According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ``Doctor'' Ghadiali, Dr. Albert Abrams and his clique, and Dr. Wilhelm Reich -- to name three notorious device quacks -- succeeded, respectively, in distributing 10000, 5000, and 2000 fake health machines.

Authorities believe that many of the Doctor Frauds using these false health gadgets are still in business. Look at the sums paid by two device quack victims in Cleveland. Sarah Gross, a dress shop proprietor, paid $1020 to a masseur, and Mr. A., a laborer, paid $4200 to a chiropractor for treatment with two fake health machines -- the ``radioclast'' and the ``diagnometer.'' Multiply these figures by the millions of people known to be conned by medical pirates annually. You will come up with a frightening total.

That's why the FDA, the American Medical Association (AMA), and the National Better Business Bureau (BBB) have estimated the toll of mechanical quackery to be a substantial portion of the $610 million or so paid to medical charlatans annually.

The Postmaster General recently reported that mail order frauds -- among which fake therapeutic devices figure prominently -- are at the highest level in history. Similarly, the American Cancer Society (ACS), the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation, and the BBB have each stated lately that medical quackery is at a new high. For example, the BBB has reported it was receiving four times as many inquiries about quack devices and 10 times as many complaints compared with two years ago.