New-York tribune., 1911-03-19
Upton Sinclair Had 1t All
Figured Out That Meth.
er Physicians Nor Food
Were Really Necessary.

-HERE were great donGs at the Hotei
ST. Denis few nights ago. when
Il the Liberal Club held its fifth an
nual dinner and a thrce-cornered debate on
the question. Resolved. There must re
something wrong with the doctors. for the
veatber's pretty bad" Three hundred
diners shed tears or cheers as the different
sides stood in the lmelisht and defended or
assailed the dear old Family Doctor.
The Liberal club does rather startling
things: il seems TO live on thriiers. And
why shouldn't it? /, was organized by
Lincoln Steffens and Charles Edward Rus
sell when the Undertaking industry was
forging TO the front. some years ago. and
ever since it has stood to its flag. true 10
the business Consequently. nothing less
than startling clinical exhibitions. or at
least thrilling motion pictures of horrible
examples" was TO lie expected. But the
little round dinner tables. spotlcss and
shining. and the usual speakers table.
spread beneath conven,ionally decorated
walls. were all that greeted the eager eye.
still there was a secret hope that. when
the nmole walters withdrew with the last
demi-tasse. the thriller would be exposed
with all the punch of unexpected sur
Prise.
In the slowly subsiding chatter that in
variably precedes the after-dinner speech
John Haynes Holmes arose in the role OF
POSTMASTER. He looked about the room
and then complimented the Liberal men
and pretty women upon their presence
there. He said that as the clubs purpose
was TO bring together serious iberal-mind-
ed men and women who were thinking
upon the many vital subjects of the day. II
was particularly, especially. appropriate
that the subject chosen for that evening
was. rs Anything the Matter with the
Doctors?' Then. with gracefully turned
compliment. he introduced the first en-
hibt Of the evening. Mr. Upton Sinclair.
Mr.. Sinclair rose. bowed 10 the cordial
reception he received. announced his sub
j.ct as The Falacy of Physicians; or.
Every Man His own Doctor. and waded
right in. BY way OF graceful introduction
he mentioned that when he wrote certain
novel. in the long ago. he aimed at the
nations heart and hit il in the stomach.
The novel got back at him by hitting him
in the same spot, and he rose from its com
pleticn Il victim 10 the horrors OF dys-
pepsia. Then il was that he first entered
into intimate acquaintance with doctors.
lie said that when he started he held doc
tors in the same awe that Little Edith
Mother held them.
Little Edith he explained. was very
III. and the family doctor was summoned
hurriedly. Steadily she grew worse, anJ
about midnight she was suspected of being
dead. In fact. the doctor announced the
sad tidings TO the sobOing mother. But
Edith heard and whispered weakly. i
Amt dead at all. Hush. dear, soothed
her mother: don't contradict the doctor;
he knows best Such was my faith in
doctors when first began.
My own particular physician went on
Nj Sinclair. gave me a beautiful pink
LIQUID and while ] was taking ii felt fine,
hut AS soon as | stopped the Old trouble
Snawed again. ! changed doctors. Steadily
! grew worse instead of better Mr.. Sin
clair's eyes grew cold. a deep, dark frown
settled on his brow. and then, with every
eye upon him. he raised his clenched right
hand and smote his left palm hard in
punctuation OF this statement:
For three years / travelled about the
land-California. Florida, Bermuda. can
adam search of health. and ] did not find
II. / changed physicians each one proved
his failure. ] tried everything. In three
years | spent. exclusive of travelling and