Page 1 2 3 4 5

King of the Quacks

All these devices had no scientific certification other than by the word of a physician, manufacturer, or the testimonial of a pleased customer. Dr. Albert Abrams, born in 1863, was the King of American Charlatans and his electric devices encouraged the production of a generation of quack machines that flooded the market in the first part of the 20th century (90). Dr. Abrams placed a drop of blood from one of his patients into a "dynamizer" to determine the vibration frequency of the afflicting disease, and then used an "ocilloclast" to duplicate those vibrations in order to neutralize that disease (91,92). Dr. Abrams thus fulfilled two of the most important rules of quackery: a) there must be a logical basis for the procedure, and b) the patient must either see or feel the "cure" in action. Long term results remained a problem.

The Sanitarium

Retreats, or sanitariums, designed for the treatment of any number of diseases including tuberculosis (consumption), cancer, obesity, and nervous disorders among others were popular in the early part of the 20th century. One of the most prominent of them was in Battle Creek, Michigan where Dr. John Harvey Kellogg developed the famous Battle Creek Sanitarium (93). The baked wheat flakes he produced to feed the guests became so popular that they replaced the usual breakfast pork and fried potatoes of the day and created the cereal industry that was commercially developed by his brother William Keith. Others like CW Post and Sylvester Graham (as in crackers) soon got on the bandwagon.

Victorian Prohibitions

Interest in sexual relationships is nothing new and therapeutic devices, sometimes quite bizarre, have always been available (94). Many athletes refrain from sexual activities prior to competition with the belief that strengths and abilities will otherwise be reduced. Masturbation, or onanism, has been associated with the development of weakness, mental illness, neurologic disorders, blindness, and so on for generations. Many ways to "cure" this habit were available in the 19th century (95-97).

Miscellaneous Contraptions

Counterirritant therapy for pain relief was exemplified by the Resuscitator, which made use of a medical therapeutic approach popular for centuries. It seems that the production of discomfort in one area of the body can relieve pain elsewhere, perhaps by confusing pain recognition centers in the brain. The Resuscitator is a set of fine needles attached to a spring device designed for that purpose (98,99).

The phonendoscope was advertised in a number of prominent catalogues and supposedly allowed the listener to hear different abnormal sounds coming from various types of diseased organs (100,101).

90) Dr. Albert Abrams

According to the AMA, Albert Abrams was the "dean of twentieth century charlatans". He wrote numerous books and journals and was responsible for the production of a large number of inventive electrical devices, none of which had any medical activity (as stated by scientists of the time). His medical devices were not sold but only rented to practitioners under the stipulation that they not divulge the secrets of contents.

91-92) The Short Wave Oscilloclast

This oscilloclast was made by one of the offshoots of Dr. Abrams' activities, The College of Electronic Medicine in San Francisco. The multiple dials were used to adjust the frequency of vibration to match that needed for the particular disease to be treated.

93) Battle Creek Sanitarium

Battle Creek, Michigan became the center for the treatment of medical conditions by the unconventional, and that is where most or all of the devices pictured were used. The breakfast cereal industry was a by-product and this whole amazing story was the basis for the 1994 movie, "The Road to Wellville".

94) Lawson's Vaginal Washer

This bizarre instrument was to be used for female hygiene and sold in the early 20th century. A large irrigating syringe was to be attached and when the handle was turned, the instrument rotated around, acting like a squeegee.

95-97) Preventing Onanism

Victorian attitudes regarding sex were very conservative at the end of the 19th century. Masturbation (onanism, self-abuse) and nocturnal emissions (spermatorrhea) were recognized as causes of retardation, weakness, visual impairment, and neurologic disorders. (Imagine the embarrassment of those suffering from those problems at the time!) Several ingenious techniques were available to prevent these "abuses of nature". Robert E. Revere recommended the use of ice water that was circulated over night in his book "Spermatorrhea; Its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment" (1870). Through a Sears catalogue, one could purchase a spermatorrhea ring which would employ sharp spikes to discourage the user at the appropriate time during sleep. (By the way, this is the only reproduction in my collection, so if you have an original to sell, please let me know!) Another device, similar to a chastity belt, is seen in the 1900 "Catalogue Illustre des Instruments de Chirurgie", by Aubry. Note the small lock on the waistband.

98-99) Countercurrent Therapy

Discomfort in one place to ease pain in another is the theory behind John Linden's book "Baunscheidtism, or a New Exanthematic Method of Cure" (1874). The resuscitator shown is fairly common though the accompanying brush and the bottle of "John Linden's improved oleum", are fairly rare.

100-101) The Phonendoscope to Hear Disease

Advertised to pick up the different sounds made by various diseased, the phonendoscope was fairly popular at the end of the 19th century. The one here is complete and was produced by the famous French instrument maker, Aubry.

Page 1 2 3 4 5

90) Dr. Albert Abrams

92) Shortwave Oscilloclast

93) Battle Creek Sanitarium

94) Lawson's Vaginal Washer

96) Spermatorrhea Ring

99) Resuscitator

101) Phonendoscope