CHAPTER XX.

CURE ALLS.

The greater number of the proprietary medicines described in these pages are advertised as cures for a wide range of ailments, but usually there is some one disease for the treatment of which they are particularly recommended, so that it has been possible to classify them according to their alleged purposes. In very many other cases, however, the claims made are so wide that the article is put forward as a sort of cure-all. Thus one of the articles described is stated to cure such different disorders as constipation, rheumatism, St. Vitus’s dance, heart disease, rickets, sleeplessness, kidney complaints, and women’s special ailments, among many others, and is said to be “a real elixir of life in solid form”; the facts as to its composition, ascertained by analysis, show what the possibility of its being a “cure”—for heart disease, for instance—is. As to “Pink Pills,” another of the nostrums analysed, which probably owes its popularity partly to bold advertisement and partly to its alliterative name, the method followed appears to be to recommend them for different diseases in different advertisements; personal testimony, or what is put forward as such, from sufferers who have been cured, is made the basis of most of these, and illustrations are employed to catch the eye of the casual reader. Analysis showed that these pills were practically the ordinary iron-carbonate pills commonly called Blaud’s pill, which ought to be freshly made. The Pink Pills are of lower strength than usually prescribed, and to judge by the proportion of iron that was found to be in the higher state of oxidation, very carelessly prepared. They differ vastly, however, from other Blaud’s pills in the price charged for them. Thus the proprietary Pink Pills are sold at a little over a penny each, while coated Blaud’s pills can be bought retail at a few pence a gross, and wholesale in large quantities at a little over a penny a gross. The analyses of other proprietary preparations show a similar disparity between the market price of the drug supplied and the price charged to the person who is beguiled into purchasing; thus thirteen-pence-halfpenny, two shillings and sixpence, and two shillings and ninepence are the selling prices of nostrums, the ingredients of which are estimated to cost respectively one-eighth, one-third, and one-tenth of a penny.

Preparations of this class are not in all cases very clearly marked off from those recommended for some special disease, such as have been dealt with in previous chapters, for many of them are recommended for some one disease, of which nearly all others are asserted to be variations.

DR. MARTIN’S MIRACLETTS.

These wonders are supplied by a Medicine Co., from an address in London. The prices are 1s. 1½d., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., and 11s. per bottle. A 2s. 9d. bottle contained sixty tablets.

They are described on the package as:

A real Elixir of Life in solid form. The world’s greatest remedy.

Cures Constipation, Indigestion, Headache, Neuralgia, Anæmia, Nervous Disorders, Liver Troubles, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Gout, St. Vitus’ Dance, Hysteria, Rickets, Heart Disease, Kidney Complaints.

Cures Melancholia, Loss of Appetite, Sleeplessness, Lassitude, Mental Depression, Brain Fag, Palpitation, Stomach Disorders, Women’s Special Ailments and Irregularity of Health, etc., etc.

A little book, entitled “A Fortune for All,” enclosed in the package, contained the following statements:

Whatever you may be suffering from do not worry or fear, as Dr. MARTEN’S MIRACLETTS will be certain to cure you!

Dr. Martin’s Miracletts make the weak and sickly become strong and healthy, and the aged become youthful and full of energy; the tired worn-out look being replaced by an appearance of cheerfulness and vivid health. The pale and wrinkled face with bad complexion gives way to rosy cheeks and a clear skin; the thin gain flesh, and the stout lose superfluous fat; indigestion quickly disappears, the appetite returns, and a _new life_ is open to all.

A separate small slip enclosed in the package was worded as follows:

GUARANTEE.

Dr. Martin’s Medicine Company being absolutely confident of the marvellous curative properties of their Miracletts, will willingly refund the money to any purchaser who has taken eighteen Miracletts according to directions, and is not satisfied with the results.

Much less conspicuously, on another slip chiefly devoted to the relative quantities in the packages of different size, it was stated:

Those whose ailments have been of long standing must not expect immediate perceptible results, but with a little patience and perseverance the result is SURE.

