Photographic reproduction (reduced) of a few of the newspaper items that appeared in various parts of the country regarding Thomas Webster Edgar’s alleged serum for diabetes.
A few days after the appearance of this article in the New York Medical Journal, newspaper articles appeared regarding a cure for diabetes perfected by “Dr. Thomas Webster Edgar, 766 West End Avenue, New York City.” According to these reports, Edgar said:
“I tried the blood of rabbits and found what I wanted. In obtaining the blood I first put the rabbit upon a treadmill and keep it there until it reaches a stage of fatigue. Then I draw the blood, and after heating it to 60 degrees centigrade separate the corpuscles from the serum. When the serum has been treated after the method I have discovered, I inject it immediately subcutaneously.
“I have attained success in 65 per cent. of my cases and I have had 100 cases. I do not say that the cure is infallible, but I am now certain that it will work in most cases, particularly when the patient observes the rules laid down and undergoes faithful treatment.”
In April, 1919, a physician in Kansas wrote to Edgar at the request of a diabetic patient asking for information about the “serum.” Edgar replied that it would be impossible to send the physician any of the serum for administration unless the “patient is willing to pay me for the cost of same, which will be approximately the sum of $25.” He stated further that, in a few months’ time, he hoped to be able to manufacture the serum in larger quantities which would “more than cut the expense in half.”
In the same month a layman in Chicago who read the newspaper story wrote to Edgar and asked for details regarding terms and the arrangements that would have to be made to take the “treatment.” Edgar replied that he expected to be in Chicago in a few weeks’ time and would see the man in consultation with his regular physician, that he would administer the first injection and give instructions to the physician as to subsequent injections. Edgar added:
“My custom is to have all fees paid in advance and my charge is $200.00 by certified cheque or money-order.”
A layman in one of the smaller cities of New York wrote to Edgar in May, 1919, and received a reply from Edgar’s secretary stating that the treatment extends “over a period of three months, cost $150.” He was also told that the serum could be sent to his physician for administration “for the sum of $25 prepaid by money-order.” The letter closed with the statement that Edgar “has been very successful with the serum.”