GLAND EXPERT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1939, Page 9

GLAND EXPERT

4 RETIRING WHEN 120 YEARS OLD. SEEKS ENDOWMENT POLICY. Mr A. Menzies Sharpe, the gland expert whose treatment was adopted by both the football teams in the English Cup Final, plans to retire when he is 120. He takes his own “medicine.”

At the age of 58 he has approached insurance companies for an endowment insurance policy for £lO.OOO payable on his 120th birthday. “You may think it fantastic.” he said, “but I mean business. I am prepared to pay the premium now in one substantial lump sum. Two insurance companies have told me politely that, they would first have to work out new actuarial figures. As this is in the nature of a challenge, I am giving all leading British insurance companies an opportunity to quote me a premium.”

Formerly a mining engineer, Mr Sharpe first became interested in glands or the science of endocrinology as a hobby. Ten years ago his hobby became his full-time job. In the summer of 1937 it was announced that Wolverhampton Wanderers had adopted Mr Sharpe's gland treatment to build up a team of super players. Today the Wolves are hot favourites to win the Cup. and also have a sporting chance of winning the League championship. Portsmouth.. the other Cup finalists, have also taken gland treatment.

Apart from giving players increased speed, stamina, and staying power (as football has proved), gland extracts, according to Mr Sharpe, give the answer to man’s centuries-old quest for prolonged youth and a longer lifespan. Holding up a phial of clear, amber liquid, he said: "This contains gland extracts from a number of animals — oxen, sheep, rabbits. It can add years to a man’s life without merely being a lengthening of old age. “Since 1929 I have supplied gland extracts for the treatment, under medical supervision, of between 15,000 and 20,000 people. “More than half have been people over 55. Statesmen, business magnates, stage and screen stars have been given a new lease of useful life by a course of the injections. I foresee the day when to live to 100 years will be considered normal. As the demand for gland extracts increases, I shall be able to reduce the prices.

“Already the cost of twelve injections, as supplied to doctors, has been reduced from £2O to £9, and further reductions will be possible soon. I shall be content if the business pays without profit to myself.”