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You bid on the vintage
medical device, from end 1800, with original box and french
instruction in the cover. Very rare, ideal for museum or
collector. The
highly decorated nickel plated cylinder is marked "Oxydonor No. 2,
manufactured by Dr. H. Sanche & Co., Montreal, Canada, VICTORY,
Diaduction Rules Life". Dr. Hercules Sanche's signature and the
Victory eagle trade mark are prominently displayed on the front of
the tube. The cardboard box is marked "OXYDONOR, Dr. H. Sanche &
Co., Ltd., Montreal, Canada". The two electrode disks are marked
"Dr. H. Sanche & Co., Montreal, Canada, Pat Dec 27, 1898". One of
America's most notorious quacks, Dr. Sanche apparently moved around
a lot, keeping one step ahead of the authorities. His July 27, 1897
patent lists his residence as New Orleans, and his Aug 3, 1897
patent as Detroit. In 1915, a fraud order was issued against Dr.
Sanche & Co., of New York, Rochester, Chicago and Detroit. He soon
evaded this setback by marketing his devices from Montreal. In Feb,
1916, the fraud order was extended to cover his Montreal address.
This device likely dates from that period.
The Oxydonor Victory is simply a metal tube filled with carbon.
Unlike the many contemporary galvanic quack devices, it produces no
electricity. It was claimed to cure virtually all diseases simply by
forcing oxygen into the body. Proponents of Sanche's incredible
theory of "Diaduction" (the pseudoscientific explanation of the
Oxydonor cure)organized as the Fraternity of Duxanimae. In this way,
Sanche solicited donations for the cause (Diaduction), in addition
to sales of the Oxydonor. While Sanche and other notable quacks
contributed nothing to modern medicine, they probably made an
immense contribution to modern marketing techniques.
The Oxydonor, with its two electrodes and red cloth covered wires
and cardboard box, is in fine condition.
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