Let him first

✍ Scribed by C.

• Book ID: 104130196
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1935
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 47 KB
• Volume: 219
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-0032
• DOI: 10.1016/s0016-0032(35)91513-7

✦ Synopsis

The Bureau of Federal Food and Drug Administration reports the occurrence of a striking coincidence. It seems that a self-styled cancer specialist died of cancer on the eve of his prosecution on charges of violating the Federal Food and Drugs Act. His principal medicine was labeled Mixer's Cancer and Scrofula Syrup and was composed of potassium iodide, senna, licorice, yellow dock root, sarsaparilla, wintergreen, glycerine, alcohol and sugar syrup.

The manufacturer of the "elixir" employed a physician to care for his own cancer. By correspondence he "diagnosed" his unseen patients frequently without even a statement from them of their condition or symptoms. In his lengthy correspondence with each patient, there usually occurred periods when the spirits of the patient rose above the gloom and discouragement ordinarily filling the letters, these cheerful and optimistic communications were used as testimonials of the worth of his "remedies." The others were carefully suppressed.

C.