The “Miracletts” consisted of sugar-coated tablets, the coating being coloured brown with ferric oxide (so-called chocolate coating). After removal of the coating they had an average weight of 4·3 grains; this included the weight of a strong coating of varnish, which was not removed with the sugar-coating. Analysis showed them to contain valerianates of quinine and zinc, iron oxide, menthol, kaolin in considerable quantity, and a little talc. A substance of extract nature was also present to the extent of about 5 per cent.; it possessed no characteristic taste or other property by which it could be identified; a resinous substance, which was found in small quantity, appeared to be merely the varnish with which the tablets were covered. The quantities of the different ingredients were determined as nearly as possible, and the results indicated the following amounts:

Quinine valerianate 0·4 grain. Zinc valerianate 0·1 ” Ferric oxide 0·3 ” Menthol 0·03 ” Kaolin and talc 2·3 grains In one tablet.

The estimated cost of the ingredients of the tablets is 4d. a hundred.

THERAPION.

Another “medicine company,” also with an address in London, advertises three preparations which it calls Therapion. Therapion No. 1 was described as “the most efficacious remedy” for “all discharges”; Therapion No. 2 as “the great remedy for impurity of the blood, scurvy, pimples, spots, blotches, pains and swellings of the joints, gout,” and so on; and No. 3 as a new French remedy, by the use of which the shattered health will be restored.

The Expiring Lamp of Life Lighted Up Afresh,

and a new existence imparted in place of what had so lately seemed worn, “used up,” and valueless. This wonderful medicine is suitable for all ages, constitutions, and conditions, in either sex, and it is difficult to imagine a case of disease or derangement, whose main features are those of debility, that will not be speedily and permanently benefited by this never-failing recuperative essence, which is destined to cast into oblivion everything that had preceded it, for this widespread and numerous class of human ailments.

The claims for No. 3 being so inclusive, it was deemed sufficient to analyse it only. The dose of all three was stated to be the same—a piece about the size of a small marble three or four times a day; as the package, costing 2s. 9d., contained 1⅓ oz., and as it was referred to as providing twenty ordinary doses, a single dose would be about 30 grains. The substance consisted of a dark stiff paste smelling strongly of camphor. Analysis showed it to contain, in addition to camphor, glycerine, powdered liquorice, a bitter extract agreeing in all respects with extract of gentian, calcium glycerophosphate, and a trace of alkaloid; there also appeared to be a second extract present. The alkaloid, which amounted to 0·06 per cent. only, could not be identified with any of the ordinary medicinal alkaloids. There was some evidence that the second extract was that of damiana, and a paste made up with this and the other ingredients agreed well with the original; but extract of damiana possesses no distinctive characters by which it can be identified in a mixture. Quantitative determinations were made of those ingredients capable of it, and the proportions of the others estimated by comparison. The results indicated the following formula:

Camphor 2·5 parts. Glycerine 24 ” Powdered liquorice 40 ” Calcium glycerophosphate 1·8 ” Extract of gentian 5·0 ” Extract of damiana (?) 8 ” Alkaloid 0·06 ” Water to 100 ”

In addition, there appeared to be present a slight trace of the oil of one of the umbelliferous fruits, probably anise or fennel. Disregarding the trace of alkaloid, the estimated cost of the ingredients for 1⅓ oz. is 2d.

PINK PILLS FOR PALE PEOPLE.

These pills, sold by the Dr. Williams Medicine Company, from an address in London, are stated to be manufactured in the United States of America. The price is 2s. 9d. a box, containing 30 pills.

The pills are advertised for a great variety of diseases, prominence being usually given to one disease in each advertisement; thus four long advertisements appearing simultaneously in different papers were respectively headed:

Afraid of being touched. So sore with Rheumatism. A once-crippled victim tells how Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills cleansed his system of Rheumatism.

Eczema expelled. Mr. John Chamberlain tells how his sufferings from Skin Disease were cured by Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills.

Sciatica’s Swift Pains rendered this Lady helpless. Her case had defied treatment, but Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills succeeded by curing the cause of Sciatica.

The Dark Days of Dyspepsia.... Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills go to the very cause of the mischief.

