In addition, however, this treatment conflicts with other Council rules. The statements regarding its composition are indefinite and contradictory (Rule 1); the evidence presented to support the therapeutic claims is insufficient in itself and does not appear to have been checked by any disinterested authority (Rule 6). Moreover, the recognized variation in the morphology and pathology of the types of goiter render it impracticable to treat cases of goiter by any routine procedure.
The foregoing report was submitted to the Mark White Goiter Serum Laboratory. In reply, a letter signed “Mark White, V.M.D.,” was received, which read, in part:
“... we hope at some future time to be able to give you more detailed information, but as you possibly appreciate that we have experienced for some time a demand on the part of many physicians that we furnish to them our therapy, which necessitates us furnishing it before all the detailed work has yet been accomplished, and I trust that you will be so kind as to bear patiently with us until we are better in a position to make a complete scientific application and report to you.”
White wrote further:
“The serum and iodized oil may be mixed for immediate use, but could not be put up only separate for the use of the profession and the therapy furnished Dr. Watkins she mixed as used.”
This statement throws no light on the discrepancies in the statements with regard to the place of the iodinized oil in the treatment, namely: (a) the original statement that the oil was to be given a week after the serum; (b) White’s statement (quoted earlier in this report) that the oil “is only an adjunct or side treatment” and “is not always used or indicated”; (c) the statement in Dr. Watkins’ paper that the oil and the serum are given in combination.
The Council declared the Mark White Goiter Serum and Mark White Iodinized Oil ineligible for New and Nonofficial Remedies and authorized publication of this report.
Editorial Note on the Mark White “Serum”
As some of our readers will remember, on April 26, 1913, The Journal called attention to the Mark White preparation which at that time was being exploited from Denver. The Propaganda Department has in its files a number of letters sent out from the Mark White concern at various times. One mailed in May, 1911, on the embossed stationery of “The Mark White Goiter Institute,” Exchange Building, Denver, was evidently a general letter sent to physicians, calling their attention to “the most important medical discovery of the age.” “Dr. Mark White, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania,” said the letter, had discovered “a simple and harmless remedy” that would cure goiter. “Because of the desire to preserve the secrecy of this remedy it is given only at the office here.” It was then suggested that the doctor might send those of his patients who were suffering from thyroidism to the “Mark White Goitre Institute.” If he would do so he would be “given a commission of $10, in cases of the $50 fee with the additional $5 for each $50 increase.” It closed with some casuistic arguments, presumably for the purpose of overcoming the physician’s scruples, summing up the matter with the statement:
“No right thinking man will allow a narrow and self-seeking system of ethics to stand between him and his duty to the sick and suffering.”