfactory, as it enables the vendor to give individual attention
to the depth of his correspondent’s pocket if not to the severity of
his disease. But Stevens has somewhat bettered his instruction, and
his letters and circulars have a character of their own due to the
effrontery of his attitude toward the medical profession. Persons who
respond to the advertisement receive a list of questions to be answered
by the doctor who has attended them, and are advised to continue under
the observation of their medical man in order that the latter may be
impressed by the marvellous effects of the remedy. Not long ago a
circular letter was sent out to medical practitioners, asking them to
treat consumptive cases “which defy all the ordinary remedies” with
this secret preparation. The circular continues: “The great drawback to
my cure, so far as the medical profession is concerned, has always been
the fact that I would not reveal its formula. This is now done away
with; its formula is 80 grains of umckaloabo root and 13⅓ grains of
chijitse to every ounce, prepared according to _British Pharmacopœia_
methods.” The farce of revealing a formula by the employment of such
fancy names as these is one of the oldest dodges of the quack medicine
man, and no such names as “umckaloabo” and “chijitse” appear in any
available work of reference on pharmacy. Enquiries made in various
parts of South Africa have been negative, experts in native matters
being unable to ascertain that the names were known. Further, the
Native Affairs Department of Cape Colony has caused enquiries to be
made in the Transkeian territories into the question whether the native
tribes there resident had any knowledge of “umckaloabo” and “chijitse,”
or of their reputed medicinal properties. The result of the inquiry
was entirely negative. Nothing was known of any such plants, nor was it
even possible to identify their names. Smith’s _South African Materia
Medica_ contains no record of any such names as “umckaloabo” and
“chijitse.”
A similar system of repeated letters sent in series to the sufferer or
his friends appears to be followed by the Weidhaas Hygienic Institute,
Ltd., which carries on a home in the south of England but also treats
patients by correspondence. The proprietors, who would seem to hail
from Germany, issue a pamphlet with the title _Dum spiro spero_, which
is made up mainly of the usual testimonials, but contains also a sort
of outline of the physiology of various organs, taken from medical
works. The pamphlet does not differ from the ordinary productions of
advertising quacks; the terms are said to be very moderate, the more
so as it is the rule to make one charge only for the whole treatment,
the proprietors taking the risk of its being of long duration. It would
seem, however, that this arrangement is not always followed, for in a
“Diet Table” headed “Direction for Weidhaas Home Treatment” we find the
following:
It is absolutely necessary that all patients, while
under my treatment, shall take the “Star Tonic”
regularly.
On Rising.—Take one cup of “Star Tonic.” (This must be
always taken in sips only.)
For Breakfast.—Take the delicately flavoured Nutritive
Salts Cocoa, boiled in milk (which, being specially
prepared for invalids, on account of the great
percentage of nutritive salts which no other cocoa
contains, is most suitable in your case....)
Between Breakfast and Lunch take one or two tumblers of
milk. If possible this should always be taken in the
form of Kefyr, one of the easiest digestible nourishing
and strengthening tonics. (Full particulars of this are
enclosed herewith.)...
Half an hour before mid-day meal.—(From 1 to 2
o’clock.) Sip one cup of Star Tonic.
For Mid-day Meal.—_Make it a strict rule to take
regularly green vegetables of some kind, such as
spinach, cabbage, lettuce, etc. A fair amount of these
should be taken daily._ To these may be added a
few potatoes, very little meat or fish, and now and
then, in the place of the latter, some pulses, such as
lentils (German are best)....
At Tea Time.—If absolutely necessary, take a cup of
weak ordinary tea or health coffee; better still, take
a cup of Star Tonic, some _cold_ toast....
For Supper.—(Let this meal be not later than
two-and-a-half, or, better still, three hours before
going to bed.) Take either Cocoa or Kefyr....
Before going to bed.—Always make a point of taking one
glass of Kefyr or cup of Star Tonic.
When in bed always have some cold “Star Tonic” near at
hand, and sip some when troubled with cough or acute
symptoms.
At the bottom of the diet table is a notice to the following effect:
“The above specially recommended articles can be had
from the Sales’ Department of the Weidhaas Hygienic
Institute, Ltd.”
In the circular, referred to above as enclosed, Kefyr ferment is
offered for sale.
