Linda Laura Hazzard: The Starvation Doctor
Introduction
Linda Laura Hazzard, often referred to as the "Starvation Doctor," was an American alternative medicine practitioner and convicted serial killer. Born on December 18, 1867, in Carver, Minnesota, she operated a sanitarium in Olalla, Washington, where she promoted fasting as a cure for various ailments. Her methods, however, led to the deaths of numerous patients, making her one of the most infamous figures in early 20th-century medical history.
Crimes and Methods
Hazzard's treatment regimen involved prolonged fasting, daily enemas, and harsh massages. Patients were often subjected to diets consisting of small amounts of tomato or asparagus juice, occasionally supplemented with orange juice. These extreme measures caused severe malnutrition and, in many cases, death. Hazzard exploited her patients financially, forging documents to gain control of their assets.
Notable Victims
- Clair Williamson - Died in 1911 at Hazzard's sanitarium. Her sister, Dorothea, narrowly survived after being rescued.
- Eugene Stanley Wakelin - A British man who succumbed to Hazzard's fasting treatment in 1910.
- Ivor Haglund - A young man who died under Hazzard's care in 1912.
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