The doctor's art collection - Paid for by silver
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The doctor’s
art
collection
Pa i d f or b y si l v e r
Edward D. Harris, Jr., M.D.
I
The author (AΩA, Harvard Medical School, 1962) is editor n the summer of 1900, at age 28, eight years after re-
of The Pharos. He recently visited the Barnes collection, ceiving his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania,
and was inspired to write this essay, which was sent for Albert Coombs Barnes paced along the Neckar River in
review under a nom de plume to avoid influencing the re- Heidelberg, Germany. His mission: to convince a Ph.D. stu-
viewers. dentabouttodefendhisdissertationinchemistrytocometo
theUnitedStatesandjoinhim“inthesearchforamedicine
He was unique; his life and character were a maze of withagoodbenefit-to-riskandbenefit-to-costratio”2p11that
confusing contradictions. Though usually blunt and honest wouldearnthemalotofmoney.
to a fault, he repeatedly claimed that he made his millions
through the discovery of Argyrol when, in truth, another Barnes’s beginnings: Poor but determined
chemist discovered the medication and Barnes made his BarnesgrewupinthepoorandoftenviolentKensington
fortune by promoting it. His Foundation was meant to be section of Philadelphia. Survival there depended on use of
an example of democracy at work, yet he ruled over it like a fists,andhebecameanadeptfighter.Evenasayouth,how-
monarch and banished all those who defied his wishes. He ever,hehadaninterestindifferentculturesandart.Hewas
collected paintings in order to educate the masses, but he abletopassthestiffentryexamfortheall-maleCentralHigh
rarely allowed anyone the privilege of entering his gallery.
“Dr. Albert C. Barnes,” Giorgio de Chirico, 1926. BF #805.
—Howard Greenfeld Photograph © 1995. Reproduced with the permission of The Barnes Foundation™. All
The Devil and Dr. Barnes1p3 rights reserved.
16 The Pharos/Summer2005 The Pharos/Summer2005 17
The doctor’s art collection
School,thebestbyfarinPhiladelphia’spubliceducationsys- centuries.TheGreekskeptwaterinsilvervesselstoprolong morethan$186,000,1p111thanksinparttoaggressivelegalac- Glackens (also an accomplished artist), Barnes began, at
temforthe“promisingpoor.” itsfreshness,andpioneersintheNorthAmericanWestfound tionagainstcut-ratesellersofimitationArgyrol.Textbooksof about the time World War I was precipitated, to purchase
AftergraduatingfromCentralHigh,Barnesmatriculatedat thatsilvercoinsinwoodencasksofwaterretardedcontamina- ophthalmologyofthetimestronglyrecommendedArgyrolfor paintings of the Impressionists in Europe. One of his first
theUniversityofPennsylvaniaSchoolofMedicineinthefallof tion.BarnesknewthatEuropeanchemistshadexperimented acute conjunctivitis and ophthalmia neonatorum, and some acquisitions was van Gogh’s “Joseph Etienne-Roulin” (also
1889,andearnedhisM.D.therein1892.Thereisnoevidence with attempts to bind silver to proteins, and he and Hille circumstantial evidence supports the belief that the disap- knownas“Postman”).By1920,Barneshadacquiredmorethan
fromhiswritingsoractionsthathewasatallinterestedin,or began work on the same project. Mary Ann Meyers, in her pearanceoftrachomainAustraliasometimebetween1915and 100paintingsbyRenoirandhundredsofothersbyCezanne,
hadthetemperamentfor,diagnosingortreatingsickpatients. book,Art, Education, and African-American Culture: Albert 1930wasrelatedtotheabundantuseofArgyrol.4 Monet,Soutine,Matisse,Picasso,Seurat,ElGreco,vanGogh,
He was, however, curious about psychology and psychiatry, Barnes and the Science of Philanthropy,tellsus, Modigliani,Manet,Degas,andRousseau.Therewasnoroom
and served an internship at a state hospital for the insane in The breakup of Barnes and Hille to hang them in his house in Lower Merion, a comfortable