In one case which was enquired into of a young man who had been induced
to obtain the treatment, his mother wrote to the institute complaining
that the treatment appeared to have done her son more harm than good.
The reply, after insisting that the remedy supplied was the very best
cure for his complaint, continued: “As to it lowering his vitality, let
me say that it is not unusual for patients to feel apparently worse in
the beginning, but it only shows that the treatment is disturbing the
cause of the trouble. Now, this is just what I want it to do. I want to
disturb it and thus drive it out of the system. I hope then you will
allow your son to proceed under my directions. Give the treatment a
fair trial and it will do all that is claimed for it.” The patient was
at the time in an advanced stage of pulmonary phthisis, and died of
hæmoptysis, of which he had had two previous attacks, seven weeks after
the letter quoted above was written. A month after his death a letter
was addressed to him by the director of the institute in the course of
which it was stated that: “Many patients do not gain immediate relief,
or even partial improvement during the early stages of the treatment,
but Perseverance and a faithful adherence to all my instructions will
invariably bring about the desired result.”
Among the papers sent to an enquirer was a printed form which seems
worthy of reproduction, since it illustrates a method of getting
into touch with possible patients, which appears to be followed with
variations by other companies that appeal to the sick:
R. B.
_HAVE YOU FRIENDS WHO NEED OUR TREATMENT?_
If you know of anyone whom you think might derive benefit from the use
of our Home Treatment, you will do them and us a great favour by noting
hereon their names, addresses, and the trouble you believe them to be
afflicted with. Upon receipt of the names we will send them information
concerning our method of treatment, _but will not mention your name
unless you desire it_.
-------------------+---------------------------+-------------------
Name. | Address. | Ailment.
-------------------+---------------------------+-------------------
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
-------------------+---------------------------+-------------------
Please return to The Weidhaas Hygienic Institute.
Some time ago a firm of pharmaceutical chemists in a provincial town
received a postcard from a company which offered 5s. for the name of
any patient suffering from diabetes, pointing out that “it is money
easily earned.” The pharmaceutical chemists expressed indignation at
the attempt to bribe them to commit a breach of confidence, but such
a request might not be so regarded by a patient, more especially if
the advertiser lays great stress upon his benevolent motives, and his
anxiety to benefit as many persons as possible.
But although this letter-writing system with its paraphernalia of
biographies of the discoverer, typewritten personal letters, free
coupons and guarantee bonds is much in vogue, there are other nostrums
advertised in the old-fashioned way and sold at the familiar price of
1s. 1½d. for a small bottle. Among these are some old preparations for
coughs, for which more emphatic claims as remedies for consumption have
been made of late years. The result of the analysis of two of these
will first be given.
CONGREVE’S BALSAMIC ELIXIR.
This preparation, advertised from an address in London, is sold in
bottles, price 1s. 1½d., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., 11s., and 22s. The 2s. 9d.
bottle contained 1⅖ fluid ounces, the 4s. 6d. bottle contained 4 fluid
ounces.
On the outer package was to be read:
Congreve’s Balsamic Elixir. Has had a World-wide
Reputation for 80 years as the Best Remedy for
Consumption, also for Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis,
Coughs, Colds, and Whooping cough. Safe and Effective.
Free from any poison.
The following extracts are from a circular enclosed with the bottle:
In the most obstinate attacks of Asthma, which have
threatened speedy suffocation, when the sufferer,
harassed by excessive coughing, has laboured dreadfully
for breath, with an acuteness of agony not to be
described, this Balsam has restored the patient to
health, after the medical practitioner had abandoned
the usual means in despair.
In Pulmonary Consumption, the best remedy is this
Balsamic Elixir, as most unquestionable Testimonials
prove. It has been successfully prescribed in
Consumptive cases regarded as hopeless by the first
physicians.
Correspondence. Advice by letter from time to time
will be given to any patient whilst continuing Mr.
Congreve’s Treatment, provided that the 22s. or 11s.
bottles of Elixir are _obtained direct from_ [the
address given by the vendor in his advertisements]
during the period of correspondence.
The directions were:
_For adults._—Take a teaspoonful, alone or mixed
with honey or lump sugar, three or four times a day, as
the urgency of the case requires. Children from 8 to 15
years may take two-thirds of a teaspoonful; from 5 to
8 years, half a teaspoonful; from 2 to 5 years, twenty
drops; at six months, ten drops; younger infants from
four to six drops.
