The North Texas Skeptic

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue Date: January 2004
Volume: 18
Number: 1

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic delves into historical medical quackery, the enduring mystery of the Roswell incident, and various other topics through a lens of skepticism and scientific inquiry.

William Radam and the Microbe Killer

This lengthy article by Daniel R. Barnett chronicles the story of William Radam, a Prussian gardener who moved to Austin, Texas, and became a notorious purveyor of a fraudulent medical cure-all called the 'Microbe Killer.' Radam, after suffering from personal ailments and the deaths of his children, became convinced that microbes were the cause of all disease. Drawing parallels to his gardening experience of killing bugs on plants, he developed a liquid he claimed was a universal, non-poisonous antiseptic. He described it as 'pure water, permeated with gases which are essential to the nourishment of the system, and in which micro-organisms cannot live and propagate.'

Radam patented the Microbe Killer in 1886 and began selling it widely. His marketing was aggressive, featuring a distinctive trademark of a man fighting a skeleton and claiming the elixir could 'CURE ALL DISEASES.' The article details how Radam's business flourished, leading him to build the Koppel Building in Austin and eventually establish laboratories and factories across America and even in London.

The medical profession, however, was highly critical. Physician and pharmacist R.G. Eccles published a report detailing his analysis of the Microbe Killer, stating it was merely water with small amounts of hydrochloric and sulfuric acid. Radam vehemently defended his product and even threatened Eccles with a duel. Despite Radam's defense, Eccles pursued a libel suit, which eventually led to a jury awarding Eccles $6,000.

Radam appealed and pursued his own case against Eccles, winning a small award in Manhattan, which he proclaimed as a vindication. However, the article highlights that the Microbe Killer continued to be sold even after the landmark 'The Great American Fraud' exposé and the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act. The Sherley Amendment in 1912 further targeted misbranded drugs. In 1913, federal agents seized a large shipment of Microbe Killer, and a subsequent trial found it in violation of the Sherley Amendment. The entire shipment was ordered destroyed, marking the beginning of the end for Radam's company.

The article concludes by noting that the Koppel Building still stands in Austin, and while some Microbe Killer artifacts survive, the scientific discoveries of Pasteur and Koch ultimately led to genuine improvements in public health, far surpassing Radam's fraudulent claims.

Alien Encounter: Roswell Revisited

Prasad Golla recounts his visit to the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico. Golla expresses skepticism about the museum's claims, noting the lack of 'real evidence' despite the assertion that 'The Truth is here.' He describes the exhibits as 'suggestions – heavy suggestions,' including mock-ups and crop circle sections, but finds no authenticated material or photos of aliens or spaceships. Golla suggests that while the museum caters to conspiracy theorists, most of its 'evidence' is likely fabricated and would not withstand scientific scrutiny.

He touches upon the historical context of the Roswell incident, including the claims made by Lt. Walter G. Haut and W. Glenn Dennis, and references the possibility of government cover-ups, mentioning Jimmy Carter's promise to reveal UFO documents. Golla concludes that the museum, while a tourist attraction, serves more as a 'freak show' that raises questions rather than providing answers.

What's New

This section, by Robert Park, presents several brief news items:

• Climate Change: An AGU statement reflects a growing scientific consensus that human activity has altered climate systems.
• University of World Peace: A report on an initiative to train meditation experts to raise funds for world peace.
• Nobel Madness: The ongoing public campaign of Raymond Damadian, who was excluded from the 2003 Medicine Nobel Prize.

Skeptic Ink

This section features two short pieces:

• Wrong, again by John Blanton reviews his inaccurate predictions for 2003, including those concerning Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, James Randi, and 'intelligent design.' He humorously admits his predictions fared little better than those of professional psychics.
• A brief mention of Laura Ainsworth's musical satire 'My Ship Has Sailed' and her website.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims, the importance of critical thinking and scientific evidence, and the debunking of historical and contemporary hoaxes. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific rationalism, as evidenced by the detailed examination of William Radam's quackery and the critical review of the Roswell UFO museum. The magazine aims to educate its readers about the dangers of unverified claims and the value of empirical evidence.