Warren, Pennsylvania. His primary talents and interests were Barnes [and Hille] extracted gliadin, a protein found in In1907,BarnesandHille,afterlongandcontentiouslegal suburbofPhiladelphia,butBarnespurchaseda12-acreprop-
inchemistry.DuringseveraltripstoGermanyduringthe1890s, wheat and rye, and, through a processs involving evapora- battles, broke up. A judge ruled that the two should negoti- erty,anarboretumacrossLatchLanefromhishouse.Barnes
Barnes became fascinated with the potential of experimental tion, dehydration, drying, and heating, converted it into a ateforthebestpriceofbuyingtheotheroutofthebusiness; recruited Paul Phillipe Cret to design for him within the
therapeuticsandwithhowcleverchemistrymightyielddrugs vitellin, a protein occurring naturally in egg yolks and in Barnes agreed to pay the higher amount and became sole arboretum a French Renaissance-style structure with many
for treatment ofthe sick. It wasduring that decade that Felix certain plants. To a salt solution of vitellin, they gradually ownerofA.C.BarnesCompany.HilleleftforChicago,where galleriesilluminatedbynaturallight.Thebuilding,namedthe
Hoffman’scompany,Bayer,synthesizedacetylsalicylicacid,the added [a] concentrated ( percent) solution of silver nitrate he set up a thriving chemical business of his own, and the BarnesFoundation,wasopenedin1925,andJohnDeweygave
compoundtowhichpatientsarereturningforreliefofinflam- [to final concentrations of to percent silver].2p14 twomenhadnomoreinteractionswitheachother.Eachtook oneoftheinauguraladdresses.Barnesprescribedthelocation
mation and pain now that the reputation of selective COX-2 full credit for conceiving and developing Argyrol. We know ofeachpictureineachgallery,andaddedchairs,tables,and
inhibitors has become tarnished. Aspirin was the first mass- Afterdrying,thefinalmaterialappearedasbrownorblack littleaboutHille’spersonality,butthatofBarnes’wasdifficult wallhangings.
marketeddrugintheworld,andjoinedheroin,morphine,and brilliantflakesorgranulatedpowder,slowlysolubleinwater, at best. Howard Greenfeld, in his book, The Devil and Dr.
quinineasmembersofatinypharmacopeiathatdoctorscould andinsolubleinalcoholorether.Inthisform,itcouldbesold Barnes,describeshimas The bylaws
dispensetotheirpatients. todruggists,whoreconstituteditinwaterorglycerinforuse Thebylawsofthefoundationweredrawnupin1922,and
During that period, Barnes worked intermittently for the bypatients.Notmuchmoreisknownaboutthepreparation stubborn, strong-willed, doggedly opinionated, and totally withcleverlegalhelpBarneswasabletofashionadocument
H.K.MulfordCompany,thereputabledeveloperofdiphtheria becauseBarnesandHilleneverappliedforapatent,aprocess unwilling to compromise. Then, as later, he found it impos- acceptabletotheCommonwealthofPennsylvania,statingthat
andtetanusantitoxinandasmallpoxvaccinethatwaseventu- thatwouldhaverequiredthemtodisclosethemanufacturing sible to see two sides to any question. He never doubted he thecharterwouldbegrantedtoaneducationalinstitutionand
allyboughtbyMerck.2p10ItwasduringthisperiodthatBarnes’ processandtheexactchemicalcomposition.Theydid,how- was right, and those who disagreed with him were more nottoamuseum,andthatBarneshimselfwouldhavefullcon-
entrepreneurialinstinctsblossomed.IfHoffman ever,registertheirnameforthecompound,Argyrol, than merely wrong—they were his enemies.1p23 trolofthefoundation,evenafterhisdeath.Thebylawsstated
atBayercouldsucceedwithsuchasimple asatrademark,onNovember18,1902. thatthecollectioncouldnotbechangedoraddedtoafterhis
compound,why,socouldhe! Thepartners’nextstepsweretoincrease ArgyrolremainedsuccessfulforBarnes,agoodadministra- death,norcouldpiecesbemovedfromtheplaceschosenby
production and to convince others that torandbusinessman,untilhesoldhiscompanyin1929for$6 Barnes,norcouldanypictureeverbeloaned.
