a cure in any definite time, and despite the fact that the institute had been handling his case nearly two years it had the audacity to suggest that it still felt confident that it could absolutely cure him if he would indefinitely continue the treatment. In this way and under such pretext the company refused to return him his money and has never done so. When Sattempted to press his claim for the return of his money he was advised that his "scurrilous, defaming and blackmailing letter would be placed in the hands of our attorney to prosecute you to the full extent of the law."

Other cases suffering from imaginary sexual neurasthenia, varicocele. etc., are cited and all present the same sad picture of misplaced confidence on the one hand and of avarice and depravity on the other.

One of the patients, a Mr. Haged 20 years, after unsuccessful treatment demanded the return of his money, and was finally informed by the institute: "Let us tell you now that if you cause us any trouble about this matter, or try to do so, we will have good grounds against you for slander and defamation of character. We do not wish to get into any trouble with you about the matter, but if you persist in it and bring it on yourself we are sure that we will show that at the time you began the treatment you were practicing these secret masturbation habits *** we will also have something to say along some other lines when you are done with all you wish to do *** we will also show you that this very letter in our possession today on this subject is a ground for blackmail on your part against us."

A fraud order was issued in this case on November 25th, 1907. On May 5th the Assistant Attorney General wrote to the Postmaster General: "This Office is now (May 5th, 1908) in receipt of advertising literature circulated through the mails which indicates that the business is being continued under the names of Specialists Specific Co., and Mr. E. C. Albee, and that the fraud order of November 25th is thereby circumvented. A fraud order covering these addresses was issued May 5th, 1908. It is gratifying to know that E. R. Hibbard was indicted October 19th, 1907, at Chicago, convicted April 13th, 1908, sentenced to two years in Bridewell Penitentiary and fined $1,500 and costs; $10,000 bond pending motion for new trial.

MEMORANDUM FOR THE POSTMASTER General.

"In re The Appliance Company, C. Bartholomew and Box No. 337, Detroit, Michigan.

"This person is selling a medicinal appliance, being in the nature of a rubber band, for the use of men as a cure for impotency. In fact the de

vice is worthless for the purpose for which it is sold, and its use is apt to be dangerous in the hands of the unexperienced. Communication is obtained with those intended to be defrauded by means of advertisements in newspapers, the form of which is stated by Mr. Bartholomew to be substantially as follows:

"Men-don't pass this by. May we send you free information of our patent appliance, which has astonished the world and dumfounded medical science for Lost Vitality. Indorsed by Physicians. Carried in vest pocket and lasts a lifetime. Appliance Co., Dept. 25, Drawer 337, Detroit, Michigan.'

Samples of the advertising literature and of the device were submitted to the Treasury Department to secure the opinion of the Surgeon General of the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service as to the value of the same and the Secretary of the Treasury, under date of March 28th, 1908, submitted a report of the Marine Hospital Service, dated March 12th, 1908, which is as follows:

"The Surgeon General,

"Public Health and Marine Hospital Service.

"SIR: The Bureau Sanitary Board has the honor to report that in accordance with the Bureau order of the 9th inst., it has considered the question contained in the letter of the Postmaster General dated March 5th, 1908, as to the value of the device submitted therewith for the treatment of impotence in men, and as to the truthfulness of the representations appearing in the advertising literature of the Appliance Company which offers the above-mentioned device for sale. While impotence may rarely be attributed to moral weakness, it is practically always produced by excesses, some nervous lesion or a constitutional disease.

"It is believed by the Board that the appliance is without therapeutic value in the treatment of the underlying causes of this condition, and that the literature is misleading as it represents that the appliance will distend the sensitive nerve, stimulate nature and ‘enlarge small shrunken organs to their natural size, causing them to become strong and vigorous,' whereas as a matter of fact, from its character and method of use, it would only produce constriction and promote congestion. While in this literature it is stated that drugs have never cured a single person of lost vigor, yet two prescriptions are given with the appliance for 'night emissions, gleet, premature discharge and loss of semen.'

"Prescription No. 1 is a combination of drugs frequently used by physicians in the treatment of gonorrhea and No. 2 is a compound of

drugs used for the cure of syphilis. These prescriptions are without efficiency in the treatment of most of the conditions mentioned in the literature and if taken in sufficient amount may result in positive harm. "Respectfully,

"H. D. GEDDINGS,

"Asst. Surgeon General, Chairman.

"J. M. EAGER,

"Asst. Surgeon General.

"JOHN W. KERR,

"Asst. Surgeon General.

"Approved,

"W. WYMAN,

"Surgeon General."

This same party was recently indicted, with one of his agents, at Tampa, Florida, for conspiring to conduct a scheme to defraud through the mails in connection with the sale of this appliance, it being charged that the appliance was worthless for the purpose sold * * * and was fined $300.

Notwithstanding the statement of the Inspector that M. Bartholomew promised the Court at Tampa in February to discontinue entirely the conduct through the mails of this business, he has since then and is now conducting the business as aggressively as it is in his power to do so *** 2nd Fraud Order issued May 2nd, 1908.

