Finger Surgery for Deafness: Rethinking Quackery in Medical History

HUMANITIES | MEDICINE AND SOCIETY

Finger surgery for deafness: rethinking quackery in medical history

n Cite as: CMAJ 2019 February 19;191:E192-4. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.180989

n 1923, American news dispatches announced that King Alfonso of Spain had summoned a famous New York Iosteopath to treat his 15-year-old son, Infante Don Jaime (1908–1975). Deaf and mute following a severe case of mastoid- itis, Don Jaime was judged “incurable” after Spanish specialists unsuccessfully operated on him in 1912.1 According to court insiders, an osteopath took only 20 minutes to perform a bloodless and painless operation that miraculously cured the prince. Who was this osteopath who had succeeded where all others had failed? Reporters deduced that one man fit the bill: Brooklyn-based Dr. Curtis H. Muncie (1887–1963), who happened to be sailing on the Majestic, which was bound for Europe, to promote his “constructive bi-digital intra-aural” technique, other- wise known as the “Muncie Reconstruc- tion Method” or simply “finger surgery.” The technique required Muncie to insert his fingers through a patient’s larynx to manipulate the eustachian tube and man- ually correct aural defects causing deafness. Allegedly, it had a 90% success rate in incurable cases.2 The reports turned out to be false. Upon returning to the United States, Muncie was accused of using Don Jaime to promote his technique. In defence, Muncie sent out a press release that the criticism was “an unfair and malicious attack” on him and his method, likely launched by enemies of osteopathy who were threat- ened by his financial success.3 He clarified that he had sailed for Europe but never said — nor ordered anyone to say on his behalf — that he treated the Spanish prince. Despite criticism, the Don Jaime Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, (reproduction no. LC-DIG-ggbain-36201) fiasco projected Muncie into the spotlight, Mrs. Ada B. Hicks and Dr. C.H. Muncie, circa 1900, Bain News Service. From the George Grantham as newspapers and magazines profiled his Bain Collection, United States Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