Colloidal silver is a success Argyrol was useful. Dr. Edward Martin, million,justmonthsbeforethecrashofthestockmarket. For the next four years, Barnes pursued his goal of link-
Thepromisesofwealthandscientific then chair of Urology at Penn, found that ing the future of his foundation with his alma mater, the
excitement dangled before Hermann catgut impregnated with Argyrol reduced Prescribed learning for the Argyrol workers University of Pennsylvania. His final offer, in May 1926,
Hille were sufficient to convince him cutaneousinfectionaftersuturing.Another Despite Barnes’s unyielding nature, he was consistently was a plan whereby Penn would “ultimately have control
to join Barnes. Throughout 1900, urologist at Penn reported Argyrol to be generous in thought and deed to the underprivileged, al- of all of the Foundation’s resources, with an income ample
Barnes and Hille, employed during the “the best silver compound ever offered to thoughsomewhatdogmaticinhisopinionsofwhatwasbest to support it in perpetuity, provide instruction, and award
day by Mulford, set up a laboratory the [medical] profession for the treat- for them. The black men and white women he employed in scholarships.”1p121 This offer was essentially ignored by the
in a converted stable in downtown ment of gonorrhea.”2p14 Professors of his enlarging enterprise worked at their jobs only six hours University. Unpleasant exchanges between Penn and Barnes
Philadelphia. Barnes was the idea obstetricsrecommendedusingitinthe each day. During the remaining two hours of their workday (as well as with the Philadelphia Museum of Art) continued
man, Hille the chemist. In that pre- eyesofeverynewbornchildinsteadof they were required to read philosophy, history, novels, and overthenext25years.Atonepoint,inafitofpique,Barnes
antibiotic era, few compounds were silvernitrate. plays—all selected by Albert Barnes. One of his associates changedthebylawsofthefoundationtostipulatethatnoone
known to be active against bacteria. Barnes traveled abroad to promote wasgiventhechallengeeachdayof“unpacking”thecomplex associatedformallywithPenncouldeverserveasatrusteeof
Oneofthesewassilvernitrate:afew Argyrol,andby1904,salesofficeshad ideasof William James,John Dewey,andGeorge Santayana, theBarnesFoundation.ThebitterdisputeswiththeUniversity
drops placed in the eyes of newborn openedinLondonandSydney.In1903, and presenting them to the minimally educated workers.2p20 ofPennsylvania,withBertrandRussell(whomhehadinvited
babiesinfectedinuterowithNisseria a series of 24 cases was reported in Pragmatism, the belief developed by the three philosophers to give lectures at the foundation in a five-year contract),5
gonorrhea could prevent blindness. the Lancet; using 2.5 to 5.0 percent thattherearenoforegoneconclusionsinlife,wasdominating with the city of Philadelphia, and so many others, are sum-
Unfortunately, however, silver nitrate solutionsinurethralirrigation,gonor- Americanphilosophy.Barneswantedeachofhisemployeesto marizedwellinthebooksofMaryAnnMeyersandHoward
irritated mucous membranes. Silver rhea was symptomatically cured, and appreciatetheseideas,rootedinabeliefthatmankindcould Greenfeld.2,1BarnesinsteadforgedarelationshipwithHorace
initsvariousformshadbeenusedfor eight successful cases were reported manipulateitsenvironment. Mann Bond, president of Lincoln University, distinguished
indetailfromNewZealand.3Argyrol, for educating Thurgood Marshall, Langston Hughes, and
this nontoxic bactericidal compound The art collection many other distinguished African-Americans. Having no
Argyrol. Photograph © reproduced with the fortopicalorintra-urethrause,wasa Overshadowing the success of Argyrol, and the disputes children to benefit from his estate, Barnes gave Lincoln the
permission of The Barnes Foundation™. All rights
reserved.