The “elixir” was a bright red liquid; analysis showed it to contain
28·5 per cent. by volume of alcohol, and 2·6 per cent. of total
solids; the latter consisted of resinous constituents (about 0·5 per
cent.), sugar (about 1 per cent.), a little tannin, colouring matter
(apparently cochineal), and extractive. Alkaloid was present only to
the extent of a trace, under 0·001 per cent.; the extractive showed
no characters by which its source could be determined; the resinous
material was of an aromatic nature similar to the resins of benzoin,
storax, tolu, or balsam of Peru, and appeared to be derived from a
mixture of two or more of these. No other active ingredients were found
to be present.
THE BROMPTON CONSUMPTION AND COUGH SPECIFIC.
The “Sole proprietor” gives an address in a part of London remote
from Brompton, but it is perhaps hoped that the name may suggest some
connection with the well-known Brompton Consumption Hospital. The price
charged is 1s. 1½d., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., and 11s. per bottle; the 2s. 9d.
bottle contained 3⅔ fluid ounces.
The origin of the preparation is thus described:
This Specific is prepared from the Prescription of an
eminent Physician, who practised nearly forty years
in Madeira, he was celebrated for his success in the
treatment of Consumption and diseases of the Chest.
Upon a visit to this country some years since, he gave
the Prescription to a late Physician, who tried it upon
five hundred out-patients; its effect was wonderful;
it acted like magic upon their Coughs, and prevented
that great waste of strength and flesh peculiar to
this disease. It will save the lives of thousands and
prevent Consumption, by administering it upon the first
symptoms of Cough, which will be immediately cured by a
few doses.
In a circular enclosed with the bottle it was stated:
A Cough is the forerunner of Consumption. In England
alone 50,000 people die of it thus constituting
one-fourth of the nation’s death rate annually. It
has destroyed more human beings than War, Pestilence,
and Famine combined; it neither spares the old nor
young, “and there is no family in which this rapacious
destroyer of the human race has not had its victim.” It
is a well-known fact that people with diseased lungs
can live for years, and follow their usual avocations
in life, provided they are relieved of the principal
feature of the disease—the Cough—which shakes and
destroys the very elements of the blood, upon which
life is supported. How very valuable and important to
all, then, must a medicine be which will arrest and
cure so fearful a malady!
The directions were:
_Dose._—One teaspoonful three times a day and at
bedtime. It may be repeated at night, or at any time
when the Cough is troublesome.—Children over five
years of age, one-third of a teaspoonful.
The following appeared on the outside wrapper:
In conformity with the Sale of Poisons Act, 1868, this
preparation, containing a minute quantity of Laudanum
and Chloroform, must be labelled Poison, but its
composition remains unaltered.
The preparation was a syrupy liquid of pleasant odour and taste,
resembling diluted treacle. Analysis showed it to contain in 100 fluid
parts, 61·4 parts of total solids; of this, 35·5 parts were glucose
and 9·9 parts cane sugar, and 2·6 parts ash, consisting principally
of calcium sulphate. Chloroform, referred to on the wrapper, was not
present in sufficient traces to be detected; alkaloid was present
to the extent of 0·025 part in 100 fluid parts, of which 0·015 part
appeared to consist of the alkaloids of ipecacuanha, and approximately
0·01 part was morphine. The difference between the sugars found and the
total solids would be fully accounted for by the non-saccharine portion
of treacle; extractive contained in the preparations of ipecacuanha and
opium used would also be included in this. Small proportions of other
drugs having no well-marked characters might possibly also be present;
there was no evidence of any further ingredients, but in the presence
of so large a proportion of treacle small quantities of indifferent
substances it would not be possible to detect.
About 1 per cent. by volume of alcohol was present; assuming liquid
extract of ipecacuanha and tincture of opium to have been the
preparations of these drugs used, the formula is approximately:
Liquid extract of ipecacuanha 0·75 part.
Tincture of opium 1·3 parts.
Treacle 75 parts.
Water to 100 fluid parts.
Estimated cost of ingredients for 3⅔ fluid ounces, ¾d.
STEVENS’ CONSUMPTION CURE.
This is advertised as manufactured only by C. H. Stevens. The price is
5s. per bottle, containing 2¼ fluid ounces.
