Most of the material in Therapeutic Leaves is a rehash of four papers published by Edward Percy Robinson in the New York Medical Record of various dates between September, 1917, and July, 1920. In these Robinson advances the theory that cancer is caused by an excess of sodium chlorid (table salt) in the blood and tissues and that it can be cured by administering a solution of potassium nitrate. Such a treatment sounds ideally simple. One might assume that all that was necessary was to make up a solution of potassium nitrate and inject it. One might further wonder how it would be possible to commercialize such a “treatment.” “Homemade solutions,” says Dr. Robinson, “are apt to be disappointing.” Their use is likely to cause “considerable swelling at the site of an injection, accompanied with tenderness and some heat.” Moreover, “a wide hyperemic area with red blotches has been observed in a number of instances.” In order to avoid “accidents of this sort” which would “bring discredit upon an excellent agent,” Dr. Robinson, “after considerable experimental work” has obtained “a solution of this chemical which would meet the ideal requirements.” This is available under the name “Tekarkin.” Dilute potassium nitrate solution sold under the name “Tekarkin” sells for $67 an ounce. The physician can make his own solution, of the purest and highest grade potassium nitrate on the market, at an expense, for the chemical, not exceeding 5 cents an ounce.
Therapeutic Leaves also contains the usual number of those “clinical reports” which bulk so large in the literature of “cures” for cancer. Then there is a full page advertisement of a side-line of the National Bio-Chemical Laboratory: “Vitamines (Compressed) Tekarkin Brand;” “They have a meaty taste.”
The medical profession, naturally, is interested in knowing more about the physician who admits that he has discovered the cause and cure of cancer. According to our records, Edward Percy Robinson was born in 1871 and was graduated in 1897 by Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He was licensed in New York State the same year and has practiced in New York City continuously since that time. He is not, and apparently never has been, a member of his local medical society.
Reproduction (reduced) of some advertising matter issued in 1914 when Edward Percy Robinson was specializing in “facial contouring.”
In 1914 Robinson was specializing in “facial contouring.” One piece of advertising purports to be the reprint of an interview with “Dr. E. P. Robinson, Specialist, as he sat in his office at 116 West 39th Street, having questions fired at him by the reporter.” Thus Dr. Robinson:
“There are physicians everywhere who abandon the general, or family, practice of medicine, to devote their life to some specialty. My specialty is the improvement of the facial features and the beautifying of the shoulders, neck and arms. I round out hollow cheeks, build up the neck, eradicate wrinkles, make irregular noses perfect and remove defects by a process which is my own secret. I claim no superhuman power or ability; I have simply bent my whole professional study and energy to the one line of remodeling—so to speak—the human features, and I employ only scientific methods and aids in my operations.”
In another piece of advertising, a little booklet bearing Edward Percy Robinson’s name, we find the following:
“This is what I accomplish....
“Remove all wrinkles and traces of age from the forehead, or about the eyes and mouth. Lift sag from cheeks and chin.