Charlatan's universal panacea. In many instances persons are hired to give testimonials, and answer letters of inquiry in such a way as to encourage business. The shameless dishonesty and ingenious villainy exhibited are beyond description."
Recently an advertisement of one of these nostrums stated in the headlines that said nostrum was used in the Frances Willard Temperance Hospital, Chicago. The testimonial appended purported to be from a nurse in that hospital, but the testimonial did not state, as did the headlines, that the preparation was ever used in that hospital. The president of the hospital board of trustees states that the nurse positively denies having given any testimonial to the company thus advertising. She did give one to another patent medicine concern, but not to this, and never said either was used in the hospital, nor have they been. Suit could be brought for damages, but unfortunately the patent medicine people have unlimited money, and the hospital has not.
Early in the present year there appeared in many daily papers a large advertising picture of a man whose name was appended as a professional nurse of a western city.
The following testimonial accompanied the picture :—
"Mr. of , who is a professional nurse of experience, writes,—'My friend is improving, thanks to , and you. I am called on to nurse the sick of all classes. I recommend to such an extent that I am nicknamed (giving name of nostrum) by nearly everybody.'"
As the writer of this book was acquainted with a
