Waterbury Chemical Company, Des Moines, Iowa. This company exploits what used to be known as “Waterbury’s Cod-Liver Oil Compound,” which, from its lack of cod-liver oil,[152] was impelled to change its name to “Waterbury’s Compound.” Kaiser states that the Waterbury Chemical Company received four Grand Prix and four Gold Medals.
Briefly the proposition submitted by Max Kaiser is this: For $400 he will make all arrangements for a manufacturers’ exhibit at one of the numerous “International Exhibitions.” Further, he practically guarantees that this exhibit will receive either a “grand prize” or a “gold medal”; in fact, the manufacturer need not complete the payment of Kaiser’s charges until the prize or medal has been awarded!
The value of “awards” obtained in this way is, of course, evident. As the public becomes better informed on the subject of international exhibitions, the grand prix, gold medals, and other “awards” made at such exhibitions will be appraised at their true value.—(From The Journal A. M. A., March 14, 1914.)
THE HYPOPHOSPHITE FALLACY
An Example of the Perpetuation of a False Theory by Advertising
A false therapeutic notion born of speculation soon dies a natural death if exposed unsupported to the cold world of facts, but when nursed by commercial interests it may be kept alive for generations. Interesting examples of this, to name but two or three, are the misconceptions perpetuated during the past half century concerning “lithia,” the “natural” salicylates and the hypophosphites.
Take, for instance, the lithia delusion. The supposed solvent powers of lithium compounds for uric acid were soon disproved to the satisfaction of scientists, but proprietors of lithia waters and nostrums for gout and rheumatism still harp on the old string and utilize long-exploded theories. Take, again, the alleged superiority of “natural” to “synthetic” salicylates. In spite of experimental proof to the contrary, proprietary interests have been able for twenty years to persuade a large part of the medical profession that the effects of pure salicylic acid made artificially differ from the effects of the same substance obtained from natural sources.
The altogether undeserved continued popularity of hypophosphites affords a striking example of the influence of advertising in perpetuating therapeutic error, for hypophosphites are given on a theory long since disproved. It may be interesting to trace the origin and history of the theory on which the practice of prescribing the hypophosphites is founded. The early part of the last century was prolific in chemical discoveries, and, as a corollary, in chemical theories of disease. Many of the theories arose from the hasty application of the chemical properties of new elements and compounds to the explanation of the processes in the living body, without due consideration of the conditions prevailing in the animal organism.