phenomenalsuccess.By1907,thenet concerningitsoriginsandefficacy,isBarnes’sartcollection. powertonominate,afterhisdeathandthatofhiswife,four-
annualprofitforBarnesandHillewas WiththehelpofoneofhisCentralHighclassmates,William fifthsofthetrustees.Shortlyaftermakingthisdecision,and
18 The Pharos/Summer2005 The Pharos/Summer2005 19
The doctor’s art collection
Fortunately for art, culture, and horticul- ButArgyrolisnotgone.AnopportunityforArgyrolentre- andtheacquisitionofart.AustralNewZealandJOphthalmol1985;
ture lovers, in a case that attracted broad preneurs came in 1998/99 when the FDA, citing the Dietary 13:391–94.
interest for three years, on December 14, Supplement Health and Education Act, stated that it would 5.McArdleCW.Theterrible-temperedDr.Barnes.PartIV.Sat-
2004,JudgeStanleyR.OttoftheMontgomery nolongerreviewfoodsupplements,andcolloidalsilvercom- urdayEveningPost1942;214:20–21,66.
CountyOrphans’CourtruledthattheBarnes poundsweredeclaredtobeamongthese.Today,itisnotdif- 6. Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee. Mild Silver
collectioncouldbemovedfromLowerMerion ficulttofindandpurchaseArgyrolontheInternet.Advertised Protein.FoodandDrugAdministration1999May7.
to downtown Philadelphia into a new build- asa“breakthrough,”thecompoundisclaimedtobe“Effective 7. White JM, Powell AM, Brady K, et al. Severe generalized
ing that would be constructed to recreate against 650 infectious agents; no known disease-causing or- argyria secondary to ingestion of colloidal silver protein. Clin Exp
the current Barnes galleries. The move, un- ganismcanliveinthepresenceofsilver.”Unfortunately,these Dermatol2003;28:254–56.
less impeded by appeals, will be backed by adsimplythatArgyrolmighthelptocleansebodysystemsif 8. Wickless SC, Shwayder TA. Medical mystery–the answer. N
pledges of $150 million from the Annenberg given by mouth. The result has been more frequent reports EnglJMed2004;351:2349–50.
Foundation, the Lenfest Foundation, and ofargyria,thegeneralizedcutaneousdiscolorationcausedby
the Pew Charitable Trust. Opposition from silversaltdepositioninbasementmembranesofsweatglands Theauthor’saddressis:
LincolnUniversitywaswithdrawnafteritwas anddermalelastin.Oneman,whohadbeeningestingcolloidal 525MiddlefieldRoad,Suite130
assuredcontinuedhighrepresentationonthe silverproteinforayeartowardoffcoloncanceranddandruff, MenloPark,California94025
boardofthefoundation.Admissiontoseethe hadserumsilverlevelsof76.9nmol/L(normal:0to2.8nmol/ E-mail:e.harris@alphaomegaalpha.org
collectionwillincreasefourfold,andtheprice L).7 A similar and sad case was reported as a
is likely to be doubled, although, in keeping MedicalMysteryin2004.Apoignantphoto-
withwhatmighthavepleasedAlbertBarnes, graphshowsaveryduskygreyyoungman,16
only100visitorswillbeallowedintothegal- yearsold,sittingbesidehisveryfairmother,
leriesatanygiventime. who is holding him with with a combined
lookofloveandguilt;shehadgivenhimthe
The fate of Argyrol colloidal silver “to prevent everyday infec-
But what of Argyrol? Its commercial suc- tions.”Hissilverlevelwas209ng/ml(normal:
cess was clear: Barnes sold his company in 0to14ng/ml).8Fortunatelyforthesepatients,
1929for$6million,17yearsafterintroducing internalorganinvolvementisuncommon(in
Argyrol.MyownBaby’sRecordincludesthis contrast to iron overload syndromes such
entry: as hemochromatosis), but the grey pigment
caused by deposition silver salts and stimu-
August, (age months). He seemed latedmelaninformationpersists.