Each advertisement included a long description of a “case,” and as a rule a picture was introduced. The following is from the concluding paragraph of the first of these advertisements, and the others ended in a similar way.

THE DR. WILLIAMS’ WAY.

When the muscles and nerves are tortured by poisons in the Blood, be the result Rheumatism, Sciatica, or Lumbago, the only way to a cure is to Enrich and Purify the Blood. Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills, in this way alone, have cured not only Rheumatism, but Anæmia, Indigestion, Palpitations, Influenza’s After-Effects, Eczema, Sciatica, St. Vitus’ Dance, Spinal Weakness, the many forms of Nervous Disorders dreaded by men; also the special ailments of women.

The pills were ovoid in shape and coated with sugar, coloured pink; after removal of the coating they had an average weight of 3 grains. Analysis showed them to contain ferrous sulphate, potassium carbonate (these two having reacted more or less completely, and about one-third of the iron having become oxidized to the ferric state), magnesia, powdered liquorice, and sugar. Since it has been stated that these pills contain arsenic, careful search was made for it, but it was not found, The pill is thus merely one of the many variations of Blaud’s pill. The quantities of the different ingredients found indicated the following formula:

Exsiccated sulphate of iron 0·75 grain. Potassium carbonate, anhydrous 0·66 ” Magnesia 0·09 ” Powdered liquorice 1·4 ” Sugar 0·2 ” In one pill.

The estimated cost of the ingredients for 30 pills is one-tenth of a penny.

BEECHAM’S PILLS.

A box of these pills, advertised to be worth a guinea, is sold for 1s. 1½d., and the prime cost of the ingredients of the 56 pills it contains is about half a farthing.

In a circular wrapped round the box it is stated that “these renowned pills are composed entirely of Medicinal Herbs,” and cure Constipation, Headache, Dizziness or Swimming in the Head, Wind, Pain, and Spasms at the Stomach, Pains in the Back, Restlessness, Insomnia, Indigestion, Want of Appetite, Fullness after Meals, Vomitings, Sickness of the Stomach, Bilious or Liver Complaints, Sick Headaches, Cold Chills, Flushings of Heat, Lowness of Spirits, and all Nervous Affections, Scurvy and Scorbutic Affections, Pimples and Blotches on the Skin, Bad Legs, Ulcers, Wounds, Maladies of Indiscretion, Kidney and Urinary Disorders, and Menstrual Derangements.

The pills had an average weight of 1¼ grains, and analysis showed them to consist of aloes, ginger, and soap; no other medicinal ingredient was found. The quantities were approximately as follows:

Aloes 0·5 grain. Powdered ginger 0·55 ” Powdered soap 0·18 ” In one pill.

NERVLETTES.

Of these pills, which are sold in a bottle, price 1s. 1½d., containing 27 pills, a circular enclosed in the package said

Coleman’s Nervlettes or Nerve Pills generate brain and nerve-force.

The pills were coated with talc; after removal of the coating they had an average weight of about 1½ grains. Analysis showed them to contain free phosphorus, quinine sulphate, a little powdered liquorice, and about 20 per cent. of a powdered vegetable tissue, which could not be identified; the remainder of the pill appeared to be of the nature of excipient only. The amounts of phosphorus and quinine were determined, and indicated the following formula:

Phosphorus 0·005 grain. Quinine sulphate 0·07 ” Vegetable powder 0·3 ” In one pill.

MOTHER SEIGEL’S CURATIVE SYRUP.

The price of a bottle of Mother Seigel’s Syrup containing 3 fluid ounces is 2s. 6d.

Although this was described on the wrapper as “for dyspepsia” so many disorders were stated to be due to this cause, and amenable to treatment with this preparation, that it may fairly be included in this chapter. On the other side of the wrapper it was called “A cure for impurities of the blood,” and “A cure for dyspepsia and liver complaints.” In a circular enclosed with the bottle it was stated:

The symptoms mentioned above are the smoke of the fire of indigestion—a fire that will eat out your very vitals and sap your strength and vitality. For it can’t be too often repeated that indigestion is the root of a great deal of evil; the origin of a great many disorders which no man quite understands how he came by. And why this is can easily be explained. Disease is poison; its symptoms are the manifestation of the poison. Indigestion creates many dangerous poisons, and is therefore the cause of many diseases.

