Chapter V: deals with “The Problem of Legislation.” It is based on the (3)

Most important were the effects of iodin administered intratracheally in the forms of fumes. Iodin given in this way seems to be rapidly and completely absorbed; but it was found that the administration of the fumes of iodin by inhalation through the respiratory passages, even in small quantities, is fraught with great danger. Such administration induces dyspnea; and when it is given in large quantities, acute and fatal pulmonary edema ensues within twenty-four hours. When respiratory disorders are present at the time of administration, the fatal edema supervenes very quickly. Thus far, no device designed to deliver fumes controls the dosage.

It is interesting to consider, as do the authors, the fact that the fumes of iodin have the same effect as those of two other halogens, bromin and chlorin. The results of these experiments with iodin fumes on the dog, as shown by necropsy findings, are practically identical with those reported by military surgeons as found in soldiers gassed with chlorin during the war.

The results of these researches are additional evidence as to how scientific research may confirm or deny conclusions based on empiric therapeutic observations. The work may well serve as a model for similar experiments, now being made, on the therapeutic use, intravenously, of such substances as nonspecific proteins or organic preparations of toxic drugs. The patient should at least have the chance that is afford him by preliminary experiments, scientifically performed on animals in the research laboratory.--(_Editorial from The Journal A.M.A., May 29, 1920._)

ITALIAN PHYSICO-CHEMICAL COMPANY

Many and various are the letters received by The Journal asking for information about an alleged scientific organization in Italy styled _l’Académie Physico-Chimique Italienne_. This Italian Physico-Chemical Academy is operated from Palermo, Italy. Here is the scheme: Dr. John Doe, an American physician receives an imposing-looking letter bearing the Palermo, Sicily, postmark and addressed to “_Monsieur le Docteur John Doe, Médecin_.” On opening the letter “_Monsieur le Docteur_” finds that the “Council” of _l’Académie Physico-Chimique Italienne_ has nominated him “Honorary Member of this Academy” and furthermore has bestowed on him “a First Class Medal for technical work and scientific merit.” All this, “in consideration of your many dignities and great learning.” Dr. Doe is told that as soon as he will write an acceptance of this honor “in conformity with Section 19 and 22 of the Constitution” he will be sent “the Medal, Diploma and all the other documents relating to the title accorded.” The joker in the scheme lies in the necessity for Dr. John Doe “conforming” with “Section 19 and 22 of the Constitution.” Here are the sections:

“_Sec. 19._--The entrance fee to cover office and postal expenses,
including postage of diploma is 5 Dollars, and is payable once at
the admission to the Academy by special bulletin filled up, stamped
and signed.”

“_Sec. 22._--Those to whom medals are awarded and who wish to
possess them must pay for their coinage 10 Dollars as the Academy
does not, at present, possess the necessary funds for this
purpose....”

In short the whole thing means that if Dr. Doe is willing to send $15 in good American money he will receive in due time from the academy a “diploma” and a gilt (not gold) medal.

About four years ago when the “Academy” seemed to be making a particularly heavy bid for American dollars the member of The Journal staff in charge of the Propaganda Department wrote to the “Academy,” on his personal stationery, asking about the cost of membership in the “Academy” and asking also for a copy of the “prospectus.” And that was all. In reply he received a letter stating that “in consideration of” his “many dignities and great learning” he had been nominated “an officer of this academy” and had been awarded “_la médaille de première classe_” for humanitarian work and scientific merit. In order to obtain these tokens of the “Academy’s” regard it would be necessary to inform the “Academy” of acceptance “in conformity with Section 19 and 22 ...” As the Propaganda Department did not consider the diploma and gilt medal worth $15 even as exhibit for its museum of fakes, the “Form of Acceptance” was not filled in and returned “in accordance with Section 19 and 22.”

The leading spirits in the operation of this diploma and medal mill are D. and G. Bandiera, who, so far as we can learn, are neither physicians nor pharmacists nor have any scientific standing. The “Academy” has been referred to at various times[294] by The Journal.--(_From The Journal A. M. A., Feb. 26, 1916._)

[294] J. A. M. A. 48: 2196 (June 29) 1907; Editorial 57: 1373, Berlin letter, p. 1380 (Oct. 21) 1911; 58: 1455 (May 11) 1912; 60: 770 (March 8) 1913; 60: 1480 (May 10) 1913; 61: 1737 (Nov. 8) 1913.

