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cover of episode Dr. Brinkley's Miracle Cure For Impotence (with Betwixt The Sheets)

Dr. Brinkley's Miracle Cure For Impotence (with Betwixt The Sheets)

2025/2/7
logo of podcast Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
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Kate Lister
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Tim Harford
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Tim Harford: 1917年,一位堪萨斯州的农民向年轻的布林克利医生咨询性功能问题,布林克利开玩笑说移植山羊睾丸可以解决问题,农民竟然当真。手术成功后,农民向朋友宣传,布林克利的诊所生意兴隆。布林克利开始在美国各地开设诊所,并利用广播吸引更多患者。他告诉病人,性腺决定年龄,但很少有人质疑他的资质。事实上,布林克利是个喜欢自我宣传且不可靠的叙述者,关于他医疗资质的说法并不完全真实。 Kate Lister: 布林克利是个疯子。关于他的了解都来自他自己的证词和历史记录,但需要持保留态度,因为他是旋转大师。他童年贫困,曾在屠宰场工作,认为山羊是最卫生的动物。他和第一任妻子开始了巡回医疗表演,兜售蛇油之类的无稽之谈。后来,他意识到自己不是真正的医生,但仍然继续行医。他获得了可疑的资质,并在堪萨斯州开设诊所,提供山羊睾丸移植手术。许多男性热衷于接受这种手术,它非常受欢迎。布林克利还利用广播进行宣传,吸引了更多患者。他每天在广播中提供医疗建议,但其他医生对此提出质疑。

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In 1917 Kansas, a farmer seeks a cure for impotence from the newly arrived Dr. Brinkley. Brinkley's unconventional solution leads to the rise of goat gland transplants.
  • Farmer seeks impotence cure
  • Brinkley suggests goat testicle transplant
  • First transplant successful, leading to increased demand

Shownotes Transcript

Cautionary Conversation: In the 1920s, a conman convinced America that goat testicles were the secret to male virility. Tim Harford and Dr Kate Lister (Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society) dive into the bizarre and grisly tale of "Doctor" John Brinkley. This snake oil salesman mobilised the power of radio marketing to build an empire on goat gland transplants and other quack "cures". And Brinkley might have got away with it, were it not for his nemesis: the tenacious Dr. Morris Fishbein.

Find Betwixt the Sheets here: https://podfollow.com/betwixt-the-sheets-the-history-of-sex-scandal-society)

For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com)

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