“With Dr. G. H. Wilkinson in Chicago. When I first got there he had to visit me at my hotel, but after the first two weeks of treatment I was able to walk to his office at —— Michigan Ave. Improvement was reasonably rapid, remarkably so, considering the obstinate nature of the ailment. Now I can walk as well as anybody, the pains have left me, and all my bodily functions are normal.”
Newspapers in the smaller towns and cities are not so particular in the definition of the term “pure news reading matter” as their larger and more prosperous contemporaries. They need the money. Consequently all the publishers who received an order from the —— Advertising Agency printed the article.
Country people as a rule are closer readers than those in the larger cities, and within a week everybody in the territory thus reached who was afflicted with locomotor ataxia was talking about the wonderful case of Col. Thomas, and writing to Dr. Wilkinson (this is not his real name) about their own cases.
Here again the services of the doctor’s secretary, who was correspondent as well as press agent, were called into play. Every letter was answered in a kindly, sympathetic manner, somewhat as follows, the stationery used being very plain and neat, but of the best obtainable material, and modestly engraved:
G. H. WILKINSON, M.D.
SPECIALIST IN CHRONIC DISEASES
—— Michigan Avenue
Chicago, August 2, 1910.
Mr. John Smith, Godfrey’s Corners, Ia.
Dear Sir: Replying to your letter of July 31st, I regret being compelled to say that, in the absence of opportunity for a complete personal examination, it would be impossible for me to say definitely what may or may not be done for you in the way of obtaining relief. If you can arrange to come to Chicago for a few days I will give your case my earnest personal attention and will then be in position to advise with you more satisfactorily.