WHAT IS LIQUID PETROLATUM?

The use of liquid petrolatum in chronic constipation, which has recently become the vogue, has naturally been commercialized; as a result, also naturally, claims of superiority of one brand over another have been made. Some of these claims may have been well founded; others certainly are not. Some have claimed superiority for those products made from Russian oil over those made from American oils. As naphthene hydrocarbons predominate in Russian crude petroleums, and paraffin hydrocarbons in many or most American crude petroleums, it was assumed that the petrolatums derived from these sources differed from one another in like manner. Both the naphthenes and the paraffins are chemically inert; but some unexplained therapeutic superiority has been assumed to reside in the naphthenes. Consequently, it has been urged that the American liquid petrolatums should not be used internally. So far these claims and counterclaims have been based on much theory and little fact. The Journal publishes this week a contribution by Benjamin T. Brooks, Senior Fellow in charge of petroleum investigations at Mellon Institute, Pittsburgh. Brooks calls attention to the fact that Marcusson, in 1913, pointed out that most of the so-called “mineral oils” used for therapeutic purposes contain no paraffin hydrocarbons whatever; that they consist solely of naphthenes and polynaphthenes. Brooks confirms this statement so far as American liquid petrolatums are concerned. He states that many American petroleums, such as most of those from the Gulf region, are like the Russian in containing no paraffin; and that, in the case of those petroleums that do contain it, the customary refinery method of removing paraffin is sufficient to produce true naphthene and polynaphthene petrolatums. “The claim that only Russian oils belong in this class,” he says, “has no basis in fact and has been advanced presumably for business reasons.” The name “paraffin oil” applied to these liquid petrolatums, then, is a misnomer. The new name, “white naphthene oils,” suggested by Brooks, seems superfluous, however, since the pharmacopeial title, “liquid petrolatum,” is subject to no such objection.--(_Editorial from The Journal A. M. A., Jan. 1, 1916._)

THE LOWENTHAL POSTGRADUATE COURSE

Which Tells How to Make Diagnoses Accurately, Scientifically Check
the Christian Scientists and Increase Your Earning Power

During the past year The Journal has received letters from physicians in various cities asking for information regarding the “Post Graduate Course of Lectures and Clinics on Nervous and Mental Diseases” which was going to be given in their respective cities by Dr. Albert A. Lowenthal of Chicago. The following inquiries are typical:

“_To the Editor._--Please note the enclosed letter from the
American Organotherapy Company which appears to be conducted by
Lowenthal. The proposition of conducting these clinics impresses me
as a piece of colossal gall which is amazing even in these days. Do
you know anything about this matter?”

“_To the Editor._--Who the dickens is Albert A. Lowenthal, M.D.?
Note the circular enclosed. I have blue circled the remarks he
evidently thinks will attract.”

In May, 1919, Chicago physicians received a form letter, signed, and on the stationery of, Albert A. Lowenthal, notifying them that Dr. Lowenthal was about to “give a Post Graduate Course of Lectures and Clinics on nervous and mental diseases” in the “Banquet Hall, Morrison Hotel.” Enclosed was a “Programme and Reservation Card” and a self-addressed envelop for physicians to notify Dr. Lowenthal that they would be present. In addition to showing physicians “how to make diagnoses accurately,” Dr. Lowenthal offered to “explain fully how to scientifically check the Christian Scientists and increase your earning power!” And all for nothing!

At later dates similar letters were received by physicians in other cities, on the stationery of the “American Organotherapy Company, Room 902, 31 North State St., Chicago.” Dr. Lowenthal, whose Chicago office is Room 901, 31 North State St., is, apparently, president, treasurer and practical owner of this company. Enclosed with each of these letters--which offered the same inducements, free--was an envelop addressed to Albert A. Lowenthal in care of the hotel at which Dr. Lowenthal would stay while in that city. There was also a “Programme and Reservation Card” as in the case of the letters sent to Chicago physicians.

According to our records, Dr. Albert A. Lowenthal was born in Chicago in 1874 and was graduated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, in 1895, receiving his license the same year.