So let us get rid of the smoke by putting out the fire, and purify our blood and system with Mother Seigel’s Syrup, which will sweep away the poisons and make us healthy and strong.

Mother Seigel’s Syrup is a highly concentrated, purely vegetable compound, having a specific action on the stomach, liver, and kidneys.

Analysis showed the presence of free hydrochloric acid, which is not usually classified as a vegetable compound, tincture of capsicum, a bitter substance agreeing in its properties with aloes, and sugar (partly as invert sugar); the colouring and flavouring substances also present indicated that the sugar had been added in the form of treacle. Quantitative determination of those ingredients capable of it, and estimation of the others by comparison with known mixtures, indicated the following formula:

Dilute hydrochloric acid (_B.P._) 10 parts by measure. Tincture of capsicum 1·7 ” ” Aloes 2 parts. Treacle 60 ” Water to 100 parts by measure.

The estimated cost of the ingredients for 3 fluid ounces is one-third of a penny.

THE ILLS OF HUMANITY.

Several examples have been encountered in previous chapters of the system of getting into personal communication with a possible customer, and addressing to him a series of letters warning him of the dire consequences should he fail to purchase the advertiser’s “treatment.” Over and beyond the chance of frightening the customer, the system, which seems to have originated in the United States of America, has the advantages that a profession can be made of adapting the treatment to the individual case, that the price may be lowered if the charge first made is considered too high and that possibly, in return for this concession, testimonials and the names of other sufferers may be obtained. A letter-writing system of this kind is found at work behind the advertisement from which the following paragraphs are extracted:

Free! Free!

To the Sick and Ailing Everywhere.

The Cure for your Disease—Delivered Free—Free for the Asking—Free to You.

To the sick—the suffering—to every man and woman victim of organic disease—local trouble or broken general health—Dr. Kidd’s offer of free treatments is given in the absolute faith and sincere belief that they can and will stop disease, cure it, and lift you up again to health and vigour....

Rheumatism, kidney trouble, Bright’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, partial paralysis, bladder troubles, stomach and bowel troubles, piles, catarrh, bronchitis, weak lungs, consumption, asthma, chronic coughs, nervousness, all female troubles, lumbago, skin diseases, scrofula, impure blood, general debility, organic vital ailments, etc., are cured to remain and continue cured....

Will you let me do this for you—will you let me prove it—brother and sister sufferers? Are you willing to trust a master physician, who not only MAKES this offer, but PUBLISHES it and then sends the test and proof of his remedies without a penny of cost to anyone except himself?...

My home office is at Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A., but for the benefit of my thousands of English patients, I have established an office in London. Please address Dr. James W. Kidd, “Box” No. ____, E.C.

The advertisement was illustrated by the portrait of a man who, it might be assumed, was the “master physician” in question, but that in a book of some hundred pages, entitled “The Ills of Humanity, by Dr. James W. Kidd, Fort Wayne, Ind.,” issued apparently by “the J. W. Kidd Co.,” there is a portrait of Dr. James W. Kidd, which seems to represent a totally different person.

The book is principally occupied with a series of paragraphs on different complaints, rather over a hundred being dealt with; in the majority of cases the description leads up to reference to Dr. Kidd’s treatment, or medicines, etc. Dr. James William Kidd, the book states, possesses a profound knowledge of medicine, a remarkable power over disease, and has “among his resources remedies that enable him to treat successfully many diseases that are generally considered incurable.” After this the fact disclosed by analysis that his remedies seem in reality sadly lacking in originality and novelty, must excite a mild surprise.

It appears that persons writing to Dr. James W. Kidd, or the J. W. Kidd Co., receive a “Self-Examination and Consultation Blank.” In one instance in which the blank was filled up, the reply was as follows:

Diagnosis and Case Record. By Dr. James W. Kidd, Fort Wayne, Ind.

