Medicine: Texas Quackdown

An attractive red-haired housewife named Elsie May Keene walked into the office of K. F. Reynard in Beaumont, Texas, told him a physician had said she was dying of diabetes. Reynard, one of Texas' 400 practicing naturopaths, knew just what to do for her. First he gave her repeated enemas. Next he administered the pendulum test—a piece of steel supported on chains between two rods which he held over Mrs. Keene's heart. "Your heart is beating too fast and the blood pressure is too high," he told her. His diagnosis continued: a large heart...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!