Stuff You Should Know John Brinkley: The Quackiest Quack in History?
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Apr 13, 2023 Dive into the bizarre world of John Brinkley, a notorious figure in medical quackery. Discover his infamous goat gland procedure and the absurd beliefs surrounding virility enhancements. Explore his tumultuous early life and dubious education that fueled his controversial practices. Learn how Brinkley's savvy marketing strategies helped him gain fame while drawing scrutiny from medical authorities. The rise and fall of this charlatan reveal fascinating insights into early 20th-century quackery and the ethical dilemmas of alternative medicine.
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Early Xenotransplantation
- In the 1800s, Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard injected himself with animal testicle serum.
- He claimed it made him feel 30 years younger, but other physicians dismissed it as a placebo effect.
Voronoff's Experiments
- Sergei Voronoff, a legitimate doctor before Brinkley, experimented with xenotransplantation.
- He transplanted monkey testicles and chimpanzee thyroid glands in attempts to treat various conditions.
The First Goat Gland Patient
- John Brinkley's first goat gland patient was a farmer who suggested the idea.
- The farmer even offered to bring his own goat testicles for the procedure.
