James E writes
However, Tuesday's New York Times (page F7) has an article stating that Mark McGuire (of home-run fame) has been taking a testosterone precursor, androstenedione, for the past year. This "drug" is completely legal and is sold over the counter. The manufacturers consider it safe because the body supposedly converts only as much as it can use into testosterone, at a safe rate. However, no large scale tests have been made on this...
Although I have been too busy to conduct full-scale clinical trials of androstenedione, I have a small amount of experience on the applications of this drug to hornplaying. I have obtained good results when I remove the B flat tuning slide, place several drops of androstenedione inside, restore the slide, turn the horn upside down, and shake it back and forth, wiggling the rotors until it is evenly distributed. I find that the horn has become much stronger, with more endurance, better muscle tone, and superb range, even when the pitch is low and outside. Using this horn, I have already smashed Babe Farkas's record on the Andante Cantabile solo, with three concert sets still to go this season!
Of course, since androstenedione is a testosterone precursor, there have been some side effects, but nothing I can't keep in check with my Schmidt double razor. I wouldn't recommend this if you play a girl horn, but hey, I'm not worried: mine's a Geyer.
Gotta go
Cabbage