The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

THE HEALTH BULLETIN. 133greatly doubt whether Dr. Sanche hasany clear conception of the force orprinciple which he seeks to describeunder the name of 'Diaduction.' "Other judges have said: "From therecord evidence we have tried to getsome intelligent idea of 'diaduction.'We have failed utterly."And again: [The theory] "is a merepretense, that is to say, a theory notentertained by the inventor in goodfaith, but put forward as an imaginaryhypothesis merely for the purpose ofobtaining a patent on a very simplecontrivance, which was not patentableunless the claim was reinforced bysome such pretended discovery."The Progeny of the Electropoise.From Sanche's original idea, embodiedin the Electropoise, there descendedthe whole family of "MechanicalFakes," to wit: The Oxydonor,Oxygenor, Oxygenator, Oxypathor, andOxytonor.The members of this family bear wellmarked family resemblances. They allconsist of nickel-plated metal tubeswith closed ends. To this tube is attachedone or more flexible cords,which end in a strap to be buckled orattached to some part of the body. TheElectropoise was empty ; the Oxydonorcontained a stick of carbon; the Oxygenorcontained sulphur, sand, andcharcoal; the sulphur and sand togethercomprising 97 per cent of thewhole. The Oxygenator also calledthe Oxypathor, according to the Laboratoryof the University of Vermont,"is filled with a black powder, whichanalysis disclosed to be a crude mixtureof inert substances, apparentlythe waste or by-product of a manufacturingplant. * * * The powder isa rough mixture of iron filings, clayeymaterial, and a dark-colored carbonaceousmass, * * * apparently nothingmore than coke dust or carbon-black."The family resemblance is again apparentin the claims as to their modeof action. They are all claimed to actby "diaduction," or by causing the bodyto absorb oxygen. They claim alsoto cure practically all diseases, withthe exception of cancer and tumor andfar advanced consumption. The exceptionmade is probably for the purposeof avoiding prosecution under thefederal law that prohibits a considerableamount of fake cancer cure advertisements.The Oxypathor.According to "Nostrums and Quackery"it would seem that the Oxypathoris the youngest member of the familygroup or the last alias adopted bySanche's original idea."In many ways," says Nostrums andQuackery, "this last type of gas-pipecure isthe worst, inasmuch as claimsare made for it that are not only absurdbut dangerous. For instance:'Diphtheria: This overwhelmingchild's disease finds its supreme masterin the Oxygenator. No earthly powerexcept the Oxygenator can take theslowly choking child and with speed,simplicity and safety bring it back tohealth.'Don't jeopardize the health and lifeof your children by allowing to be injectedinto their veins and blood theoften fearfully contaminated and deathdealingserum of an animal, otherwiseknown as antitoxin.'"It is difficult to restrain one's indignationat the thought that such viciouslycruel lies as these are permittedto be scajttered broadcast. Let theneurotic and neurasthenic adult, if hecan convince himself that a nickelplatedpiece of gas-pipe possessescurative properties, experiment with iton his own person if he wishes. Butthat a helpless child in the throes of afearfully dangerous—and yet, rightly