Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the WorldWooldridge, Clifton R. (Clifton Rodman)
History
Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the World
Wooldridge, Clifton R. (Clifton Rodman)
Crime -- Illinois -- Chicago; Police -- Illinois -- Chicago
And the people who needed the treatment paid the bills. So powerful
was this man's influence that he was enabled to stave off undesirable
legislation at Springfield. In this he was aided by the newspapers,
who did not wish to lose this princely revenue from quack doctors.
This doctor is still in business, but on a small scale compared to
former times. Competition and the advent of more mendacious liars have
reduced his income to more modest proportions than it once was.
A MONUMENTAL SWINDLE.
MEN who need treatment or advice concerning their health
or any weakness or private disease should, before taking
any treatment whatever, go to Dr. S. for consultation,
examination and advice; free.
DR. S.--Longest Established, Most Successful and Reliable
Specialist in Diseases of Men, as Medical Diplomas,
Licenses and Newspaper Records Show.
Dr. S. first came to Chicago about the time of the World's Fair. His
home office was supposed to be in Philadelphia. While Philadelphia has
the reputation of being slow, yet the methods of Dr. S. were decidedly
swift, so much so that he almost took the breath away from the Chicago
specialists.
He was the first to charge for medicine in addition to his fees. It is
a well-known fact that a man having been under the treatment of Dr. S.
for a week or a month never seeks the aid of another one.
He has been cured? Not on your life. He has been robbed. I have known
this "Doctor" to charge as much as one hundred dollars for two small
bottles of dope. This is in addition to a fee of twenty-five to five
hundred dollars. He always operates a "drug store" in connection with
his office.
The patient, having undergone an examination and having been
thoroughly frightened, is told what the fee will be. This being paid,
he is given a prescription and sent to the "drug store."
This is so written that no other drug store can fill it. In a
short time he is handed two or three small bottles, and on asking
"how much" is told a sum varying from ten to one hundred and fifty
dollars. Surprised and indignant, he hastens back to the "Doctor" and
complains. He is told that the medicines are cheap at that price; that
they are expensive drugs and very necessary in his case.
If the patient has the money he pays it, resolving that he will have
no more to do with Dr. S. If he lives in the country he is surprised
the following week by getting notice from the express company that a
C. O. D. package awaits him at the office.
It is the second week's supply of medicine. Charges from twenty-five
to ninety-eight dollars. He at once writes to the "Doctor" and says he
doesn't want the stuff.
The first supply has done him no good. It's too expensive and he can't
afford to continue it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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