The chronicle=news., 1914-07-24
WARNING AGAINST THE
WORTHLESS hNJFAT
"CURfS"
Department Of Agriculture Tests
Some of These Remedies" on Its
Own Employees and Finds Them to
Be Valuless.


Washington. July 24.-Numerous
inquiries received recently by the
United States department OF agricul-
ture indicate that promoters OF So
called obesity remedies ana fat-re-
dressed in new clothes to deceive rat
people into spending money tor
worthless or dangerous preparations.
The advertisements appeal TO the
vanity Of people who wish to regain
graceful figures and also to the busi-
so fat that they can no longer do
their work efficiently.
In order to he able TO give a
dennite reply to many people inquir-
ing about specific remedies. 'hc
drug specialists of the bureau OF
chemistry recently conducted a Sc
ries of tests with a number OF nos
trums OF this character on employees
in the department who wished to
lose surplus flesh without inJurint
their health. Une of the most wide
ly advertised sO-called prescription
for reducing, flesh was tried tor
period of six months. The result was
that two of the subjects under ex-
perimentatiop, were. Obliged to stop
after taking nthe medicine tor two
or three weeks because of its in1u-
rious effect The third subject gair-
ed two and a half pounds instead OF
losing flesh. Another of the so
called remedies OF Great Obesity
was tried The subject
carried OUT the system
nj exercises recommended. After six
months treatment there was n re-
duction of * pounds of flesh. Du;
this the experimenters attribute To-
the fact that the subject ate no
bread, butter. starchy food. pastry.
sugar or candy while under observa-
lion. The first month after discon-
tinuing the treatment the subJec;
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
OF these so-called
pbesuy remedies, which are publish.
ed, in many cases asserted that
two-cent stamp is the only charge.
Those send the two cents TO the sup
posed philanthropist, who wiehCs TO
belD other sufferers 20 get rid ci
surplus flesh, commonly received u
statement that the physician or pro
lessor" discovered this remedy In the
wilds of some foreign country or
received it from some famous Indian
medicine man on his deathbed. Iheh
after due praise OF the effectiveness
Of the remedy the professor" states
that he is willing to supply this
treatment for Zee OF
from SIS to $25 q month. II the
patient does not answer
he is beslcged with n
line of follow-up letters. ana nnal'y
as n great individual favor lie Is
told that ne can obtain this mar
yelous guaranteed flesh redHcer Tor
the sum OF $3.50. in return Tor the
reduced price, however, the patient
must agree to tell all his fat friends
about this wonderful means OF she'd
dfhe avoidupo's. ~ o.
Judging from the letters received
by tic department of agriculture ap-
pealing to it to stop this practice
under the food and drugs act. wom-
en- are usually the victims OF these
Mucn Of the htera-
ture contains alleged statements OF
some individual womans thrilling
experience IN fat-forming and rat
reducing, and this makes the situa-
tion seem real and personal to tn"
other women. Cases are on record
where women nave parted with al
most their last dollar in the hore OF
their figures, ana nave
awaited results with anticipation
that makes their later disappoint-
ment almost pathetic. The strong
feature of most of the literature ,v
that no dieting is necessary: the
medicine is to do It all and the pa