Public interest in any new medical development is at once capitalized
by the promoters of nostrums and fallacies. It is not surprising,
therefore, that increasing interest and knowledge of the glands of
internal secretion should have aroused in the minds of some promoters
the possibility of unusual and unwarranted gains.
In March, 1921, the “Youth Gland Chemical Laboratories” was
incorporated in Illinois; in February, 1922, the name of the
corporation was changed to the “Druesen-Kraft Chemical Laboratories.”
Later, it became known as the “Lewis Laboratories.” It was not,
however, until March 19, 1925, that the United States Government closed
the mails to this concern. In the meantime, it reaped a rich harvest
from the unwary. The advertising literature of this concern was of
a style so striking as to have merited some better use. A full-page
announcement in the newspapers was headed, in two-inch, black type,
“YOUR GLANDS WEAR OUT”; in the center of the page, he-men and she-women
danced the one-step in close embrace. And here are the phrases that
brought the replies:
--It is based entirely on the principle of Feeding Actual Gland
Substance Direct to the Glands, thereby renewing and rejuvenating
them.
--This method of giving new life to the glands is advocated and
endorsed by the leading students of gland therapy throughout the
world--including Dr. Arnold Lorand, who is generally conceded to be
the greatest living authority on this subject.
--The actual Method of Treatment used by us is the result of
exhaustive experiments covering several thousand cases, during the
past two years.
--The “Lewis” Treatment Is Practically Never Failing.
--If You Could Prevent the Wear and Tear on Your Glands Caused by
Sickness, Age, Disease, etc., You Would Look and Feel as Young at 70
as at 25. Science However Has Solved the Secrets of the Glands and
Now for the First Time Shows You the True Way to KEEP or REGAIN Your
Vigor by Feeding and Replenishing the Most Important Glands!
--Build Up Your Glands and You Build Up Your Strength and Endurance.
The evidence is clear that the firm did exceedingly well from a
financial point of view. The original price of the treatment was
$10.00, which, on occasion, could be reduced to $7.50, and, if the
victim still failed to succumb, to a special offer of $2.95. The court
records in the case showed that the firm had spent at least $300,000.00
in advertising, and that it had a gross annual income of between
$250,000.00 and $300,000.00. Nevertheless, scientific evidence has
shown that extracts or other preparations of the sex glands are without
power when taken by mouth. They not only fail to produce rejuvenation
of the entire body, but even to stimulate to any extent the particular
portions of the body in which the applicant for rejuvenation seems to
be especially interested.
Another concern, with headquarters in Denver, issued a booklet entitled
“The Secret of Staying Young.” Here were the testimonials of elderly
men, 82, 83 and 84 years of age, who announced that they had lasting
benefits from the treatments offered. These testimonials are just as
vociferous and emphatic as those of aspirants for youth operated on by
the disciples of Steinach. The treatments consisted of nothing more
than dried animal glands, taken by mouth, which, as has been said,
could not possibly have the effects claimed for them. The concern
exploiting these desiccated glands, the “Vital-O-Gland Company,” not
content with depending on the mental responses of those who took
its preparations by mouth, sold at the same time the usual vacuum
developer, a glass tube attached to a bicycle pump. When the Government
investigated this concern, it found twenty-two girls and five men
occupied in sending out the salacious literature. The evidence revealed
that the gross income of the concern for 1923 was $176,406.82.
Rejuvenation pays!
The Vital-O-Gland Company and the Lewis Laboratories have been barred
by the Government from the use of mails, but there still remain many
concerns offering, both to physicians and to the public, glandular
preparations for rejuvenation or for sexual stimulation. There will
always be senescent, somewhat lewd and sad old men to waste the funds
of their declining years on such powerless pills. The memories of youth
become more and more resplendent with the passing years.
The Glandine Laboratories of Chicago and Los Angeles issues a circular
with the question, “Must We Grow Old?” and with the answer, “Science
Says, No.” The treatments consist of extracts of the sex glands to
be taken by mouth. The Glandex Company of New York advertised in
the public press a combination of gland extracts with iron. The
International Research Laboratories of Chicago advertised “Baker’s
Glandol,” with a salacious pamphlet emphasizing the rejuvenation of
man, and with such headings as “The Most Interesting Thing Is Love.
Don’t Waste Life. Luck from Boldness and Suppressed Desires.” Where is
the man who could resist the plea?
The Puritan Laboratories of Nashville, Tennessee, issues “Glandtone,”
offered with the claim that it will restore youthful vigor to those
passing with age. The Walton Chemical Company of Chicago emphasizes
the glands and says that a combination of the sex glands, the thyroid,
prostate, pituitary and adrenal, hermetically sealed, will defer
old age and renew vitality. What of the impudence and psychological
cleverness of its warning: