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

;160 THE HEALTH BULLETIX.worthless black powder found in thegas pipe, the composition of whichhas already been referred to.To the lower left-hand chart areattached the writer's letter to ProfessorBrowne, asking him to examine theOxypathor, and Professor Browne's reply,stating that there is absolutelynothing of value in the device, so faras its ability to generate or transmitany known force whatever is concerned.The two letters are reproducedherewith in full.Raleigh, N. C, October 18, 1913.Prof. Wm. Hand BroWxNE, Professorof Physics and Electrical Engineering,N. C. College of Agricultureand Mechanic Arts, Raleigh,N. C.Deab Sir:—Under separate cover Iam sending you today one Oxypathorpurchased this morning from the CarolinaOxypathor Company, of this city,at a cost of $35. I shall thank youto examine this apparatus for any andevery known physical, chemical orother force which it is possible forthis instrument to generate or transmitalong a wire or cord when used asdirected in the accompanying book ofinstructions, and advise me as to yourfindings in this respect.I wish, furthermore, that after makingsuch examination you would takethe apparatus apart and carefully examinethe contents and advise me asto your findings.Respectfully yours,Warren H. Booker,Chief Bureau of Engineering and Education,North Carolina State Boardof Health.Raleigh, N. C, October 21, 1913.Mr. Warren H. Booker, Chief of Bureauof Engineering and Education.North Carolina State Board ofHealth, Raleigh, N. C.Dear Sie:—Pursuant to your instructionsunder date of October 18th,I carefully examined and tested theOxypathor according to your instructionsand according to the directionsaccompanying the apparatus.Tests for magnetic effects showedthat this apparatus has no magneticproperties whatever.Testing for electrical effects failed toindicate the slightest electrical action—indeed, the construction of the apparatusmakes such action impossible.These are the only two forces whichcould be brought into action by meansof the device, and hence my tests haveshown that the device, even whenpacked in crushed ice, causes no actionwhatever.I have furthermore opened the socalledelectrode and find that it consistsof a brass cylinder, throughwhich passes a copper bar firmly attachedto the ends of the cylinder. Thespace between was filled with blackish,inert, gritty powder, which, due to theconstruction of the so-called electrode,can produce no magnetic, electrical orother action. In my opinion there isabsolutely nothing of value in the deviceso far as its ability goes to gener^ate or transmit any known force whatever.Very truly yours,W. Hand Brownt),Professor of Physics and ElectricalEngineering, A. and M. College.Then, to show the utter absurdityof the whole thing, to the upper righthandchart is attached an old tin canwith shoestrings tied to either end.The State Board of Health guaranteesthat this can will have just as muchaction as the Oxypathor, and net theipurchaser a neat little saving.In the lower right-hand chart isquoted the slogan "Save the babies,"appropriated by the Oxypathor Company,which they displayed directlyopposite the Better Babies Contest.To this the State Board of Healthadded the advice, "But don't wasteyour money on a gas pipe fraud."It is needless to say that the wholeOxypathor business is a fake from beginningto end. It simply illustratesthe credulity of a few of our people.It illustrates how a gigantic lot of untruthsand absurdities repeated thousandsof times by printer's ink canmislead a few sick or near sick who aregullible enough to believe such extravagantclaims when accompanied by a