This preparation does not appear now to go under any other name than
that of “Stevens’ Consumption Cure”; as regards its past history, the
following extract from _Truth_ Cautionary List for 1908 is of interest:
Stevens, C. H.—The proprietor of a remedy for
consumption which has been put on the market in South
Africa and England under the name of Sacco, and later
in South Africa as Lungsava, the recipe for which is
stated to have been long in use amongst the Kaffirs and
Zulus. In connection with the advertising of Sacco in
England, an article which appeared in _Truth_ was
circulated in a mutilated form, omitting a condemnation
of its sale as an absolute remedy for consumption.
Stevens has acquired a number of testimonials from
medical men, who must now regret their precipitate
action. He is now in England on a new campaign.
The claims made for this preparation were put forward in printed
circulars, and in letters, apparently printed in imitation of
typewriting, sent at intervals to an applicant for particulars of the
cure. Extracts from these are here given:
It has been admitted the world over that there is
no remedy known to the Medical Fraternity to really
cure Consumption, so it is preposterous to claim the
ordinary drugs that are known to every Chemist even, to
cure this disease, just because they are given a fancy
name, and advertised by a Polish or a German Jew; it is
not only preposterous but a wicked swindle.
There is no other treatment, drug, or medicine
advertised in Great Britain to-day to cure Consumption,
the ingredients of which are not known to every doctor
and chemist in the world, and if you cannot obtain
relief from these under the care of your own Medical
Adviser, how can you be cured by using them on the
advice of an American Quack.
Your own doctor will bear out what I say. Most of these
American Impostors come to England after the U.S.A.
Post Office Authorities have refused to convey their
letters.
I do not say in my advertisements “Consumption can be
cured,” “Consumption is curable,” or any such evasive
remarks, but I say “_I will guarantee to cure you_
if you are consumptive, or _return your money_ in
full,” and that my terms are “No Cure, No Pay.”
The African herbs which my Cure is prepared from have
never been used by any white Doctor or Chemist before
I introduced same to civilization a few years ago.
These herbs are original and have defied our cleverest
Analysts to discover the active principals they
contain....
I only returned to England a few weeks ago to prove my
Cure to the satisfaction of the British Government,
having been absent for many years....
It does not matter whether a Doctor is attending
patients or not whilst they are under my treatment,
although I always prefer a Doctor to be in attendance
to see the cure being effected because I particularly
wish to convince the Medical fraternity of the
genuineness of my cure.
From the first letter:
Usually two or three weeks’ treatment is quite
sufficient to make a substantial improvement, and a
three months’ course, in most cases, is sufficient to
effect a cure.
From the second letter:
Let me send you a two weeks’ treatment, which is more
than sufficient to completely stop the progress of the
disease.
From a later letter:
In spite of the mountains of prejudice to be overcome,
I intend to prove that at last something has been
discovered that will destroy the Tubercle Bacillus
without being detrimental in any way to the human
system; in fact, besides destroying this germ, it
is a strong tonic, and will invigorate a healthy
body as well as bring back to its normal condition a
Consumptive one....
Now you must know that throughout the world our
clever Scientists and most Prominent Specialists on
Consumption have for ages past spent their lives trying
to find something which will destroy the Tubercle
Bacillus without injuring the human system. They have
had everything at their command; the most up-to-date
Sanatoria, the cleverest Nurses, and the pick of
climates, yet they have failed, though every drug and
remedy known, including every ingredient contained in
any proprietary medicine or cough mixture ever heard of
has been exhaustively tested in every shape and form.
My treatment differs in this one great respect, that
none of the ingredients have ever been used before by
any Chemist or Doctor, and are an entirely original
discovery....
I will give any Doctor its formula who requests it, and
will supply him free of charge with all the treatment
he needs for experimental purposes, and you must see
that I can gain nothing by doing all this unless my
treatment positively cures Consumption, as I claim it
to do.
On the back of the printed letter quoted above appeared the following:
GUARANTEE BONDS.
The following are specimens of my guarantee Bonds.
No. 1, I give to any sufferer who is considered by
his Doctor to have at least six months to live in the
ordinary course of matters. Terms of No. 2 Bond have to
be mutually arranged. I do not accept any money under
this Bond until all the conditions are fulfilled.
NO. 1 GUARANTEE BOND.
To Mr. In consideration of you having paid me £2 12s.
