Several articles on silphium appeared in various newspapers between 1900-1933. A search shows over 130 matches. However, a search for the period 1930-1933 produces 33 results. These were undoubtedly inspired by an article in the June 1930 issue of National Geographic Magazine. The article was titled “Cerenacia, Eastern Wing of Italian Libia” by Harriet Chalmers Adams. The article fills some 37 pages with a multitude of large photographs accompanying text.

One section of the article is titled “The Home of that Miraculous Drug of the Ancients, Silphium.” The comparison of the descriptive text and order is very similar to that used by Lester Dent in “Fear Cay.”

The evidence is clear that Lester Dent got his information about silphium from this article in National Geographic.

National Geographic
A local source of wealth lay in the medicinal plants native to the plateau on which Cirene stood. Chief among these was the silphium, found in no other land. It became so valuable that the coins minted in Cirene bore a design of the king watching men weigh this precious plant.

Fear Cay
“Right,” Johnny nodded vehemently. “Cirene stood on a plateau, and its source of wealth was a fabulous medicinal herb known as silphium. Even the coins of Cirene bore a design of the ruler watching his subjects weigh this remarkable plant.

National Geographic
It was said to cure every ailment, from croup to the wounds made by the merciless whippings of that day. Ships from every land now came into the port of Apollonia… As the fame of silphium grew, its price soared.

Fear Cay
“Legend gives this herb great powers, claiming it cured every ailment; wounds — even disease. From all over the ancient world ships came for this herb, and it became extremely high-priced.

National Geographic

To free themselves from the enormous tax placed on it by the Romans, the natives living in the neighborhood of Cirene destroyed the plants. In time silphium became extinct, …

Fear Cay
“The Romans came and put a tax on silphium, an enormous tax. The people of Cirene were enraged and, hating the Romans tremendously, they set about destroying the herb to rid themselves of the high taxes. In time, silphium became extinct.

National Geographic
Last year a scientist in Cerenacia told me that an Italian Doctor in Derna believes he has at last discovered, in a valley back from the coast, the original plant once so famous.”

Fear Cay
“Men have searched for some sprigs of it, even a single plant, since that age. Only a year or two ago, there was a newspaper story about an Italian doctor who thought he had discovered silphium again in Cirenaica.”