Post by MontiLee on May 21, 2010 9:55:11 GMT -5
One of my favorite True Crime stories is about a place in the middle of nowhere, and a charleton that promised health and relaxation at a price most in their right minds would refuse.
Which was how she almost got away with it.
Linda Hazzard claimed to specialize in all that ailed the modern body, and in her quest to create the perfect sanitarium (these days we'd call it a resort spa) she killed nearly 40 patients. She promoted a strict regimen of fasting, enemas, and "correct thinking." Hardworking souls who had come to her in search of a cure from bursitis or spinal curvatures left after a number of days, cured and restored. Those unfortunately burdened with large sums of cash were systematically starved to death, and in their weaken states would sign over all they owned to the doctor who heroically tried to save them.
This is one of those books you feel, as you read it, must be fiction because no one could be that heartless or conniving or fundamentally evil, and yet for a limited as modern medicine was at the turn of the century, it left room for anyone to concoct treatments and elixirs. It also left those who believed themselves to be worldly and educated at the mercy of someone who preyed on the trusting naivete.
Starvation Heights Website with links to the book by Gregg Olsen as well as to a paranormal investigation of the surviving structure.
I dunno - I ran out of words here, so when I think of something else to add, I will.
Which was how she almost got away with it.
Linda Hazzard claimed to specialize in all that ailed the modern body, and in her quest to create the perfect sanitarium (these days we'd call it a resort spa) she killed nearly 40 patients. She promoted a strict regimen of fasting, enemas, and "correct thinking." Hardworking souls who had come to her in search of a cure from bursitis or spinal curvatures left after a number of days, cured and restored. Those unfortunately burdened with large sums of cash were systematically starved to death, and in their weaken states would sign over all they owned to the doctor who heroically tried to save them.
This is one of those books you feel, as you read it, must be fiction because no one could be that heartless or conniving or fundamentally evil, and yet for a limited as modern medicine was at the turn of the century, it left room for anyone to concoct treatments and elixirs. It also left those who believed themselves to be worldly and educated at the mercy of someone who preyed on the trusting naivete.
Starvation Heights Website with links to the book by Gregg Olsen as well as to a paranormal investigation of the surviving structure.
I dunno - I ran out of words here, so when I think of something else to add, I will.
