Eighteen is rather young to receive an M.D. degree from Heidelberg! By again going over the various sources of information available the following data were collected: In Polk’s Medical Directory for 1886 Dr. Abrams’ name appears as a graduate of the University of Heidelberg, 1882, and of Cooper Medical College in 1883. The records we have from these two institutions confirm these dates. The year of Dr. Abrams’ birth seems less clear. In the early part of 1902 the American Medical Association sent Dr. Abrams a blank for him to fill out for a permanent record. This was returned in due course and, according to it, Dr. Abrams was born in San Francisco Dec. 8, 1863. This same date appears in various editions of “Who’s Who in America.” A blank sent by the A. M. A. Directory Department to Dr. Abrams in 1908 asking for a personal biographical report was returned Aug. 20, 1908; it gave Dr. Abrams’ date of birth as Dec. 8, 1864. A similar blank sent in the earlier part of 1909 was returned giving the same birth date. We learn, however, that an affidavit executed in 1917 states that Albert Abrams was born in San Francisco Dec. 8, 1862.
Just how long Dr. Abrams attended Heidelberg University before he was granted the M.D. degree, we do not know. Apparently, at that time the standards for admission to that institution were not especially severe and the length of time one would have to attend before being admitted to an examination seems to have depended on the educational credentials that the matriculant offered. What credentials Dr. Abrams submitted, we do not know. Assuming that the earliest date (1862) represents Dr. Abrams’ date of birth, he could have been but twenty years old when he received his M.D. from Heidelberg. This indicates a precocity that might have forecast Dr. Abrams’ later achievements.
Throughout the records of Dr. Abrams’ educational credentials there appears the statement that he also graduated from the “University of Portland” in 1892, receiving the degree of A.M. From references available we have been unable to find any record of a “University of Portland.”—(From The Journal A. M. A., April 8, 1922.)
A Defense by Upton Sinclair
A somewhat voluminous letter has been received from Mr. Upton Sinclair, which is a defense of Dr. Albert Abrams of San Francisco. We publish Mr. Sinclair’s letter because we believe it is written in honesty and sincerity—and because The Journal readers will enjoy it! It is worth mentioning in this connection that Mr. Sinclair in his latest book devotes a few pages to a eulogy of Dr. Abrams and his methods. This material has not only been reproduced by Dr. Abrams in his “house organ” Physico-Clinical Medicine but is reprinted in leaflet form and is being distributed by some of the individuals who are exploiting the Abrams methods. Such reprints have been sent to this office by both laymen and physicians.
MR. SINCLAIR’’S LETTER
To the Editor.—A few weeks ago you published an article dealing with the discoveries or claims of Dr. Albert Abrams of San Francisco. I happen to be attending Dr. Abrams’ clinic at the time and have discussed this article with him at some length. Dr. Abrams follows the policy of ignoring attacks on his work, taking the view that in the long run, the man who cures disease makes his way in the world in spite of all opposition. However, it is easy to see that he has been deeply hurt by this attack on his reputation, and as one of his friends and most ardent admirers I am taking the liberty of addressing a letter to you.
I do not know if the rules of your publication permit intervention in medical affairs by a mere layman. Permit me to introduce myself as a layman who for some twenty years tried faithfully to be cured of various diseases by many doctors of the best reputation in many parts of the world, and failed; and who, therefore, was compelled, as a matter of self-protection, to look into the question of health for himself. I have read so many different kinds of books on health and made so many experiments of my own that nowadays when I meet with a group of physicians I find that before long they come to accept me as one of themselves. You may not go that far, but at least you may be so generous as to allow me to tell you a little of what I have seen during the time I have spent in the clinic of Dr. Albert Abrams.
I observe that in the course of your two page article dealing with this subject, you nowhere have anything to charge against Dr. Abrams, nor do you show that you have investigated his work. You consider that all you have to do is to quote Dr. Abrams’ own words as to what he can do, and that these words refute themselves. [Italics our.—Ed.]. Also you quote Dr. Abrams’ schedules of prices, and imply that his motives are mercenary. I will take up these two questions one at a time.