Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-12-15
ARTIQUACK SOCIETY
Protection of Public Health and
Morals Its Intent.
TO WAGE WAR ON FAKE DOCTORS

Cleveland Reporters Description of
HIS CrusadtnE Experiences.
More than 125 delegates representing
organizations in New York. PhiladeI-
phla and cities OF the south and mid
die west assembled in the Hudson the
alter in New York the other afternoon
to form national body to fight against
deleterious proprietary medicines, quack
medical Institutes and kindred evils
says the New York Sun. Deputy State
Attorney Eugene O'Dunne OF Balti-
more suggested that the organization
be called the Public Health Defense
league, and this name was adopted.
Austen G. Fox presided President
MCGOWAN OF the board Of aldermen
welcomed the delegates to New York
for Mayor Mcclellan, who was unable
to be present, and Mgr Lavelle OF st.
Patrick's cathedral. speaking for Arch
bishop Farley, said that anything that
the clergy and laity OF the Catholic
church IN America could do 10 helm
on the crusade would gladly be done.
Many OF the delegates We're women.
Mrs. Martha NJ. Allen. head of the de
partment of medical temperance OF the
w. c. I. L.. made an address.
The longest speech and the one that
caught the audience the most WIS
made by Charles +. Stuart. a reporter
for the Cleveland News Mr.. Stuart
told how his city editor called him nm
one day and told him 10 get after the
quacks OF Cleveland regardless OF ex-
pense."
FIRST. went to two big physicians
Of Cleveland" began Mr.. Stuart. "and
told them TO go through me with n
dark lactern. They said there was
nothing the matter with me except n
little bronchial affection, due to ciga-
rettes. Then under an assumed name
I visited every big advertising ouack
Ia town I didn't give them a list OF
fake symptoms. because even repu-
table physician now present could be
fooled that way. lLaughter.I
First l called on one with whiskers.
They all have whiskers. y'know. but
somehow or other this fellows whis-
kers didn't gee with the whlskers I'm
his pictures published with his adver-
uscmcnts. lie said could be cured OF
stomach. liver. lung, kidney and other
diseases-all OF which he discovered
had-tor so. l jewed him down 10 50.
and then he took me into a department
with a name on the door a yard long.
stretched me on table. and while he
began TO massage me he turned on a
lot or fake machinery and colored
lights that had the aurora borealls
faded but say. / never made n
speech In my lie, and don't know
whether I'm making good. lCries OF
you are; go on. and laughter.
Well, he made me sit In n static
chair FOR three-quarters OF an hour
suddenly / asked him for a guarantee
that would be cured Of all the dis
eases he had found.
You're almost half cured now said
the doctor but when / in listed that I
must have a written guarantee he
handed me one finally that said
would he cured of-what do YOU think?
froStatic nephrltis" Now. IN any doc
tor here can tell me what the-what
prostate nephritis' is ia be glad TO be
interrupted. Laughter. | asked the
quack what IL was. and he sail Thar
phrase covers all the other diseases
Can you beat IL? Also their private
drus stores are the greatest system OF
graft In existence.
After my paper had sent me the
rounds OF the city we scourged them
right and left and called them robbers.
cheats and everything else bv name
hy that crusade we put out OF busl-
ness at least 50 Far as Cleveland was
eO"cerAed. nrms that had been spend
lns $4,000 a year for postage STAMPS
none and whose annual business was
over 100000"
1T is time the community began 70
realize the evil that threatens IT," said
chairman Austen Fox. Exposure OF |
QuacKs and quack medicines may put |
one or two out OF business, but what |
we need is laws that will make these |
ouenses punishable by fines and i'm
prlsonmeot- And, as the English say /
AZ dogSedness as does it we need To /
go at them doggedIy not only In a local |
way, but national as well. l don't be-
leVe the enforcement Of criminal law
should be placed In the hands OF Dri-
vate organizations. but the organiza-
ions can wage the fight TO bring the |
sponsors or these abuses to justice.
Our great power will be the press
heretofore the press has been the most
'ecreant to its duty. 1t is generally be-
ieyed here that you must make your
'eif solid with the press, but now / feel |
sure the newspapers are ashamed OF
heir part IA these Matters
Thomas w. Barlow OF Philadelphia
poke principally Of the work done by
anthony Comstock for the promotion
If sweetness and light in New York.
Ind later Mr.. Comstock took the floor
md spoke In the same strain.
No specific legislation was discussed
The sole purpose Of the conference as
embodied IN the blanket resolutions
hat were adopted was to form n ma
ional body TO fight not only quackery.
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