In a leaflet issued some time ago by Albert A. Lowenthal, M.D., “for the sole purpose of enlightening Prospective Patients in regard to the therapeutic value of the Organo Therapy Treatment for Nervous Diseases,” we learn that Dr. Lowenthal is, or was:

“Professor Nervous and Mental Diseases, Chicago Hospital College of
Medicine.”

“Formerly Professor Nervous and Mental Diseases, Dearborn Medical
College, Jenner Medical College.”

“Adjunct Professor on Neurology and Psychiatry, University of
Illinois College of Medicine.”

“Formerly Physician Illinois Eastern Hospital for the Insane.”

“Formerly Supt., Riverview Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Kankakee,
Ill.”

“Formerly on Advisory and Associated Attending Staff Cook County
Hospital.”

In Polk’s Medical Directory for 1904, Dr. Albert A. Lowenthal’s name appeared, under Chicago, at 910-912 Chicago Opera House Building. He was described as “Superintendent of Lowenthal’s Sanitarium.” In the same issue of the directory, there was a display advertisement of the Lowenthal Sanitarium, which, while located at Kankakee, Ill., had its “main offices” at 912 Chicago Opera House Bldg., Chicago. The advertisement was headed “GOAT LYMPH TREATMENT,” and read in part:

“Goat Lymph has revolutionized medicine, and has been adopted by
the scientific medical world as the only therapeutical agent that
will absolutely bring about positive results in chronic conditions,
such as Neurasthenia, Nervous Collapse, Paralysis, Locomotor
Ataxia, Brain Fag, Oncoming Insanity, Chronic Stomach Disorders, in
fact such diseases needing cell stimulation.”

It mentioned further that Dr. Albert Lowenthal “introduced Goat Lymph to the medical world as a curative agent.”

A few years ago a Chicago concern, known as the “American Animal Therapy Co.,” put out such products as “Lymphoid Compound (Lowenthal),” “Ova Mammoid (Lowenthal),” “Prostoid (Lowenthal),” etc. The American Animal Therapy Co. had for its manager James M. Rainey. Rainey also operated the “Rainey Medicine Co.,” a mail-order “patent medicine” concern that sold “Vitaline,” a “general debility cure.” The Rainey “Vitaline” quackery was exposed in The Journal, Oct. 1, 1910, and the matter appears in “Nostrums and Quackery.”

When the American Animal Therapy Company was operating from 84 Adams St., Chicago, it claimed to have a hospital and laboratory at Kankakee. At the same time letters were being sent out on the stationery of “The Lymph Hospital,” signed Albert A. Lowenthal, M.D. Although this “hospital” was at Kankakee, Ill., the address on the stationery was 84 Adams St., Chicago, and its telephone number was that of the American Animal Therapy Company. According to the stationery, the “Medical Department” of the Lymph Hospital was “under the personal direction of Dr. Albert A. Lowenthal, who introduced the Lymph Compound and Lymphoid Compound to the Scientific Medical World as a curative agent in Chronic Nervous conditions.” A layman received a letter from the “Lymph Hospital” urging him to take “Lymphoid Compound.” Later he received a “follow-up” letter, from which the following extracts are made. Capitals used as in the original:

“Do you know that the doctors of this country are using the
LYMPHOID COMPOUND EXCLUSIVELY in all cases, where the nervous
system is greatly involved, with the most MARVELOUS RESULTS. ISN’T
THAT SUFFICIENT PROOF as to the merit of the remedy?”

“... Nobody can tell you there is something just as good, because
THERE IS NOTHING JUST AS GOOD AS THE LYMPH--in fact IT IS THE ONLY
THING THAT CAN BE DEPENDED UPON.”

“... Our Dr. Lowenthal gives his personal attention to all cases
at the Hospital and devotes a portion of his time advising by
mail those persons under treatment who are unable to come to the
Hospital. He is a man of WORLD WIDE REPUTATION IN TREATING NERVOUS
DISEASES--HIS ADVICE ON CASES LIKE YOURS IS WORTH EVERYTHING TO
YOU.”

“Think this over and if you do, you will write an order today for
the Lymphoid Compound. The home treatment costs $9.50 for thirty
three days--think of that. You have our physician’s advice and care
free of charge--could anybody ofter more to you?”

