Alois P. Swoboda
Encyclopedia
Alois P. Swoboda was a Physical Culture
mail-order instructor.
Swoboda was born in Vienna
on March 8, 1873, and immigrated to the U.S.A. in 1881 with his father, Adolf Swoboda. They settled in Omaha, Nebraska
where he quickly found work in the local bathhouses. Mr. Swoboda subsequently worked in Omaha meatpacking factories but did not receive medical training, etc., despite insinuations of a formal education.
Bob Hoffman, a former US Olympic Weightlifting Coach said his father was a Swoboda student [4].
In 1921 the American Medical Association
investigated Swoboda and his various claims and called them "quackery
". They also cited his advertising as being false and misleading. In 1901 President Woodrow Wilson
received the Swoboda course, and according to the Woodrow Wilson House, "Wilson underwent a series of quack procedures as cures for what later would be recognized as the symptoms of hypertension
"
NOTE: Swoboda was never recognized as a licensed 'doctor'.
No oil was found.
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Physical culture
Physical culture is a term applied to health and strength training regimens, particularly those that originated during the 19th century. During the mid-late 20th century, the term "physical culture" became largely outmoded in most English-speaking countries, being replaced by terms such as...
mail-order instructor.
Swoboda was born in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
on March 8, 1873, and immigrated to the U.S.A. in 1881 with his father, Adolf Swoboda. They settled in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
where he quickly found work in the local bathhouses. Mr. Swoboda subsequently worked in Omaha meatpacking factories but did not receive medical training, etc., despite insinuations of a formal education.
Training methods
"Conscious Evolution" was a course originally published in the late 1800s by Alois P. Swoboda. In it he claimed that it allowed one to regrow lost limbs and heal deadly disease through use of will-power which he called "NERVE FORCE".Bob Hoffman, a former US Olympic Weightlifting Coach said his father was a Swoboda student [4].
In 1921 the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
investigated Swoboda and his various claims and called them "quackery
Quackery
Quackery is a derogatory term used to describe the promotion of unproven or fraudulent medical practices. Random House Dictionary describes a "quack" as a "fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill" or "a person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, or...
". They also cited his advertising as being false and misleading. In 1901 President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
received the Swoboda course, and according to the Woodrow Wilson House, "Wilson underwent a series of quack procedures as cures for what later would be recognized as the symptoms of hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
"
NOTE: Swoboda was never recognized as a licensed 'doctor'.
Oil Stocks
From an article in TIME MagazineAlois P. Swoboda, mass-advertising "culture rhythm" man, was enjoined in BrooklynBrooklynBrooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
from selling oilOilAn oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
stock to members of his cultCultThe word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
by a letter describing one "Dahlgran," alleged oil wellOil wellAn oil well is a general term for any boring through the earth's surface that is designed to find and acquire petroleum oil hydrocarbons. Usually some natural gas is produced along with the oil. A well that is designed to produce mainly or only gas may be termed a gas well.-History:The earliest...
locater. Eighteen months ago, Dr. Swoboda took in $70,000 for the stock; no oil has yet appeared. Said the letter: "This man Dahlgran through his power is to serve Swoboda and Swobodians. Dahlgran has located for me what he considers a very extensive oil pool ... and is positive that the first well will be an enormous gusher. ... I personally do not care for wealthWealthWealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
for my own sake, but merely to aid Swobodians."
No oil was found.
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