In the early 20th century, John R. Brinkley gained national fame and international notoriety by surgically transplanting goat testicles into human men. Known as the “goat-gland doctor,” he made a fortune doing this, claiming it cured sexual dysfunction and other ailments, ranging from dementia to flatulence (a wide array of maladies, but not mutually exclusive). Despite the disapprobation of the medical community, he operated clinics and hospitals in several states and continued practicing “medicine” for almost two decades. He eventually ran for governor of Kansas. He nearly won.
The “trust me, I’m a doctor” halo is apparently quite durable.
Comments