Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-27

, ment almost pathetic, The strong feature
Of most of the literature Is that no diet
Ing - necessary; the medicine is 70 do It
all and the patient is told that he can
| eat all ne wants and as often as he
| wishes, which is strong inducement to
most stout people
These preparations usually contain
thyroids and laxative. The thyroids
may prove very hurtful unless given un-
der the advice of a physician personally
familiar with the subjects physical con-
dition. The Department has on record
an instance where death has followed
overdoses of preparations containing
thyroids. Other preparations contain
poke root, tphytolacca) poisonous drug,
and others. analysis shows, contain
nothing that could possibly have the
slightest effect in reducing flesh.
The promoters of one preparation as
sert that it secures most marvellous re-
suits by process Of elimination Of foods
without digestion. These people guaran-
tee the reduction of a pound a day. A
preparation of this character, If it did
what it's makers claim for it, would prob
ably eliminate any need of digestion In
the future. Another product, examina-
ton shows, consists principally of ordi-
nary soap. The idea is to apply this To-
cally with friction and thus remove the
fat wherever 1t may be in excess. A still
more clever scheme provides chemicals
to be added to the water in which the
patient is 20 battle. These chemicals are
of such a nature that they form sort of
curd in the water after the patient has
bathed. This curd, the advertisement
states, Is fat and surplus tissue removed
from the body. Other schemes supply a
tablet at 70 cents dozen for which
claim is made that it will reduce fat at
the rate of pound a day.
No other class of preparations exploit
ed to humbug the people has wider
sale. and in nearly every instance they
are absolutely worthless In many cases
where patients seem to lose weight this
result is attributed to the hot baths and
the diet and exercises recommended as
an accompaniment in taking the msdi-
cine.
The only ways that the departments
specialists know of safely reducing flesh
are rigid dieting and strenuous exercise.
and those to be effective must be con-
| tinued over a long period of time. The
fat reducing patient must eliminate from
his diet fats, starehy foods and sugar.
In many cases it is not wise because Of
other physical conditions for fat peo-
pie to attempt any rapid reduction In
weight. As a general rule. diet and ex-
ercise are best directed by skilled ply
sician. Loss of flesh Is by no means a
blessing If accompanied by loss of
health, energy or strength.
1t is practically impossible to pre-
vent the sale of these preparations In
interstate commerce UNDER the Food and
Drugs Act for the reason that the claims
upon the packages are purposely so
guarded as to eyade actian. As rule
the claims, guarantees, ETC., appear in
advertisements, circular letters ETC., and
these the makers are very careful to
keep separate from the package.
The Post Office Department, however,
has been instrumental in sileneing some
of these promoters by issuing fraud ord
ers against them and denying them the
use of the malls. The Department of
Agriculture, can only warn the people
to beware Of all such preparations con-
tanning such claims, for in the knowledge
of all drug specialists at the present time
there is no preparation that can be de-
pended upon to reduce flesh in any mark :
ed degree without doing injuries.