6d. for a three months’ course of my treatment for
consumption, I hereby guarantee that your health has,
at the end of the three months, considerably improved
to the satisfaction of yourself and also of your Doctor
(who must be a practitioner registered in the British
Isles) under a penalty of refunding the whole of the
amount paid, viz., £2 12s. 6d.
(Signed) C. H. STEVENS.
Broadway, Wimbledon.
NO. 2 GUARANTEE BOND.
I hereby guarantee that it will be impossible to find
any trace of the Tubercle Bacillus in your system and
that you will be completely cured of Tuberculosis
(consumption) to the satisfaction of your own
Doctor and the Government Laboratory on or before,
______________ 19___.
The only condition being that the sum of £_______, is
paid to me when this guarantee is fulfilled.
(Signed) C. H. STEVENS.
Broadway, Wimbledon.
These are “specimens” of guarantee Bonds. Another document, however,
which appeared to be the guarantee bond actually given, differed in
containing a clause by which the patient:
hereby agrees to take same [_i.e._, Stevens’
Consumption Cure] according to the directions sent out
with the medicine, for three calendar months from date
hereof, and to follow as far as possible the advice
given regarding habits of life, diet, etc., and to fill
in the form on counterfoil attached, correctly.
The “form on counterfoil attached” contained a number of questions
to be answered by the patient, and also a portion “to be filled in
by a Medical Practitioner after the above has been filled in by the
Patient,” including such questions as:
How long have you attended to this Patient?
Do you consider this a mild, severe, or hopeless case?
Do you consider this Patient has a fair chance of
recovery providing Stevens’ Consumption Cure is all it
is claimed to be?
and on the back the following appeared:
This Guarantee must not be given by a chemist or any
one else until it is signed by a registered Medical
Practitioner to the effect that he considers the
Patient to have at least six calendar months to live.
Thus the appearance was maintained of guaranteeing benefit or cure,
and refunding the money if the undertaking were not fulfilled; but the
conditions to be complied with were such that it appears unlikely that
Mr. Stevens is ever troubled with applications for return of money
under one of his “Bonds.”
A “detailed direction sheet” was supplied, from which the following is
taken:
One teaspoonful in a wineglass of water (as hot as
can be conveniently taken for preference) one hour
before breakfast and two hours after the last meal
in the evening, unless the patient be in the habit
of waking between 12 midnight and 3 a.m., in which
case an extra dose may be taken then. After the first
week’s treatment half-an-hour before breakfast is quite
sufficient.
It appears that the use of this wonderful substance is not limited to
consumption cases.
Stevens’ Consumption Cure is a vegetable germicide,
fatal to all disease germ growths, but acts as a strong
tonic; is a blood purifier, stomach cleanser, and a
nerve stimulator; one will readily understand that
it must be all these to cure Consumption and build
up a broken-down system entirely by itself. Stevens’
Consumption Cure can safely be advantageously given
wherever a germ disease exists or is suspected.
One of the most recent circulars sent out by Mr. Stevens is addressed
to medical practitioners, asking them to use his remedy in severe cases
of pulmonary tuberculosis which defy all the ordinary remedies, and
professing to give the formula of the preparation as follows:
Its formula is 80 grains of Umckaloabo root and 13 and
one-third grains of Chijitse to every ounce, prepared
according to British Pharmacopœia methods.
The medicine was a clear red liquid, and analysis showed it to
contain in 100 fluid parts, 21·3 fluid parts of alcohol, 1·8 parts
of glycerine, and 4 parts of solid substance; this solid substance
contained about 1 part of a tannin and 0·2 part of ash, the remainder
being extractive. No alkaloid was present and no other active substance
could be detected. The solid substance agreed in all respects with the
solids of decoction of krameria, or a mixture of this decoction with a
little tincture of kino. The formula thus appears to be approximately:
Rectified spirit of wine 23·7 parts by measure.
Glycerine 1·8 parts.
Decoction of krameria (1 in 3) to 100 parts by measure.
or it may be made with tincture of krameria.
Estimated cost of ingredients for 2¼ fluid ounces, 1½d.
TUBERCULOZYNE.
The Derk P. Yonkerman Company, Ltd., an American company with an agency
in London, charges £2 10s. 0d. for a month’s treatment and supplies
two bottles, labelled respectively No. 1 and No. 2 Tuberculozyne, and
containing in each between 11 and 12 fluid ounces of liquid.
