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:
Some letterheads (greatly reduced) of concerns in which Dr. Albert A. Lowenthal has been interested.
“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.)