For a complete description of your case, the probable results and my method of treatment, see pages 46, 99, 29, 13, 9, of the pamphlet “The Ills of Humanity,” sent you under separate cover.

I find that you are afflicted with Rheumatism, Scrofula, Catarrh, Dyspepsia and Gastritis.

Rheumatism MEANS an excess of uric acid in the blood.

Scrofula is a constitutional disease almost synonymous with tuberculosis.

Catarrh is an excreting inflammation of the mucous membrane.

Dyspepsia (Indigestion) MEANS impaired secretion of pepsin and consequent imperfect digestion.

Gastritis MEANS catarrh of the mucous membrane of the stomach.

TAKE THE REMEDIES ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS:

One Tablet “A” before breakfast. One Tablet “B” before dinner. One Tablet No. 18 before supper. One Tablet No. 7 after dinner and after supper. One Tablet No. 45 on retiring.

This was accompanied by tablets marked “A,” “B,” and “18,” three of each, four marked “45,” and five marked “7”; also by a letter which appeared to be lithographed, and although the name and address were in the same writing and the same ink, they showed evidence of having been added afterwards. It seems probable, therefore, that, although professing to be a personal letter, it was one in regular use. It stated that Dr. James W. Kidd has “to-day selected and will forward to your address upon receipt of your remittance of 1_l._ the complete course of treatment,” the tablets sent being only samples. The letter apologizes for the smallness of the samples on the ground that the drugs “are very expensive.” The writer adds: “I have taken special interest in your case, because I want a cured patient in your immediate vicinity.” The tablets were analysed as completely as was possible with the small quantities sent, with the following results:

_Tablet A_ (triangular) was coloured externally with a salmon-pink dye; the outer coating was of sugar, and below this was a rather thick coating of chalk, forming a very hard and resistant covering to the tablet. The decoated tablets weighed about 3-¼ grains each; they contained 52 per cent. of sodium bicarbonate, and the remainder consisted principally of a bitter extract agreeing in all respects with extract of gentian; small quantities of potato starch and a substance of resinoid nature, which could not be identified, were also present. No other medicinal substance could be found.

_Tablet B_ (triangular) was coloured externally with a bluish-purple dye; the coating and the material of the tablets agreed in all respects with Tablet A, and the two were apparently identical.

_Tablet 18_ (circular) was white; the coating was of similar composition to that of A. The decoated tablets weighed about 3·8 grains each; analysis showed the presence of about 1 grain of sodium benzoate in each, together with a small quantity of a greenish, moderately bitter resin which could not be identified, and a trace of oil of wintergreen. Faint indications were obtained of a trace of an alkaloid, but not enough to amount to positive evidence. No other medicinal substance could be found; the remainder was of “extractive” nature.

_Tablet 45_ (circular) was coloured externally with a pink dye; the coating was of similar composition to that of A. The decoated tablets weighed about 1·1 grain each; the chief constituent was aloes, and there was also present a very small quantity of ginger extract, and a small quantity of a resin, which was probably jalap or scammony resin; also a moderate trace of alkaloid, which was not the alkaloid of nux vomica, belladonna, or hyoscyamus, but was not present in quantity sufficient to be identified; the only other ingredient found was a little potato starch.

_Tablet 7_ (circular) was not coated. The average weight of these was 6·5 grains each, and they consisted principally of charcoal, with some sugar and a very little saccharin.

“These special remedies are very expensive!”

BURGESS’S LION OINTMENT.

The results of an examination of Burgess’s Lion Ointment may be given here inasmuch as it will be seen that it is recommended for the cure of a great number of disorders. It is supplied in boxes at 1s. 1½d., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., 11s., and jars at 22s.; the 1s. 1½d. box contains 1 oz., and the next size 3 oz.