- E193 To fit with these these with fit To 10,11 9 In 1921, Muncie correlated his findings correlated his findings In 1921, Muncie that even the Although Muncie argued The popularity of finger surgery as a Muncie actively engaged in battles over to announce 2 major claims: the eusta- 2 major claims: to announce and differed in size, contour chian tube are deaf and that tone in people who a was tube eustachian the in deformity Furthermore, universal cause of deafness. he identified 11 types of deafness, 10 of by his surgery; only which were curable to nerve degenera- cases of deafness due suitable not were meningitis from tion candidates — he still accepted although patients with this condition. could be digi- slightest tubal deformity tally manipulated to cure deafness, he insisted his method could not be taught. Instead, he offered demonstrations in 50 citiesthan more Europe; and US the in these demonstrations elevated Muncie to celebrity status. It was, however, an an examination procedure: expensive and $200, at began operations $25, cost - postoperative treatment was $10. Com paratively, a stay at the Hotel Waldorf in New York City cost $5 to $10 a night. cure for deafness certainly reflected broader cultural expectations of normalcy broader cultural expectations of normalcy - and eugenics that required American citi educated godly, be deaf to were who zens minded. civic and expectations, they had to become “hear become to had they expectations, ing” or at least “pass” as such if their - hearing could not be restored, by embrac ing adaptative strategies such as lip-reading, wearing hearing aids or, if desperate enough, trying unconventional therapies. Furthermore, the addition of audiometric screening and collaborative programs between telecommunications companies, social welfare organizations the reinforced otologists leading and notion that hearing loss was “preventive” and that deafness was an individual responsibility; thus, assimilating was required for all citizens who were deaf. jurisdictional authority of patients who were deaf by harshly condemning allopaths and their theories that otosclerosis and Ménière disease were causes of hearing loss; nevertheless, allopathic treat- ments for catarrhal deafness followed technique as early as 1893 but failed to to but failed as 1893 as early technique of its conservative colleagues convince his benefits. - ISSUE 7 ISSUE | 8 He broke He broke 2 before transferring VOLUME 191 VOLUME | Prevention and Cure of Deafness, As Muncie explains in his advertising As Muncie explains in his advertising Indeed, within the osteopathic commun Indeed, within the osteopathic FEBRUARY 19, 2019 FEBRUARY | booklet, after a routine examination of an 11-year- old boy deafened by scarlet fever, he - became interested in aural disorders. Fol - lowing standard removal of the boy’s ade noids, Muncie examined his nasopharynx adenoids lateral “found and finger a with - remaining, which had grown about the ori fices of the eustachian tubes.” ity, Muncie was perceived as qualified andity, Muncie was perceived about 60 articlestrained, having published journals. Muncie ini- in various osteopathic the at engineering chemical studied tially Polytechnic Insti- Brooklyn Collegiate and medi- to career his shift to decided but tute behest of his parents,cine, probably at the Muncie, who estab- Edward and Elizabeth lished the Muncie Sanatorium in Brooklyn - in 1896. Although the elder Muncies pro vided homeopathic care to patients with chronic diseases, their son decided to matriculate at the Philadelphia College and Infirmary of Osteopathy to Still’s American School of Osteopathy in in graduating After Missouri. Kirksville, at work to Brooklyn to returned he 1910, the Muncie Sanitarium. - use of instru limited with and muscles without the interference ments releases effects of pharmaceuticals. the adverse by attempts legislative hostile Despite of osteo- limit the autonomy allopaths to had solidi- 1930s osteopathy paths, by the with its own insti- fied into a distinct field licensing boards. tutions, journals and ing by digitally correcting the defective ing by digitally correcting the defective eustachian tube. Muncie’s claim of “inventing” finger surgery, however, was questioned; supposedly, laryngologist the of Dr. Frank E. Miller was the originator - the adenoids down and, much to his sur the eusta- slipped into his fingers prise, chian tube, challenging conventional ana- tomic findings that the tube was no larger than a goose quill. Although the boy’s the restored, “miraculously” was hearing effects lasted for only 2 weeks. Wanting to develop a more permanent solution, Mun- cie examined over 500 eustachian tubes of patients at the Sanatorium during 1910–1916 and concluded that the tube “is larger in life than in death — large enough to be treated digitally.” He hear boy’s the restored have to claimed - - - CMAJ 5 Over the course of Over the course 4 Muncie’s advertising, advertising, Muncie’s 7 His practice was so successful successful His practice was so 2 The American Medical Association

