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cover of episode 124 | Pt1 | Dr John Brinkley : The Quackiest Quack in Medical History

124 | Pt1 | Dr John Brinkley : The Quackiest Quack in Medical History

2025/3/19
logo of podcast Black Cat Report | UFOs, Cryptids, True Crime & Paranormal

Black Cat Report | UFOs, Cryptids, True Crime & Paranormal

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Shownotes Transcript

Dive into the fascinating and bizarre world of Dr. John Brinkley, the infamous early 20th-century "goat-gland doctor," who captured headlines with his controversial medical practices.

In this episode, we unravel the story of Brinkley's rise to fame and fortune through unconventional surgeries involving goat testicle transplants.

Explore how his unorthodox methods and charismatic persona made him a household name, yet later exposed him as one of history's most notorious medical charlatans.

Perfect for history enthusiasts and those intrigued by medical oddities, this episode promises a captivating blend of historical insights and curious tales.

Join us for a journey through the curious annals of medical quackery and the legacy that continues to intrigue.

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**Sources: **

Charlatan: America’s Most Dangerous Huckster, The Man Who Pursued Him, and The Age of Flimflam by Pope Brock

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014CDNBQ)

Other Sources:

https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2024/01/23/john-r-brinkley-1885-1942-q-52)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Pavia)

https://lawrepository.ualr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2050&context=lawreview)

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-life-of-a-man-a-biography-of-john-r-brinkley/11695574/all-editions/)

https://www.vvchc.org/dr-john-brinkley-narrative.html)

https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/john-richard-brinkley-1105/)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Episode and Drinking Game

03:05 Brinkley's Early Life and Marriage

08:25 Transition to Medical Aspirations

11:32 Brinkley's Marital Troubles

12:45 The Downward Spiral and Return to Chicago

13:40 Meeting James Crawford and New Ventures

15:39 The Syphilis Museum Encounter

17:32 Brinkley's Quack Bookkeeping Lessons

18:40 Setting Up Shop in Greenville

21:03 The Snake Oil Salesman's Tactics

22:42 Brinkley's New Love and Marriage

25:02 Complications of Bigamy

26:01 The Sheriff Closes In

26:57 The Dangers of Boredom in Law Enforcement

28:33 The Life of a Con Artist: Brinkley's Early Days

30:14 The Rise of a Medical Fraud: Brinkley's License Acquisition

32:28 World War I and the Medical Experience

35:37 Brinkley's Move to Milford: A New Beginning

36:49 The First Patient: A Farmer's Desperation

39:46 The Goat Testicle Surgery: A Controversial Procedure

50:57 The Spread of Brinkley's Reputation

52:37 Surgical Skepticism and Historical Context

55:43 The Era of Experimental Medicine

58:07 The Morbid Curiosity of Medical Practices

01:02:17 Brinkley’s Rise and Charitable Acts

01:07:56 The Brinkley Institute and Its Impact

01:12:39 Controversial Claims and Patient Experiences

01:16:47 The Ingenious Con Artist

01:25:35 Building a Community Through Deception

01:27:53 The Rise of the Goat Testicle Doctor

01:39:48 The Fall of the Goat Doctor

01:43:45 Conclusion and Future Insights

Tags:

#JohnBrinkley #MedicalHistory #truecrime #GoatTesticleSurgery #QuackMedicine #HistoricalCharlatans #comedy

MUSIC CREDITS:

Outro Music: Lounge Jungle by Curt S D Macdonald: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://download.audiohero.com/track/41504269)⁠⁠⁠

Music Licensing Agreements: ⁠⁠https://blackcat.report/music-licensing-agreement)

Duet for 2 Violins Op 5 N2: Larghetto

https://download.audiohero.com/track/13444121)

Music Licensing Agreements: ⁠⁠⁠https://blackcat.report/music-licensing-agreement)