A circular wrapped round the box was headed “Amputation avoided—the knife superseded,” and continued:

E. Burgess’s Lion Ointment and Pills Have deservedly become the popular remedies for curing all diseases of the Skin, Old Wounds, Ulcers, Abscesses, (including Tuberculous), Tumours, Polypuses, Piles, Fistulas, Shingles, Venerea Sores, Whitlows, Broken Breasts, Bad Legs, Boils, Scurvy, Scrofula (_King’s Evil_), Scorbutic Eruptions, Poisoned Wounds _of all kinds_, Stings, Venomous Bites, Scurf, Ringworm, Itch, Corns, Chilblains, Chapped Hands, Cracked Lips, Cuts, Burns, Scalds, Gatherings in the Ear, Toothache, Earache, Neuralgia, Rheumatism, Gout, Sciatica, Quinsey, Bronchitis, Asthma, Deafness, etc.; also Ulcerous Affections of the Womb, for the treatment of which apply to the Proprietor, personally, or by letter, _in all cases free_. These invaluable medicines have not been introduced as remedies for any of the above complaints, or diseases, until they have in each case PRACTICALLY proved EFFECTUAL. To those who are suffering from diseases _apparently_ rendering amputation necessary, they are especially recommended, as they entirely do away with the necessity for the same by drawing all the cause of the disease from the affected part, cleansing the blood, and restoring the system to a sound, healthy condition.

They are vegetable preparations, and the Ointment can be applied with perfect confidence to the most tender skin. It is entirely free from all poisonous ingredients, a great recommendation for the nursery—for which it is invaluable.

In spite of the ointment being a “vegetable preparation,” analysis showed the principal ingredient to be lead oleate (lead plaster); this is blended with resin, wax, and fatty ingredients; vegetable extracts and active principles were found to be absent. It is not possible to separate the ingredients of an ointment like this sharply one from another; and, since the ingredients are not themselves simple bodies but mixtures liable to rather wide variations, they can only be approximately determined, and, as regards the lard and oil, even identification cannot be placed beyond doubt nor can small quantities of some other fats be certainly stated to be absent. These, however, are matters of minor importance. The composition given below has been checked by varying the analytical methods, as well as by comparison of various ointments prepared according to formulæ suggested by analysis. As a result of the investigation, the following formula was arrived at, which gives an ointment similar to the “Lion” ointment:

Lead plaster 13 parts. Beeswax 20 ” Resin 11 ” Olive oil 12 ” Water 6 ” Lard, to 100 ”

The estimated cost of the ingredients is about 1Od. per lb. of ointment.

APPENDIX.

STAMP DUTY ON SECRET REMEDIES.

The duty on secret medicines is regulated by the Stamp Act of 1804 as amended by the Stamp Act Amendment Act of 1812. The Act of 1804 was itself in part an amending Act and regulated the duties to be paid on paper, on books, on advertisements, and imposed _ad valorem_ duties on hats and proprietary medicines. The tax on proprietary medicines remains, but that on advertisements through and by which they continue to exist and flourish has gone the way of the duties on hats, and books, and paper. The Act of 1804 contained a schedule of medicines to the number of some 450. In the Act of 1812 this was replaced by a new schedule in which about 550 proprietary medicines were mentioned by name. The final clause of this Act, however, is expressed in very general terms, for it includes “all other pills, powders, lozenges, tinctures, potions, cordials, electuaries, plasters, unguents, salves, ointments, drops, lotions, oils, spirits, medicated herbs and waters, chemical and officinal preparations whatsoever, to be used or applied externally or internally as medicines or medicaments for the prevention, cure, or relief of any disorder or complaint incident to or in any wise affecting the human body,” if the person making or selling these various preparations claim to have any occult secret or art for making them or claim to have any exclusive right or title to make them, or prepares and sells them under the authority of letters patent, or if by public notice or advertisement, or by papers or labels on, or with, the enclosures, bottles, or cases in which the preparation is sold, the maker vendor, or proprietor recommend them as “nostrums, or as proprietary medicines, or as specifics, or as beneficial to the prevention, cure, or relief of any distemper, malady, ailment, disorder, or complaint incident to or in any wise affecting the human body.”

