The Deadly Cost of Quackery
A Spokane family turned to an unverified 'sure cure' for smallpox, leading to tragic loss of life.
According to Spokane Health Officer Newman, a deadly concoction sold as a smallpox cure has resulted in at least one death. The mixture, which analysis revealed to be a blend of sulphate of zinc and digitalis, was purchased by a family who had contracted the disease. Following its consumption, the mother, Mrs. John Higgins, died, and her daughter is currently reported to be in critical condition. The husband and a son remain seriously ill, with little hope of recovery.
“They purchased a bottle of the 'sure cure' and a few days later Mrs. Higgins was dead.”
The peddling of dangerous 'alternative' medicines during public health crises is a recurring phenomenon that bridges the gap between 1903 and our modern experience with medical misinformation.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.