In 1908 Dr. Lowenthal appeared as a witness for Edward R. Hibbard, who was being prosecuted by the federal authorities. Hibbard operated a “men’s specialist” office in Chicago; it had two entrances and a different name for each entrance--the “Boston Medical Institute” and the “Bellevue Medical Institute.” Hibbard was found guilty of fraud in the operation of this concern and was fined $1,500. The transcript of the testimony in the Hibbard case records that Dr. Albert A. Lowenthal, when on the stand, claimed to “have treated as many nerve patients as any nerve specialist in Chicago.” He further declared, according to the transcript, that physicians who make a specialty of nervous diseases “mature in about ten years” and that after that time most of them become nervous wrecks or insane. This was in 1908. In this connection it is worth noting that in letters sent out by Lowenthal in May, 1919, he claimed:

“In the past twenty-five years I have limited my work to
neurological and psychological cases....”

In 1908 also, Dr. Lowenthal was sending out letters to Illinois physicians in his capacity as secretary of the “Physicians’ League of Illinois.” The “league” issued a “report on candidates for governor and members of legislature,” giving the names of the various political candidates for office whom “the members of the league can safely support.” There were no “membership” fees and a physician who wrote asking “who foots the bills” received no reply.

In 1915 Albert A. Lowenthal, whose “valuable discoveries in the domains of Organo Therapy, Neurology and Pediatrics, have given him an international reputation as a Neurologist, Alienist and Climatological Expert of high standing,” was “Medical Superintendent” of the “National Sanitarium Information Bureau.” This purported to represent the “Leading Sanitariums and Health Resorts in the U. S.” The “Bureau” expected to make its “profit from the 10 per cent. honorarium received on every referred patient.” The “Business Manager” of this concern was one Hubert Miller, M.D. The following advertisement appeared in the classified department of the _St. Louis Post Dispatch_ in 1915:

A layman who wrote in answer to this advertisement received a letter from Dr. Lowenthal in which he said that it was his intention to take about thirty patients south with him for four months--cost of trip $500, which includes medical treatment, board, etc. Dr. Lowenthal stated further:

“I have treated probably more cases of Locomotor Ataxia and
Paralysis than any Physician in United States and can honestly
state that with Organo Therapy Treatment your walk can be improved
and pains controlled.”

In March, 1919, Dr. Lowenthal paid a visit to Spokane, Wash., and Portland, Ore. A Portland paper heralded his coming and printed a picture of “Dr. A. A. Lowenthal, World famous alienist.” The paper described Dr. Lowenthal as “the alienist consulted in the Harry Thaw case” and the one “who treated John Alexander Dowie of Zion City fame and Pope Leo XIII.” The fulsome puffery that Dr. Lowenthal got while in Spokane drew criticism from one or two members of the local medical profession, who wrote to the newspapers protesting. One of the physicians who thus wrote declared that Lowenthal’s “coming was announced in a circular sent through the Owl Drug Company which is agent for the sale of products of an organo-therapy company.”

Apparently, it was after Dr. Lowenthal’s return from the Pacific Coast that he commenced to announce his “Post-Graduate Course of Lectures and Clinics” to the physicians of Chicago, Denver, St. Louis, Columbus, etc.--and, incidentally, to bring to the attention of the medical world the alleged virtues of the products of the American Organo-Therapy Company.--(_From The Journal A. M. A., July 3, 1920._)

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES

From “Division of Fees” to “Down with Autocracy”

The “Medical Society of the United States” has for its “Honorary President” one A. H. Ohmann-Dumesnil, A.M., M.D., M.E., Sc.D., Ph.D., and for its “Secretary and Treasurer” one Emory Lanphear, M.D., C.M., Ph.D., LL.D. As originally planned, the “society” seems to have been based on the idea of organizing the “fee-splitters.” In May, 1916, the birth of the organization was announced to the medical profession through a letter signed Emory Lanphear, written on the stationery of the “Medical Society of the United States.” Even in its embryonic state the society had A. H. Ohmann-Dumesnil, A.M., M.D., M.E., for its president, and Emory Lanphear, M.D., Ph.D., LL.D., as its treasurer. The letter read in part:

“We--the majority of the medical profession--who believe in
division of fees (_i. e._, that the surgeon should not ‘hog’
the whole of a patient’s money and leave nothing for the family
doctor), are no longer welcome in the A. M. A. We are therefore
organizing the Medical Society of the United States, which will not
be conducted for the benefit of a few selfish egotists. We would
like to have you with us.

