Dr. John R. Brinkley wasn’t a trained surgeon, but that didn’t
stop him from becoming one of the most famous doctors in America.
In the early 1900s, Brinkley claimed he had discovered a cure for male weakness. His treatment involved surgically implanting goat testicles into human patients. He said it restored youth, strength, and confidence.
People believed him. Patients lined up. Wives
thanked him. Money poured in.
Brinkley used radio to advertise his clinic,
reaching millions. He built a fortune and a medical empire almost entirely on
confidence and repetition.
Eventually, actual doctors investigated. The
treatments didn’t work. Complications were common. Some patients died.
Brinkley lost his medical license, his radio
stations, and his wealth. He died nearly penniless.
The goats, meanwhile, remained innocent.
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