THOMAS WEBSTER EDGAR
Tired Rabbits for Diabetes; Ring-Tailed Monkeys for Sex Stimulation
During the last two or three years The Journal has received inquiries regarding one Thomas Webster Edgar, M.D., of New York City, first, relative to his alleged treatment for diabetes and more recently about his “monkey gland” treatment for sex stimulation. Here is one from a physician in Washington:
“Have you any knowledge of the efficacy of a serum made from the pancreas of rabbits for the relief or cure of diabetes? It is made by Dr. T. W. Edgar of 766 West End Ave., New York City.”
And this from a layman in Pennsylvania:
“Last year there was published in the New York Herald an account of the new treatment for diabetes in which a serum was injected in the veins and as a result it was claimed that over sixty-five per cent. of the treatments made were successful. The account further stated that they proposed to establish some sort of a sanitarium in New York City used especially for the treatment. The writer having mislaid the account, wrote the New York Herald as to the doctor who had charge of it and in return was given the name and address. Dr. Edgar in a letter under date of last year stated that the cost of the treatment was $300.00, payable beginning of the treatment, and he gave very little information as to the success of it, with the exception that if the treatment did not give the desired effect after the end of three months, it would be continued without any further cost. The writer wrote and asked him the names of one or two of the patients who had been cured, because it seemed rather unusual that if the treatment were a success, it was necessary for a patient to pay the cost of the treatment in advance. To that letter I have never received a reply.”
While a physician from Illinois writes:
“I am enclosing a clipping from a Chicago paper relative to Dr. Thomas Webster Edgar of New York and his operation for transplanting the glands of ring-tailed monkey. I note that he is a member of the New York County Medical Society! What is there to this? I have seen no mention of these wonders in The Journal.”
Thomas Webster Edgar was born in 1889. The records show that he was graduated in medicine by the University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1913, and was licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York the same year. In March, 1919, an article by T. Webster Edgar appeared in the New York Medical Journal on “Diabetes Mellitus.” In this Edgar gave a theory of the cause of diabetes mellitus and stated that he had “treated successfully, twenty cases of definite diabetes.” In the article he spoke positively of the successful results he had obtained by the “intramuscular injections of my diabetic serum.” No information was given regarding this serum except that he mentioned vaguely that it was “prepared from normal blood after the animal is exercised to the point of fatigue.”
Photographic reproduction (reduced) of a few of the newspaper items that appeared in various parts of the country regarding Thomas Webster Edgar’s alleged serum for diabetes.
A few days after the appearance of this article in the New York Medical Journal, newspaper articles appeared regarding a cure for diabetes perfected by “Dr. Thomas Webster Edgar, 766 West End Avenue, New York City.” According to these reports, Edgar said:
“I tried the blood of rabbits and found what I wanted. In obtaining the blood I first put the rabbit upon a treadmill and keep it there until it reaches a stage of fatigue. Then I draw the blood, and after heating it to 60 degrees centigrade separate the corpuscles from the serum. When the serum has been treated after the method I have discovered, I inject it immediately subcutaneously.
“I have attained success in 65 per cent. of my cases and I have had 100 cases. I do not say that the cure is infallible, but I am now certain that it will work in most cases, particularly when the patient observes the rules laid down and undergoes faithful treatment.”
In April, 1919, a physician in Kansas wrote to Edgar at the request of a diabetic patient asking for information about the “serum.” Edgar replied that it would be impossible to send the physician any of the serum for administration unless the “patient is willing to pay me for the cost of same, which will be approximately the sum of $25.” He stated further that, in a few months’ time, he hoped to be able to manufacture the serum in larger quantities which would “more than cut the expense in half.”
In the same month a layman in Chicago who read the newspaper story wrote to Edgar and asked for details regarding terms and the arrangements that would have to be made to take the “treatment.” Edgar replied that he expected to be in Chicago in a few weeks’ time and would see the man in consultation with his regular physician, that he would administer the first injection and give instructions to the physician as to subsequent injections. Edgar added:
“My custom is to have all fees paid in advance and my charge is $200.00 by certified cheque or money-order.”
