The Strange Science of Yusaburo Noguchi
In 1929, Dr. Yusaburo Noguchi, a Japanese biologist, made headlines by claiming that by means of "electrical nutrition and glandular control" he could change a person's race. He could "change an Indian to a darker color" or "mold a Japanese so that he would have the same appearance as the Caucasian."
After his brief moment in the limelight, Noguchi seemed to disappear from view. At least I haven't been able to find out any more about him. Japanese archives probably have more info.
But you have to wonder what kind of insane stuff he was up to.
I can guess what he meant by "glandular control." Back in the 1920s, a number of scientists believed it was possible to reprogram biology by transplanting glands from one person to another, or from one species to another. A famous proponent of this idea was Dr. Serge Voronoff who claimed that he could rejuvenate elderly men by grafting monkey glands onto their testicles.
But what did Noguchi mean by "electrical nutrition"? Was he simply electrocuting people? Probably.
New England Journal of Medicine - Nov 7, 1929
After his brief moment in the limelight, Noguchi seemed to disappear from view. At least I haven't been able to find out any more about him. Japanese archives probably have more info.
But you have to wonder what kind of insane stuff he was up to.
I can guess what he meant by "glandular control." Back in the 1920s, a number of scientists believed it was possible to reprogram biology by transplanting glands from one person to another, or from one species to another. A famous proponent of this idea was Dr. Serge Voronoff who claimed that he could rejuvenate elderly men by grafting monkey glands onto their testicles.
But what did Noguchi mean by "electrical nutrition"? Was he simply electrocuting people? Probably.
Yusaburo Noguchi - Oct 24, 1929
Comments
Did it involve "monkey glands"? Because that was a fashion somewhere around that time in Europe, and equally scientifically valid. And IIRC also racist.
Posted by Richard Bos on 03/01/25 at 08:49 AM
When I entered the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in East End, Arkansas (south of Little Rock), I learned that before the friars obtained the property, the building had been used as part of Dr. John Brinkley's (https://www.kansashistory.gov/kansapedia/john-r-brinkley/11988) "health care" system. He implanted goat glands to restore virility. I was always amused to think that the place where we were preparing for our vows of celibacy had once served a very different purpose indeed.
Posted by Michael Dodd on 03/01/25 at 02:06 PM
Category: Mad Scientists, Evil Geniuses, Insane Villains | Racism | Science | 1920s