“It costs only $1.00 to join. This covers dues for 1916, and
includes expense for the beautiful certificate of membership
(suitable for framing), which you will receive on admission. Fill
enclosed blank and return to me with $1.00.”

But presumably the idea of organizing on a basis of “fee splitting” did not make a hit, so the lure was changed. Today physicians are approached with the plea that the “Medical Society of the United States” will make the medical world free for democracy; it is, we are assured, a “Society of Protest Against the Autocracy of the A. M. A.,” and a “Society of Medical Democracy.”

Membership costs “only $1.00 ... including the cost of a beautiful certificate of membership.” No penalties or punishments are involved for belonging to other societies, and:

“Joining our body need not affect your membership in any other
society--even the A. M. A., if you wish to belong to it, and be
‘bossed’ by the ‘Simmons Gang’.”

The dollar for the “beautiful certificate” and membership is solicited by means of circular letters signed “Emory Lanphear,” coming from 3447 Pine St., St. Louis, Mo., the address of what has been variously called the “American Polyclinic,” the “American Hospital,” and later, the “German Hospital.” The “Surgeon-in-Charge” of the “German Hospital” is Emory Lanphear, M.D., C.M., Ph.D., LL.D. When running under the name of the “American Hospital,” Lanphear solicited operative work on a “division of fees” basis, which, the general practitioner was told, meant that “you are to have 40 per cent. of all fees received from your patients sent to our staff for operation or treatment.”

With the change in name from “American Hospital,” to “German Hospital,” Lanphear appealed for a “portion of your operative work on a basis of pure reciprocity.” This “pure reciprocity” seems to have been a still more liberal distribution of the patient’s money, for from a 40 per cent. basis it was raised to an even fifty-fifty. Said Lanphear, in a letter sent out a few months ago:

“I wish also to inform you in spite of the despicable opposition
of the hypocritical gang in charge of the A. M. A., and the no
less contemptible action of the St. Louis Medical Society, I am
going to remain in St. Louis and continue to do surgical work upon
a ‘division of fee’ basis. To be more explicit, if you bring me a
case for operation I shall allow you one half of the fee for your
time, trouble, responsibility and help in the management of the
case.”

Before leaving the interesting professional personality of Lanphear, and carefully avoiding any details of a personal nature, we may remind our readers that as long ago as 1908 Lanphear was the “Dean” of the “Hippocratean College of Medicine,” with A. H. Ohmann-Dumesnil, A.M., M.D., M.E., Sc.D., “Vice-Dean.” At that time Lanphear sent out letters to physicians proposing the organization of a “Post Graduate Faculty” on the following basis:

“Those who hold full professorships shall purchase stock in the
corporation to the amount of $1,000.00; those who become lecturers
or instructors shall pay in the sum of $500.00; those who are to be
merely clinical assistants will buy ten shares of stock, $100.00.”

The “Hippocratean College” was a “sundown” affair; it never graduated a student, and expired in 1910.

But to come back to the “Society of Medical Democracy”: The “Medical Society of the United States” seems to have been born in 1916. Its parents, so far as is apparent, seem to have been Lanphear and Ohmann-Dumesnil. The latter, it may be remembered, used to be the editor and proprietor of the _St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal_, a publication so obviously venal, that its value to the nostrum makers, whose interests it espoused, must have been small. Advertising pages, “original articles” and “editorials”--all were used to puff nostrums of the crudest type. It was Ohmann-Dumesnil and his journal that came to the defense of the “patent medicine” interests when they were so hard hit by Mr. Adam’s “Great American Fraud” series. In commenting on this phase of “patent medicine” activities, _Collier’s_, in January, 1907, said:

“Headache powders came in for a considerable share of attention in
the patent medicine articles. There was much talk of libels among
the headache powder makers, but they decided upon the safer methods
of hiring a meretricious medical publication, the _St. Louis
Medical and Surgical Journal_, to print an article in which the
_Collier’s_ statements were branded as lies, and the _Collier’s_
editors and writers as liars and libelers. This article the
Proprietary Association of America circulated in pamphlet form. The
journal which printed it died a natural death a few weeks later.
Its editor, one A. H. Ohmann-Dumesnil, has just appeared in the
public prints in an unsavory connection with a corrupt lobbying
project in St. Louis.”