The advertisement offered a book on “Consumption and how it may be
quickly cured,” and a trial of the cure itself, to be sent free.
Application for the book and sample brought bottles of “No. 1
Tuberculozyne” and “No. 2 Tuberculozyne,” holding about ½ ounce each,
and a book of 48 pages dealing with the remedy. A few extracts from the
book will sufficiently indicate the nature of its contents.
There have been found cures for small-pox, and safe
precautions, such as vaccination, prevent the spread
of the disease; the horror of yellow fever has been
dispelled by a remedy that amounts practically to a
cure, and one could always flee to a northern clime and
escape it. The dread diphtheria also has yielded up its
dark secret, and now is no more a stalking spectre;
while yet dangerous it can be handled.
But through all these discoveries, consumption remained
as mysterious and deadly as ever. It invaded the homes
of the rich and the poor. It hunted out its victims
among the inhabitants of the far northland of ice and
snow, and it was just as persistent in the temperate
zone and at the equator.
Climate, temper, condition of health or purse made no
difference. One day the health and strength of the
athlete, and the next day the fever of the consumptive;
in a short time the frail skeleton would be laid
away—another victim. That was the oft-repeated story
of the “great white plague.”
But this horrible, awful consumption, that has gone
stalking through the land, should never again strike
the same terror to the souls of brave men and women,
and fill our hearts with such a helpless despair—for
consumption can now be cured. Tuberculozyne
(Yonkerman), the most wonderful and marvellous medical
discovery of the age, cures consumption....
After researches lasting for nearly twenty years, the
persistent efforts of Dr. Derk P. Yonkerman have been
crowned with success, for his Tuberculozyne treatment
has already been proved in hundreds of cases to be
a specific of almost miraculous curative power. Its
healing virtues have been demonstrated in not only the
early stages of consumption, but in far advanced and
seemingly hopeless cases as well....
Tuberculozyne (Yonkerman) was such a marvellous remedy
that when its discoverer first announced he could
cure consumption there were few ready to believe. He
had, however, discovered certain salts of copper of
remarkable therapeutic value, and his production was
immediately subjected to the most elaborate and rigid
demonstrative tests....
The consumption germs (tubercle bacilli) cannot live
in the presence of copper, and as the Tuberculozyne
treatment introduces copper into the blood, the
consumption germs cannot live....
Intra-Venous Injection, after thorough tests under
the most favourable conditions, proved absolutely
ineffective. Trachael (_sic_) Injection has
also been tried with equally unsatisfactory results.
Inoculation with lymph from tuberculous animals not
only utterly failed, but frequently hastened the
patient’s death. Antimony, prussic acid, emetics,
blisters, mercury, iron, digitalis, clover, and
numerous other drugs, have all proved useless, for
they failed to have any action upon the cause of the
disease, and only gave the patient temporary relief, if
they produced any beneficial effects at all.
In treating consumption in the past, physicians making
Tuberculosis a speciality have been accustomed to
recommend creosote and its product guaiacol, while
later arsenic has found a certain amount of favour.
These physicians have undoubtedly been honest and
conscientious in prescribing such treatment, for
they were upheld by the practice of years, and the
indorsement of the greatest specialists in each
generation for a hundred years. Yet they were wrong;
just as wrong and just as ignorant of the true remedy
for consumption as the ancients were of geography
before the new world was discovered.
Against the use of creosote or guaiacol, Dr. Yonkerman
speaks positively and emphatically, and his opinions
have now the support of all present-day physicians
making Tuberculosis their special study.
A “Life History of Dr. Derk P. Yonkerman” was also given, from which it
appeared that the home of Tuberculozyne is in Michigan, U.S.A.
The book was accompanied by a long letter, and this was followed at
intervals by others; these were all printed to appear as typewritten,
and dealt chiefly with the terrors of consumption if neglected, the
importance of taking Tuberculozyne at once, and, after a supply had
been sent, with the necessity of continuing its use even if no apparent
benefit results. A few extracts are here given:
You need not be discouraged or believe your case
incurable, even if you have tried all the usual
remedies and found no relief, for hundreds of our cured
patients have had the same experience; after all other
remedies had failed to even stop the progress of their
disease, they tried Tuberculozyne and were quickly
cured.
