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J. R. Brinkley, Controversial American Surgeon

John Romulus Brinkley (July 8, 1885 - May 26, 1942) was an American surgeon (he had no legitimate medical education and bought his medical degree) who became known as the "goat-gland doctor" after he achieved national fame, international notoriety and great wealth through the xenotransplantation of goat testicles into humans. Initially promoting this procedure as a means of curing male impotence, he eventually claimed it as a cure for 27 ailments, ranging from dementia to emphysema to flatulence. He operated clinics and hospitals in several states, and despite the fact that almost from the beginning, detractors and critics in the medical community discredited his methods, he was able to continue his activities for almost two decades. At the height of his career he had amassed millions of dollars; yet he died sick and nearly penniless, as a result of the large number of malpractice, wrongful death and fraud suits brought against him.

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Title:

J. R. Brinkley, Controversial American Surgeon

Caption:

John Romulus Brinkley (July 8, 1885 - May 26, 1942) was an American surgeon (he had no legitimate medical education and bought his medical degree) who became known as the "goat-gland doctor" after he achieved national fame, international notoriety and great wealth through the xenotransplantation of goat testicles into humans. Initially promoting this procedure as a means of curing male impotence, he eventually claimed it as a cure for 27 ailments, ranging from dementia to emphysema to flatulence. He operated clinics and hospitals in several states, and despite the fact that almost from the beginning, detractors and critics in the medical community discredited his methods, he was able to continue his activities for almost two decades. At the height of his career he had amassed millions of dollars; yet he died sick and nearly penniless, as a result of the large number of malpractice, wrongful death and fraud suits brought against him.

Credit:

Album / NLM/Science Source

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Image size:

3305 x 4200 px | 39.7 MB

Print size:

28.0 x 35.6 cm | 11.0 x 14.0 in (300 dpi)

Keywords:

1920S • 20 20TH XX XXTH TWENTIETH CENTURY • 20 XX TWENTIETH CENTURY • 20TH CENTURY • 20TH • AMERICA • AMERICAN • BRINKLEY • BW • CELEBRITIES • CELEBRITY • CONTROVERSIAL • FAKE • FAMOUS PEOPLE • FAMOUS • FRAUDULENT CLAIMS • FRAUDULENT • GOAT GLAND TRANSPLANTATION • HISTORIC • HISTORICAL SURGEON • HISTORICAL • HISTORY • IMPORTANT • INEFFECTIVE • J. R. BRINKLEY • JOHN BRINKLEY • JOHN RICHARD BRINKLEY • JOHN ROMULUS BRINKLEY • MEDICAL • MEDICINAL • MEDICINE • NOTABLE • OPERATION • PHONY • PHOTO • PHOTOGRAPH • QUACKERY • SCIENCE • SHAM • SURGERY • SURGICAL • TWENTIETH CENTURY • UNITED STATES • US • USA • WELL-KNOWN • XENOTRANSPLANTATION