FOODS AND DIETARIES 259 



4. What general reputation do the papers carrying the above 

 advertisements bear ? 



3. PREYING ON THE INCURABLE 



Note. Such diseases as consumption, cancer, dropsy, heart 

 disease, deaf ness,* epilepsy, fits, and paralysis are probably in- 

 curable by medicines. 



Advertisers professing to cure these diseases with medicines 

 are therefore virtually "birds of prey" and are preying on 

 humanity. 



Observations. 1. Scan the daily papers for advertisements 

 that profess to cure any of the above diseases. 



2. Do such fakirs "guarantee" their remedies? List some 

 that do. 



3. What is malt whisky listed to cure ? 



4. Do any claim to " return your money if not satisfied " ? 



5. Can you find any offering to send medicines free ? 



6. Do any advertise " no cure, no pay " ? 



Conclusions. 1. Why is it that people allow themselves to 

 be humbugged into buying such remedies as listed above ? 



2. Why should state and government aid be asked in order 

 to suppress such fraud ? 



3. What can you do to help ? 



4. What precautions should you think advisable if you were 

 about to buy a house, an automobile, or even a pair of shoes ? 

 Would ordinary testimonials suffice ? 



5. Do people observe the same precautions when they set 

 out to buy health ? 



II. QUACKS AND QUACKERY 

 a. Sure Cure School 



Observations. 1. Look for advertisements that profess to 

 " cure where all others fail." Such are surely " quacks," and 

 those who patronize them are scarcely better. 



