Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-27
WARNING AGAINST THE HUNDREDS
OF WORTHLESS ANTIFAT "CURES"
The National Department Of Agriculture Has Made Tests of
Some of These Remedies Its Own Employees and Found
Them Be valueesWomen Are Usually the Victims of the
Hundreds of professors" No Touring the Country

Washington, July 2e-Numereus 10
quiriss received recently by the U. 8. De-
partnent of Agriculture Indicate that
promoters Of so-catied obesity remedies
and fat-FedueiRg ouses are using an old
trick dressed in new clothes to deceive
fat people into spending money for
worthless OF dangerous preparations. The
advertisements appeal 10 the vanity of
people who wish to regain graceful fig-
ures and Also to the business Deeessi-
ties of those who become so fat that
they can no longer do their work eff
ciently.
In order to be able to give definite
reply to many people inquiring about
specific remedies. the drug specialists of
the Bureau of Chemistry recently con-
Quoted a series of tests with a number
of postrums of this character on en-
ployees in the Department. who wished to
lose surplus flesh without ipjuring their
health. One of the most widely adver-
tised so-called prescriptions for reducing
flesh was tried for period of six
months. The result was that two of the
subjects under experimentation were
for two or three weeks because of it's
injurious effect. The third subject gained
29s pounds instead of losing flesh. An
other of the so-ealled remedies of a
Great Obesity Specialist" was tried. The
subject scrupusouslY followed the diet
list which accompanied this remedy an
faithfully carried out the system of ex-
ercises recommended. After six months
treatment there was a reduction of IS
pounds of flesh but this the experiment
ers attribute to the fact that the sub
pastry, sugar OF candy while under OBJ
servatien The first month after dfscon-
tinuins the treatment the subject gained
10 pounds, and in three months was back
to the original weight recorded at the
beginning of the treatment.
The circulars. letters and other an
nouncements of these so-called obesity
remedies. which are published broadcast
in many cases asserted that a twe-cent
stamp Is the only charge. Those sending
the two-eents to the supposed philan-
threpist. whe wishes to help other suf=
ferers to get rid of surplus flesh, COM
monty received statement that the
physician or professor discovered this
remedy In the wilds of some foreign
country or received IL from some famous
Indian Medicine man on his deathhed.
Then afteS due praise of the effectiveness
of the remedy the professor states that
he Is willing to supply this wonderful
treatment for fee Of from Sis to ss5 a
month. If the prospective patient does
not answer Immediately he is besieged
with line of follow up letters, and fin
ally as great individual favor he Is
told that ne can obtain this marvellous
guaranteed flesh redueer for the sum of
$3.50. In return for the reduced price,
however. the patient must agree to tell
all his fat friends about this wonderful
means Of shedding avoirdupois.
Judging from the letters received by
the Department of Agriculture appealing
to 1t to stop this practice under the Food
and Drugs Act, women are usually the
victims of these professors Much of
the literature contains alleged state
ments of some Individual womans thrill
ing experience in fat-farming and fat-re-
ducing, and this makes the situation
seem real and personal to the other wo-
men. Cases are on record where women
nave parted with almost their last dollar
in the hope of improving their figures,
and have awaited results with anticipa-
ton that makes their later disappoint-