Some of the nostrums that Ohmann-Dumesnil has recommended are: “Sanmetto,” “Gonosan,” “Cactina Pillets,” “Pepto-Mangan,” “Satyria,” “Campho-Phenique,” “Tongaline,” “Germiletum,” “Narkogen,” “Nosophen,” “Mercauro,” “Arsenauro,” and “Hydrozone.” Many of these testimonials were, of course, used by the manufacturers in their advertising “literature.”

At the time that the Medical Society of the United States was being organized--in 1916--there was published what purported to be a preliminary program of its first meeting. The meeting was held in St. Louis, and the program, while containing the names of men with special fads or interests to exploit, also contained the names of some men of standing. It appeared, however, on investigation, that at least some of the latter had but a hazy conception of the use to which their names were being put, and protested vigorously on learning the facts, repudiating the organization.

Now, in 1918, another drive is on for membership; letters signed “Emory Lanphear” are being sent to various selected groups of physicians. For example, the Eclectics are being coaxed by a letter which commences:

“We want every reputable Eclectic practitioner in this country to
join our society of protest against the iniquities of the A. M. A.”

An identical letter has been addressed to Homeopaths, the words “Homeopathic practitioner” being substituted for “Eclectic practitioners.” In all of the letters the “beautiful certificate of membership” is emphasized, and the trivial cost--“only $1.00 a year”--is referred to, while the plea: “surely you are willing to help to that amount to ‘down’ the ‘gang’ in charge of the A. M. A.,” is featured. Another group of letters has gone out to the graduates of the Barnes Medical College. This commences:

“Most graduates of ‘Old Barnes’ have joined our society of protest
against the iniquities of the A. M. A. Why should you also not come
in? It costs only $1.00 to become a member, including the cost of a
beautiful certificate of membership.”

Still another group appeal is based on sex; thus Lanphear:

“We want every reputable ‘lady physician’ in this country to join
our society of protest against the iniquities of the A. M. A.”

And yet another:

“You formerly belonged to the Tri-State Medical Society, of which I
was Treasurer for 20 years. It is now dead. I wish you would join
our new society which has superseded Tri-State in this territory.”

With these various letters is enclosed a “preliminary program” of the 1918 meeting which is to be held October 8 and 9 in Chicago. As might be expected, many of the names on the program are characteristic of the organization and an interesting “story” might be made from the material in The Journal’s files on the individuals. Such names are of men, who, professionally speaking, range from faddists, who ride grotesque and bizarre medical hobbies, to those who with special interests to exploit and unable to use reputable medical organizations for that purpose, take refuge in such hybrid conglomerations as the Medical Society of the United States. Not that the program contains the names of crude quacks, or obvious medical swindlers. It is representative, rather, of that twilight zone of professionalism, the penumbra, in whose uncertain light it is difficult to distinguish between the unbalanced visionary, with a fad, and the more sinister near-quack, with a “scheme.”--(_From The Journal A. M. A., Oct. 5, 1918._)

THE NATIONAL FORMULARY--A REVIEW OF THE FOURTH EDITION

The fourth edition of the National Formulary appears simultaneously with the U. S. Pharmacopeia IX, and is to become official at the same time (September 1). The principles which determine its scope, as frankly set forth in the preface, are apparently the same as those applied, though more faint-heartedly, in the compilation of the Pharmacopeia. A statement in the preface of the new National Formulary runs:

“The scope of the present National Formulary is the same as in
previous issues, and is based on medical usage rather than on
therapeutic ideals. The committee consists entirely of pharmacists,
or of men with a pharmaceutical training, and it cannot presume
either to judge therapeutic practice or to follow any particular
school of therapeutic practice. The question of the addition or
deletion of any formula was judged on the basis of its use by
physicians and its pharmaceutical soundness. The considerable use
by physicians of any preparation was considered sufficient warrant
for the inclusion of its formula in the book, and a negligible or
diminishing use as justifying its exclusion.”