# Doctor Roback — The Humbugs of the World character guide

> Doctor Roback in The Humbugs of the World by P. T. Barnum.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Roback

**First appearance:** 0037-xxix

## Who they are

A quack doctor who sold fake medicines.

## Relationships

### [Old Grizzly Adams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/characters/old_grizzly_adams)

_professional_

Doctor Roback likely treats or studies Old Grizzly Adams as a medical or scientific subject.

### [Dr. Benjamin Brandreth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/characters/dr_benjamin_brandreth)

_rivalry_

Doctor Roback and Dr. Benjamin Brandreth are competitors in the medical or patent medicine field, each promoting their own cures.

### [Old Grizzly Adams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/characters/old_grizzly_adams)

_professional_

Doctor Roback likely treats or studies Old Grizzly Adams as a medical or scientific subject.

### [Dr. Benjamin Brandreth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/characters/dr_benjamin_brandreth)

_rivalry_

Doctor Roback and Dr. Benjamin Brandreth are competitors in the medical or patent medicine field, each promoting their own cures.

## In the story

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/chapters/ix)

Mentioned as Dr. W. F. Van Vleck, who learned the mediums' tricks by posing as a medium and now exposes them.

### [Part V: Medicine and Quacks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/chapters/part-v-medicine-and-quacks)

Cited as an example of a medical practitioner involved in questionable practices.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/chapters/xxix)

Exposed as an astrological quack who sells almanacs, cures diseases, and claims to stop lying, but Barnum sarcastically notes his avoidance of direct vice.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/characters/doctor_roback
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/characters