to be on the borderline of a cold. Dr. What is important about all of this? Not
Hergesheimer suggested olive oil, camphor- whetherornottheUniversityofPennsylvania
“Joseph Etienne-Roulin,” Vincent van Gogh, 1889. BF #37. Photograph © reproduced ated oil, and Argyrol, for ears, chest, and nose, andtheBarnesFoundationtrusteesspeakto
with the permission of The Barnes Foundation™. All rights reserved. respectively. Probably kept him in the lake too each other, nor whether Argyrol advertise-
long on Sunday. mentsonthewebaredeclaredunethical.The
importantchallengeistoprovideanewhome
perhapspreoccupiedwithoneconflictoranother,in1951the Irecovered!Butnotlongafterthis,sulfonamidesand,six fortheBarnesFoundationcollectioninanew
78-year-oldBarnesranastoplightwhiledrivinghisPackard yearslater,penicillinbecameavailable.Non-antibiotictherapy and spacious site so that more and more art
andwaskilledinstantlywhenaten-tontractor-trailerhithim foreyes,ears,andnosesgraduallydroppedoutofuse.In1985, lovers can view this unmatched collection.
broadside. apaperpublishedintheAustralian and New Zealand Journal Whatevertheoutcome—thankyou,Argyrol!
of Ophthalmologystated,“Argyrolhasnowdisappeared.”4p393
The future of the collection In1999,atahearingaboutwhetherornottoadd“mildsil- References
Today,thosewhowishtoseetheuniquecollectionatthe verprotein”tothe“bulkslist”ofthePharmacyCompounding 1. Greenfeld H. The Devil and Dr. Barnes:
Barnes Foundation, with its 170 Renoirs, 55 Cézannes, 20 Advisory Committee of the FDA, Dr. Wiley Chambers re- PortraitofanAmericanArtCollector.NewYork:
Picassos, and many other works, or the surrounding 12-acre portedthatanumberofstudies,includingonefromasearly Viking;1987.
arboretum, must telephone well ahead to reserve a time for as1928,suggestedthatArgyrolwasnotaneffectiveproduct.6 2. Meyers MA. Art, Education, and African-
admissionbecause,inanagreementwithLowerMerioncom- The creation of a protein-silver complex produced less mu- AmericanCulture:AlbertBarnesandtheScience
missioners, only 1200 visitors are allowed each week. The cousmembraneirritation,butitsrelativeinsolubilityinwater ofPhilanthropy.NewBrunswick(NJ):Transaction
foundation’s attempts to raise revenue by increasing public madeitlesseffective.InastudythatcomparedArgyrolwith Publishers;2004.
access have met with hostility from the neighbors. These othercompounds,thesilver-proteincomplexwasalesseffec- 3.PurdyJS.Thetreatmentofgonorrheabyar-
restrictions have inexorably dragged the foundation toward tive bactericidal drug than even thiomersal. Argyrol lost out gyrol.ScottishMedSurgJ1904May.Reprintedin
“Girl with Pink Bonnet,” Pierre-Auguste Renoir, early 1890s. BF
bankruptcy, despite the collection’s estimated value of more eventosilvernitrate,thecompounditwascreatedtoreplace. JNewZealandMedAssoc2004;117:435–39. #118. Photograph © 1992. Reproduced with the permission of The Barnes Foundation™.
than$1billion. Silvernitrateisonceagainusedinneonates’eyes. 4.HodsonTJP,GilliesWE.Argyrol,argyrosis All rights reserved.
20 The Pharos/Summer2005 The Pharos/Summer2005 21
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