A layman in one of the smaller cities of New York wrote to Edgar in May, 1919, and received a reply from Edgar’s secretary stating that the treatment extends “over a period of three months, cost $150.” He was also told that the serum could be sent to his physician for administration “for the sum of $25 prepaid by money-order.” The letter closed with the statement that Edgar “has been very successful with the serum.”
Photographic reproduction (greatly reduced) of small portion of the publicity that has been given to Edgar relative to his operation for “sex stimulation” by the transplantation of the glands of ring-tailed monkeys!
A layman in South Carolina who wrote to Edgar in June, 1919, was told that the treatment as administered by Edgar “extends over a period of two months; fee $300” and that if he wanted the serum administered by his own physician the cost would be “$50 prepaid.”
In May, 1920, Edgar had another article on diabetes, also in the New York Medical Journal. In this, too, he refers to his serum in the following words:
“In conclusion I may state that I have been able to produce some rather startling results by the use of my serum, which is prepared from the blood of rabbits after they have undergone a series of maneuvres capable of activating the various internal secretory glands to increased action. The serum contains the internal secretions in hormone form.”
Gradually the newspaper publicity on Edgar’s diabetic “serum” died down. Then, in November, 1920, there appeared—again in the New York Medical Journal—an article by Edgar on “Sterility, Sex Stimulation and Endocrines.” Edgar there stated that he wished to place himself “on record as being interested in sex stimulation” and that he wanted to notify the profession that he had another serum which he was using “with success in the treatment of this condition.” Thus:
“... I feel entitled to state that I have a distinctly beneficial serum for the alleviation of presenile and senile deficiency; and that my product is capable of producing a new lease of life in those whose functions have been reduced to a minimum.”
How long Edgar has been featuring his “serum” for “sex stimulation” it is difficult to determine, but during the last year the newspapers have carried sporadic reports of alleged remarkable results produced by “Dr. Thomas Webster Edgar of 766 West End Ave., New York,” through the transplantation of the “interstitial gland” taken from “a special species of orangoutang.” A layman who wrote Edgar some months ago regarding this “gland implantation” received a letter from Edgar’s secretary stating that the treatment “has been most successful in all cases” and assuring him that “the experimental stage had been passed, and the operation is advised in all cases presenting symptoms of presenility or age.” A week later the same man received a letter written by Edgar himself in which he reiterated the claim that all of the operations had been successful. Edgar added that he was now treating all cases “by operation instead of the serum,” and that “the fee for operation is $500, inclusive of the sanitarium,” the patients remaining in the “sanitarium” “for from two to three days.” A month or two later the prospective patient received another letter signed, “Thomas Webster Edgar, M.D.,” assuring him that “the effect is permanent, and does not wear off. No ill effects can possibly result.”
Commencing, Oct. 1, 1921, a series of sensational articles appeared regarding one of Edgar’s alleged monkey gland implantations performed on an individual described as “one time lawyer and then a writer.” These articles purport to be written partly by one of the newspaper staff, partly by the man undergoing the “operation” and at least one by Thomas Webster Edgar. The material is played up in the style typical of yellow journalism. In addition to repeated pictures of the individual who is being operated on, there also are given pictures of Thomas Webster Edgar and one of his “ring-tailed monkeys.” Doubtless the “story” has sold many newspapers. Its sensational character, the element of mystery and above all its sex slant will appeal to that large class of newspaper readers that hunger for stuff of this sort. Doubtless, too, it has proved a large advertising asset for Thomas Webster Edgar.
The statement that appears in the series to the effect that Edgar “is a member of the County Medical Society of New York” is incorrect. Edgar is not a member.
The further newspaper claim that Edgar is “an authority on glandular transplantation” should also be accepted with reservations. “Authorities” are created with ease in the pages of newspapers. Edgar may possibly be termed an authority in a newspaper or, shall we say, Pickwickian sense.—(From The Journal A. M. A., Oct. 15, 1921.)