The records of the Post Office Department disclose the fact that C. (Coryell) Bartholomew was arrested August 2nd, 1901, at Jackson, Michigan, indicted July 6th, 1901; pleaded nolo contendere December 30, 1901; sentenced to pay costs. Arrested May 14, 1904, indicted April 29, 1904, for the same offense, pleaded nolo. Sentenced April 19th, 1904, to pay fine of $150 or six months in House of Correction. Paid fine. Arrested February 13th, 1907, fraud scheme and conspiracy. Indicted April 24th, 1907, at Tampa, Florida, convicted February 18, 1908, fined $300, which he paid. This record shows a most persistent audacity.

Space will not permit to present the details of the numerous fraud orders against concerns "selling through the mails to men a certain vacuum appliance which they represent will make weak men strong and will also cure impotency, stricture, varicocele and develop weak and shrunken organs in men. Price $5.00 and $10.00 each." The writer has examined the memoranda prepared for the Postmaster General in the Manville Supply Co., St. Joseph, Mo.; the Strenoa Co., of St. Louis; The Southern Instrument Co., Houston, Texas; Southern Sales Co.,

Magnolia Sales Co., Houston; National Supply Co., Milwaukee; Health Appliance Co., Seattle, and numerous concerns in Chicago and Denver, in all of which cases fraud orders were issued.

In this category also fall the fraudulent representations made by Dr. Hall's Electro-Vigor Company in its exploitations in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia, of a certain electric belt which is represented to cure sexual weakness in man, and all nervous and stomach troubles, rheumatism, etc. The appliances are sold for from $20 to $40. The evidence reveals the fact that the business was carried on in New York by a man without any medical qualifications, who was not a physician, and the Attorney for the company admitted that this man had no other qualification than his experience in the concern. Dr. Hall was asked whether the methods followed at the other offices were the same as those shown by the evidence in the case to have been used at the New York office. He answered in the affirmative. A fraud order was issued in this case September 7, 1906.

To this class also belong the many "Lost Manhood Restorers and numerous debility cures," described by Dr. L. F. Kebler, Chief of the Drug Laboratory, Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in his exhaustive article on "Monstrous and Fraudulent Methods of Exploitation."*

"Ambaline, a mixture of camphor and ammonia water, containing also salts of ammonia and sodium; a lotion to be applied to the affected part and claimed to possess miraculous powers." The treatment advertised by Bradford & Co., Cincinnati, for sexual weakness, premature old age, etc. The "Cactus Products," exploited by the Cactus Product Company, Philadelphia. "Calthos," the world's greatest remedy for the treatment of male affections, claimed to be imported by the Von Mohl Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. "Capidene" and "Mormon Bishop Pills," placed on the market by the Davol Medicine Company, San Francisco. "Regenerative Tablets," exploited by the Fallopia Lynn Company, St. Louis, Mo. "Restorative Remedies," exploited by parties who have operated at one time as the Dr. Knapp Medical Company and at another time as the Dr. Raynor Medical Company. "Paris Electro-Medicated Crayons Paris Food," by Dr. Stevens & Co., Columbus, Ohio. "Vital Restoratives," exploited by the English Restorative Company of Denver. The "Vitalia" remedies advertised by the Vitalia Company, managed by Dr. Frederick Main, alias Dr. Na Morg, Jackson, Mich., "Vigoro" Vitality Pills, Yousof's Salve and many other preparations.

*"Journal American Medical Association," November 10-17, 1906.

SEXUAL DISEASES.

In this connection it may not be out of place to refer to diseases arising from impure sexual intercourse, whether it be a simple excoriation, which has been inoculated with some one of the septic germs, or whether it be an inflammation of the urethra produced by a specific discharge, or whether it be one of the forms of Syphilis as now recognized.

The absence of reliable statistics in venereal diseases is very much to be deplored, for if we wish to approach the subject intelligently, we should know something more definite as to their prevalence in civil life.

An appropriate idea may be gotten by a study of Army Statistics. Dr. Munson (in his "Military Hygiene," p. 823) giveh the latest admission rate per 1,000 strength as follows:

The Annual Admission Rate per 1,000 strength for the three years, 1890-92 (Munson):

Primary and Secondary All other venereal

diseases.

5.5

21.5

9.

34.9

13.1

29.9

13.9

57.4

16.83

57.96

14.8

55.

47.

408.6

101.7

101.9

175.4

262.6

It is a lamentable fact that the very countries in which the sentiment, both in and out of the profession, is strongly against recognizing the evil, furnish the highest army rates, while in countries where some special regulations are in force preventing the spread of venereal diseases, such as weekly inspections of the men and periodical examination of the women engaged in prostitution, with compulsory isolation if such are found diseased, the army rates are lowest.

The comparative amount of army and civil venereal diseases is not known, because we have no statistics of the amount in civil life.

According to Fournier one-seventh of the population of Paris is syphilitic, and the mortality of infants born of syphilitic parents in many hospitals of that city reaches 84 to 86 per cent.