The Inland Revenue returns show that during the last ten years the amount received by the State from the stamp duty on patent medicines so-called has increased from £266,403 10s. 3d. in the year ending March 31, 1899, to £334,141 19s. 2½d. in the year ending March 31st, 1908. The net receipts are the gross receipts after deducting repayments and allowances, but the aggregates of these deductions are small. The following table shows the net receipts in each of the ten years, and the average for the two quinquennial periods, 1899-1903 and 1904-1908:—

TABLE SHOWING NET RECEIPTS FROM STAMPS ON “PATENT MEDICINES” FOR TEN YEARS, 1899-1908.

-----+------------------+--------------------- Year.| Yearly. |Quinquennial average. -----+------------------+--------------------- | £ s. d. | £ s. d. 1899 | 266,403 10 3 |} 1900 | 288,827 8 1½ |} 1901 | 297,479 19 6 |} 298,483 18 3 1902 | 306,337 5 9 |} 1903 | 333,371 7 9 |} | | 1904 | 323,445 14 0 |} 1905 | 331,438 17 6½ |} 1906 | 324,111 14 2 |} 328,048 16 0 1907 | 327,105 15 3½ |} 1908 | 334,141 19 2½ |} -----+------------------+---------------------

The value of the stamp which the vendor must affix to the bottle or package varies according to the price charged for the medicine, and the returns show the number of articles for which the several rates are paid. The following table gives the amount of the stamp duty on the several prices, the number of articles stamped in the fiscal year 1908, and the amount of the stamp. An attempt has also been made to estimate the total amount paid by the public for the articles stamped:—

TABLE SHOWING RATES OF DUTY, NUMBER OF ARTICLES STAMPED AND APPROXIMATE SUM PAID BY THE PUBLIC IN THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31ST, 1908.

----------------+----------+------------------+--------------------- Price of Article| Stamp. |Number of articles|Price paid by public. without stamp. | | stamped. | ----------------+----------+------------------+--------------------- £ s. d. | s. d. | | £ s. d. 0 1 0 | 0 1½ | 33,037,202 | 1,858,342 12 0 0 2 6 | 0 3 | 7,565,822 | 1,040,300 10 0 0 4 0 | 0 6 | 1,002,549 | 225,573 10 6 0 10 0 | 1 0 | 122,249 | 67,236 19 0 1 0 0 | 2 0 | 18,445 | 20,289 10 0 1 10 0 | 3 0 | 11,308 | 18,658 4 0 ----------------+----------+------------------+--------------------- 41,757,575 | 3,230,401 5 6 -------------------+---------------------

This estimate of the total amount paid by the public must be too high. In the first place it will be seen that the stamp duty does not rise by regular increments _ad valorem_. An article, the nominal price of which is 1s., must bear a stamp of 1½d., but if the nominal price be 1s. 6d., the stamp is 3d., and for an article of the nominal price of 2s. 6d. it is the same. In the second place, a large proportion of all the articles, probably the great majority of those at 1s., are sold at a discount, “store prices.” In the above table the maximum price for each rate of stamp duty and the full nominal prices are assumed. If a deduction of 25 per cent. is made to meet these sources of error, we have a sum of £2,422,800 19s. 1½d., as an estimate of the amount spent by the public on patent medicine in the financial year ending March 31, 1908.

At one time some of the vendors of nostrums took to inserting in their advertisements phrases intended to suggest that the Inland Revenue stamp upon their packages implied some sort of Government guarantee of the efficacy of the remedy. Though the Inland Revenue authorities do not as a rule display any anxiety with regard to the welfare of the public in the matter of the sale of nostrums, their efforts being confined to the collection of the duty, and the enforcement of the provisions of the Act should any vendor show a disposition to evade them, the stamp in recent years has borne the statement “This stamp implies no Government guarantee.” In spite of this vendors still sometimes contrive to convey the suggestion that the stamp conveys some sort of government guarantee; the suggestion looks the more plausible if the vendor has his name or autograph printed on the stamp by the government authorities; this will be done for him if he pays the cost of the die, and by the use of such an endorsement the incautious buyer may be led to assume that the Inland Revenue in some way shares the vendors’ responsibility for the genuineness of the article, that is to say for the genuineness of its claims. It has been suggested that the Legislature might go further and require the composition and ingredients of any secret remedy to be stated upon the label, box, or package, and looking to the nature of the facts disclosed by the analyses published in this book, it may well be believed that such publications on the labels would act to a certain extent as a warning to the public, for it would be apparent even to the least instructed that the claims in the vendors’ circulars were not quite consonant with the commonplace nature of the ingredients of the mixture, powder, pill, lotion, or ointment.