6 Early 20th-century medicine was frag- A health-reform movement founded No favourable magazine profile, how- No favourable magazine promotions and boastful pretensions are are pretensions boastful and promotions all traditional indicators of medical quackery as outlined by the AMA, but why explain not do perspectives these thousands of deaf Americans flocked to Contextual treatment. seeking office his izing the popularity of finger surgery - within the backdrop of professionaliza tion and the shifting cultural perspectives more a frame to us allows deafness of nuanced picture of medical quackery. mented. In its attempts to secure mon opoly and define professional standards, the medical establishment attempted to outlaw sectarian competition that it perceived would threaten the therapeutic consensus of the profession — “cults” as they were called — including osteopathy. by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (1828–1919), that principle the on based is osteopathy muscu disordered a in rooted is disease the with interfering system, loskeletal nerves and blood supply. Physically manipulating the body’s bones, tissues gery.” ever, could quell attacks against Muncie Muncie against attacks quell could ever, the medical profes- from the public and palpable faker who sion that he was a deluded victims with his unscrupulous tactics. Dr. George E. Shambaughbusiness one of the leading otologists (1869–1947), - of the time, impugned Muncie as a notori sur finger “silly his with fraudster ous finger surgery and proclaimed it to be a be a it to proclaimed surgery and finger any given for deafness. On miracle cure of 200 patientsday, upward lined the cor- 29th floor of the fashionably ridors on the Manhattan Delmonico in exclusive Hotel be treated. waiting to that rumours swirled that he had gener- that rumours swirled a million dollars dur- ated more than half ing the Great Depression. his 5-year career, Muncie allegedly Muncie allegedly his 5-year career, treated 1 585 000 cases using finger sur- hands insured for gery and even had his $400 000. (AMA) insisted that Muncie’s technique (AMA) insisted that Muncie’s technique lacked any sound scientific support and was the “worst deafness cure fraud” of the 1920s and 1930s; the association’s journal even editorialized that “Muncie - may well rank among the leading charla time.” our of tans HUMANITIES E194 fied versionsoftheMunciemethod. paths continued to devise and use modi similar techniquestoMuncie’s,andosteo- his 1939arrestforincometaxevasion. cism thatdestroyedMuncie’scareer,but dence inthemedicalprofession. who weredeafandtorestoretheirconfi- necessary forprovidinghopetothose tional materialsandsuccessstorieswere against Muncie, arguing that his promo denounce theAMA’ssubstantialattacks 519, Folder09]).Otherswroteto H., Correspondence,1921–1927”[Box AMA archives,folder“Muncie,Dr.Curtis Alternative Medicine Collection at the their hearing(HistoricalHealthFraudand yet another treatment could not restore their disappointmentatdiscoveringthat andshared $3000ormore — funds — their dissatisfaction and regret over lost his patientswrotetotheAMAexpress from Muncie’smethod.Indeed,someof At theend,itwasnotprofessionalcriti- However, notallpatientsbenefited 5,12

CMAJ - - References Delaware, Newark,Del. Department ofHistory,University Jaipreet VirdiMAPhD “unteachable” technique. more than4000patientsusinghisfather’s practised until1976,supposedlytreating Hearing inMiamiandLasVegas,wherehe ally establishedtheMuncieInstitutefor business tohissonDouglas,whoeventu- After hisreleasefromprison,hepassed | 4. 3. 2. 1. FEBRUARY 19, 2019

tion, AmericanMedicalAssociation. Health Fraud and Alternative Medicine Collec Department ofInvestigationRecords,Historical Curtis H.MuncietoVoltaReview,25Nov.1923. New York;1936:52. through Munciereconstructionmethod.4thed. Muncie CH. Preventionandcureofdeafness arch. London(UK):MacMillianPress;1996. Powell C.JuanCarlosofSpain:self-mademon- Investigation Records,HistoricalHealthFraud Buffalo NewsCourier1923Apr.6.Departmentof Crowds waitfor‘fingersurgeon’tohealdeafness. | VOLUME 191 | ISSUE 7 -

12. 11. 10. This articlehasbeenpeerreviewed. 6. 5. 8. 9. 7.

Otol Neurotol2010;31:846-55. in otology: the saga of Curtis H. Muncie, osteopath. Swamy RS,JacklerRK.Theficklefingerofquackery Medical Association. and AlternativeMedicineCollection,American Assoc 2008;108:260-3. tion andillustrativereportofcase.JAmOsteopath pathic manipulation for eustachiantube dysfunc- Channell MK.ModifiedMuncietechnique:osteo- University Press;2002. history, 1900toWorldWarII.NewYork:York Burch S.Signs of resistance: American deaf cultural schools. NewYork:YorkUniversityPress;2012. century deafeducationandthegrowthof Edwards RAR.Wordsmadeflesh:nineteenth- Deaf 1923;68:347. Finger surgery as a cure for deafness. Baltimore: JohnHopkinsUniversityPress;2004. Gevitz N.TheDOs:OsteopathicmedicineinAmerica. fraud inincometax.JAMA1942;119:799. Current Comment. U.S.finds ‘finger surgeon’ Medicine Collection,AmericanMedicalAssociation. Records, HistoricalHealthFraudandAlternative 16,1923.DepartmentofInvestigation Feb. Letter fromG.E.ShambaughtoM.Fishbein, Am Ann