The Journal Receives a Letter Denouncing “Medical Clerks” and “Biased Sceptres”
The Journal recently published in this department some inquiries regarding Thomas Webster Edgar, M.D., of New York City, relative to some alleged serums that Dr. Edgar had developed for diabetes and sex stimulation, respectively, and relative also to the newspaper publicity given Dr. Edgar in connection with the alleged transplantation of glands from “ring-tailed monkeys.”
We are in receipt of a letter signed, “Thomas Webster Edgar, M.D.,” and reading as follows. It is given verbatim et literatim:
“Gentlemen:—I have read with great interest your editorial regarding the publicity given my work in metabolism, and gland implantation.
“Your pseudo, expose, and distinctly libelous insinuations are unjust, and they lead me to believe that you are going to be called to account at a very early date.
“My profession is the practice of medicine, and the policy of my practice is not controlled by the editorial department of the journal. I am progressive, and a firm believer that legitiment medicine and surgery can not be practiced if the physician be governed by a set of medical clerks, who disdainfully boast that they control, and govern the healing art through out the breadth of the land, with a sceptre that is biased and steeped in the unadulterated commercialism of a certain medical clique.
“Aside from the fact that I am an associate editor on a medical publication, it is disgraceful, as well as unjust that you have written such an editorial with out first investigating the therapeutic value of my serum, and implantation operation.
“The psychology of your editorial, only reflects on your editorial department, and will tend to belittle some of the greatest surgeons in the country.
“It may be to your advantage to know, that this very afternoon, I was on the program with the following men.
“Dr. Lewis Gregory Cole—New York
“Dr. Charles H. Mayo—Rochester, Minn.
“Dr. John B. Deaver—Philadelphia
“Dr. Charles Peck—New York.
“My paper was entitled—Senility, its etiology and treatment by gland implantation. I am sure the above mentioned gentlemen are thoroughly ashamed of your actions in the matter, as well as thoroughly disgusted with the baby like attitude you have displayed. You have no sense of fair play, and if it is with in my power to undue the wrong which you have wrought me, I shall endeavor to vindicate myself in the eyes of the clear thinking members of the profession.
“I sincerely trust you will publish this communication, in order that my brethren shall understand and appreciate that your thrust has not gone unnoticed.
“It is my hope that the various medical societies through out the country, will call upon me to read a paper on my work, so that I may be able to offer substantial evidence to the fact that you have done me an injustice.
“Very truly yours,
TWE/AEL[Signed] “Thomas Webster Edgar, M.D.”
Dr. Edgar’s statement that he had been on the program with Drs. Cole, Mayo, Deaver and Peck was sufficiently startling to prompt further investigation. It was found that the program in question was that of the annual meeting of the New York and New England Association of Railway Surgeons. It was further found that Edgar’s name did appear on some of the printed programs but not on others. It was rather naturally assumed that the name had been put on the program before the officers of this organization had seen the crude publicity to which The Journal recently called attention. It was found, however, that after several hundred programs had been printed about 150 more were needed and “in the meantime, Dr. Edgar had come into the limelight” in his ring-tailed monkey gland transplantation rôle and “was invited to read a paper on the subject.” While he accepted this invitation the secretary of the organization tells us that Edgar did not read his paper but, when the paper was called, declined, saying it was time for him to be in his office!
As for the rest of Dr. Edgar’s communication, The Journal appreciates that courtesy is due “an associate editor on a medical publication”—referring doubtless to the Western Medical Times. Dr. Edgar’s pronouncement that “legitimate medicine and surgery can not be practiced if the physician be governed by a set of medical clerks” seems reasonable—if cryptic. But it is when he charges that these “clerks” govern the healing art “with a sceptre that is biased and steeped in the unadulterated commercialism of a certain medical clique,” that he really shines. Whatever opinion one may hold of Dr. Edgar’s ability to compound serums, surely no one can question his skill as a mixer of metaphors. His reference to “sceptres” deserves to be embalmed in every textbook on rhetoric with the classic of the Hibernian statesman who passionately declared: “I smell a rat! I see it floating in the air! But, mark you, Sir, I shall nip it in the bud!”—(From The Journal A. M. A., Dec. 3, 1921.)