Note 251 — PART III CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE JOURNAL: PROPRIETARY PRODUCTS (continued 2)
Reading edition
Here is what The Journal published on Erling:
A. E. Erling according to the stationery, is “Chairman” of “Censors.” Our records fail to show that Erling ever graduated in medicine. The Health Department of Milwaukee, however, says that Erling, when interviewed, claimed to have “a diploma from the German Medical College of Chicago, but refused to show or present the same.” The American Medical Directory has this item:
German Medical College, Chicago. Chartered Dec. 28, 1891, by Johann Malok. Fraudulent. Extinct.
A few years ago Erling was in La Crosse, Wis., and in 1908 a circular letter bearing his name and picture was sent out, from which the following extracts are taken. Capitalization as in the original:
“Dear Friend:—Permit me to call your attention to the fact that Dr. A. E. Erling, the eminent specialist, after many years of travel, practice and medical research, has given up his extensive road practice and severed his connection with the several medical institutes which have heretofore occupied considerable of his attention.... Dr. Erling’s success in the treatment of all CHRONIC DISEASES IS truly remarkable. NERVOUSNESS, all BLOOD DISEASES, RHEUMATISM, DISEASES PECULIAR TO WOMEN; CATARRH, DEAFNESS, CHRONIC CONSTIPATION ... APPENDICITIS ... PILES, STOMACH TROUBLES, PARTIAL PARALYSIS, etc., give way as if by magic under his skilful method of treatment.... Understand, please, that Dr. Erling DOES NOT ACCEPT A CASE FOR TREATMENT unless he can PROMISE A SPEEDY AND POSITIVELY PERMANENT CURE.”
The Journal also has in its files advertisements (vintage of 1915), from some Wisconsin country newspapers; which notify the afflicted that “Drs. Erling and Karass, the expert German Specialists,” could be seen in their offices in the “Schlegel Hotel,” the “Schlitz Hotel,” etc., as the case might be. Whether one of these “German Specialists” was Dr. Arnold E. Erling, The Journal does not know. Official medical records fail to show, at least, that there is any other Erling in the state of Wisconsin.