The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-13
U.S.. GOING AFTER
ANTI.FAT FAKES
Promoters of Obesity Remedies In
Net Of Federal Department

Washington. ID. G. July l3.-Numer.
Gus inquiries received recently 10y tn,
L. : Department of Agriculture indi.
cate that promoters Of so-called obesi.
| " remedies and fat-reducing cures are
using an old trick dressed in new
clothes 10 deceive fat people into
spending money for worthless or dan
gerous preparations The advertise
ments appeal To the vanity OF people
who wish 10 regain graceful figures
and also 10 the business necessities of
those who become SO fat that they can
no longer do their work efficiently.
Use Test on U. S. Employees.
In order 10 be able To give definite
reply 10 many people inquiring about
specific remedies. the drug specialists
Of the Bureau of Chemistry recently
conducted a series OF tests with a
number OF nostrums of this character
on employees in the Department who
wished To lose surplus flesh without
injuring their health. one of the most
widely advertised so-called prescrip-
tons for reducing flesh was tried for
period of six months The result was
that two OF the objects under expert
mentation were obliged tn stop after
taking the medicine for two or three
weeks because OF it's injurious effect.
The third subject gained 2la pounds
instead Of losing flesh. Another of the
so-Called remedies of Great Obesity
Specialist" was tried. The subject
which accompanied this remedy and
faithfully carried out the system of ex-
ercise recommended. After six months
treatment there was a reduction Of Is
pounds Of flesh but this the expert
mentors attribute To the fact that the
subject ate no bread, butter. starchy
food, pastry sugar or candy while un-
der observation. The first month after
the treatment the sub
ject gained 10 pounds. and in three
months was back To the original weight
recorded at the beginning of the treat
ment.
Postage Stamp Is Bait.
The circulars, letters and other an
nouncements of these so-called obesity |
which are published broad |
'ast, in many cases asserted that a |
-wo-cent stamp is the only charge.
Those sending the two cents to the
philanthropist, who wishes TO |
lelp other sufferers To get rid of sur
llus flesh, commonly received "A state
nent that the physician or "profes-
or discovered this remedy i'm the
vilds of some foreign country or re-
'eiVed 1t from some famous Indian
Medicine man on his deathbed. Then
fter due praise OF the effectiveness of
he remedy the professor" states that
Ie IL willing 10 supply this wonderful
treatment for fee of from $l5 to SIS
month. II the prospective patient
oes not answer Immediately he is be-
legged with line Of follow-up letters,
MI finally as "A great individual favor
e Is told than he can obtain this mar
elous flesh reducer for the sum of
$50. In return for the reduced price.
oweVer, the patient must agree to
ell all his fat friends about this Won
erful means Of shedding avoirdupois.
Women Are Usually Victims.
Judging from the letters received by
ne Department of Agriculture appeal
lg to IL To stop this practice under
he Food and Drugs Act, women are
sually the victims of these "profes-
1rs.' Much Of the literature contains
legged statements of some individual
oman's thrilling experience in fat
'rming and reducing, and this
lakes the situation seem real and per-
Inal 10 the other woman. Cases are
4 record where women have parted
18th almost their last dollar in theI !
ppe or improving their figures, and
ave awaited results with anticipa-
on that makes their later disappoint-
ent almost pathetic. The strong fea-
ire or most of the literature is that
dieting il necessary; the medicine
to do 1t all and the patient is told /
at he can eat all he wants and as
ten as he wishes, which is "A strong
ducement to most stout people.
Preparations Are Harmful.
Ihese preparations usually contain
yroids and a laxative. The thyroids
ay prove very hurtful unless given
lder the advice of physician per-
nally familiar with the subjects ply
'al condition. The Department has
record an instance where death has
lowed overdoses OF preparations
ntaining thyroids. other prepara-
1ns contain poke root phytolacca) a
'isonous drug, and others, analysis
lows, contain nothing that could
'ssibly have the slightest effect in re-
icing flesh.