



Produced by David Widger








THE GREAT AMERICAN FRAUD

By Samuel Hopkins Adams


A Series of Articles on the Patent Medicine Evil, Reprinted from
Collier's Weekly

     I-----The Great American Fraud     3
     II----Peruna and the Bracers      12
     III---Liquozone                   23
     IV----The Subtle Poisons          32
     V-----Preying on the Incurables   45
     VI----The Fundamental Fakes       57

     ALSO

     THE PATENT MEDICINE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS




I. THE GREAT AMERICAN FRAUD.

Reprinted from Collier's Weekly, Oct. 7, 1905. {003}

This is the introductory article to a series which will contain a full
explanation and exposure of patent-medicine methods, and the harm done
to the public by this industry, founded mainly on fraud and poison.
Results of the publicity given to these methods can already be seen
in the steps recently taken by the National Government, some State
Governments and a few of the more reputable newspapers. The object
of the series is to make the situation so familiar and thoroughly
understood that there will be a speedy end to the worst aspects of the
evil.

[IMAGE ==>] {003}

Gullible America will spend this year some seventy-five millions of
dollars in the purchase of patent medicines. In consideration of this
sum it will swallow huge quantities of alcohol, an appalling amount of
opiates and narcotics, a wide assortment of varied drugs ranging from
powerful and dangerous heart depressants to insidious liver stimulants;
and, far in excess of all other ingredients, undiluted fraud. For fraud,
exploited by the skillfulest of advertising bunco men, is the basis of
the trade. Should the newspapers, the