From the third letter:
We realize that since you were taken ill your expenses
must have been burdensome, and if you feel that
at the moment the cost of a complete treatment of
Tuberculozyne is more than you can readily meet, we
will send you the full month’s supply upon receipt of
but 40s.; the remaining 10s. you may pay at your own
convenience when you are fully satisfied that your cure
is complete and permanent.
From the fifth:
It is therefore with a genuine desire to help you that
we write enclosing a Special Voucher Coupon issued in
your name, which will help you materially if the cost
of our remarkable specific has been more than you could
really meet.... This Special Voucher Coupon which we
have issued to you is good for £1 Sterling when sent
with your order for Tuberculozyne. You have only to
post the coupon together with 30s., and immediately we
will forward to you the complete treatment and full
instructions for its use.
From later letters:
Even if her improvement is not at once pronounced, do
not be discouraged; for in some cases the patients
at first even seemed to be losing ground, but they
persevered and finally were cured. It would be much
better to take the treatment a few weeks too long than
to stop too soon....
Just at this time, when the patient has been taking
our treatment for some weeks and it is beginning to
permeate her system through and through, courage is
needed, for great improvement may not yet be apparent
though her cure be assured.
Every letter was accompanied with one lithographed copy, or more, of
testimonials.
The directions were:
After each meal, put thirty drops of the medicine from
each bottle into a tumbler of milk; stir well and drink
immediately.
If milk is distasteful, the medicine may be taken in
water which has been boiled.
For patients between the ages of seven and fifteen
years, give one-half of the above dose; for those under
seven years, give five (5) drops only, from each bottle.
No. 1 was a bright red liquid; analysis showed it to contain in 100
fluid parts, 3·4 parts of potassium bromide, 12 parts of glycerine,
a trace of a pungent substance, sufficient oil of cinnamon (or oil
of cassia) to give a flavour, a very small quantity of alcohol, and
cochineal colouring matter darkened with a trace of alkali; no copper
was present. The following formula gave an exactly similar liquid:
Potassium bromide 3·4 parts.
Glycerine 12·0 ”
Oil of cassia 0·1 part.
Tincture of capsicum 0·17 ”
Cochineal colouring q.s.
Caustic soda 0·06 part.
Water to 100 fluid parts.
No. 2 was a brown liquid, one specimen being bright and another
containing a little sediment. Analysis showed it to contain in 100
fluid parts, 18 parts of glycerine, sufficient essential oil of almonds
to give a flavour, and a colouring matter which appeared to be burnt
sugar. No copper was found in the small free sample, but the larger
bottle of No. 2 contained 0·01 per cent. of copper, and a trace of
sulphate: this quantity of copper is equivalent to ¹/₄₈ grain of
crystallised copper sulphate in each fluid drachm. As regards the other
ingredients the following formula gave an exactly similar liquid:
Glycerine 18 parts.
Essential oil of almond 0·1 part.
Burnt sugar q.s.
Water to 100 fluid parts.
The estimated cost of ingredients for No. 1 and No. 2 together is 2½d.
The following notes on some German nostrums for
Consumption are derived from Dr. Zernik’s articles in
the _Deutsche Medicinische Wochenschrift_.
KÖRBER’S CURE FOR CONSUMPTION.
The advertisements of this preparation are described
as particularly flagrant. Treatment for a fortnight
costs about 12s., and the medicine contains butter fat,
honey, catechu and tar-water.
BACILLENTOD.
Bacillentod or “death to bacilli” also described as a
“family tea,” is advertised as a miraculous preparation
which cures all diseases of the respiratory tract.
In the prospectus the word “phthisis” is misspelt.
One packet costs 1s., and consists of 85 grams of
galeopsidis, the dog, flowering, or hemp nettle, a herb
which is now quite obsolete but was an ingredient of
“Lieber’s tea for consumption,” which used to have an
extended sale.
HONEY COD LIVER OIL.
Pastor Felke’s Honey Cod Liver Oil is recommended in
preference to the ordinary forms of cod liver oil, on
account of its pleasant taste and of the absence of
any disturbing effect on the digestion. It is said to
contain “fat extracted cod liver oil,” whatever that
may mean, but proved on examination to be nothing more
than a mixture of 0·05 per cent. of cod liver oil with
oil of peppermint and raspberry syrup.