INDEX.

PAGE Absorbit Reducing Paste, 87 Absorptive Pile Treatment, Van Vleck’s, 154 Acetanilide (antifebrin), 2, 5, 6, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 58, 165 Acetic acid, 16, 78 ” ether, 16 Acetyl-salicylic acid, 56, 59, 60, 64, 77, 81 Act, Stamp, 182 Alcohol, 7, 8, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 26, 32, 44, 47, 52, 73, 74, 78, 80, 86, 87, 92, 103, 111, 118, 121, 127, 135, 160, 167 Allan’s Anti-fat, 92 Almond, oil of, 35, 135, 138 Aloes, 48, 49, 55, 104, 175, 176, 177, 180 Aloin, 69, 109, 110, 161 Alum, 51, 120 Aluminium oleate, 120 ” sulphate, 145 Ammoniacum, 18 Ammoniated mercury, 113, 143, 144 Ammonium bromide, 126, 128, 129 ” carbonate, 125 ” chloride, 19 ” citrate, 87 Aniseed, oil of, 12, 14 ” powdered, 18 ” Powell’s Balsam of, 14 Antexema, 105 Anthylla, 104 Anti-cataract Mixture, Pomie’s, 146 Anti-catarrh, Birley’s, 7 Anticelta Tablets 163 Anti-corpulent Preparation, Russell’s, 87 Antidipso, 165 Anti-epileptic Medicine, W. and J. Taylor’s, 126 Antiépileptique (Uten), 129 Anti-fat, Allan’s, 92 Antifebrin (_see_ Acetanilide). Antigout soap, 64 Antimony oxide, 132 Antipon, 86 Anti-rheumatic Pearls, Baring Gould’s, 55 Appendix, 182 Aspirin (_see_ Acetyl-salicylic acid). Assmann’s Whooping Cough Remedy, 19 Atropine, 168 Augenwol, 146

“Bacillentod” (G. Pohl’s Family Tea), 36 Baldness, Medicines for (internal), 114 Capsulated Haemoglobin Ovals, 115 Capsuloids, 114 Haemoglobin Capsules, 116 Balsam of Peru, 27, 113, 115 Balsamic Cough Mixture, Crosby’s, 15 Balsamic Elixir, Congreve’s, 26 Baring Gould’s Anti-rheumatic Pearls, 55 Barium sulphate, 122 Beans, Bile, 77 Bearberry (_Uvœ ursi_), 104 Beeoham’s Cough Pills, 18 ” Pills, 175 Beeswax, 58, 88, 120, 140, 143, 149, 151, 181 Bell’s Fairy Cure, 39 Benzoate, Sodium, 180 Benzoin, compound tincture of, 15, 27 Berberine, 80 Berendorf’s Powder for Epilepsy, 129 Betony, 63 Bile Beans, 77 Birley’s Anti-catarrh, 7 Bishop’s Gout Varalettes, 62 Bladderwrack, 83, 84, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 100, 102, 103, 104 Blair’s Gout and Rheumatic Pills, 50 Blood Cure, Munyon’s, 44 ” Mixture, Clarke’s, 42 ” Pills, Harvey’s, 44 ” ” Hughes’s, 48 Blood Purifiers, 42 Clarke’s World-Famed Mixture, 42 Harvey’s Pills, 44 Hood’s Compound Extract of Sarsaparilla, 46 Hughes’s Pills, 48 Munyon’s Cure, 44 Phelps Brown’s Purifier, 46 Steven’s Consumption Cure, 21, 28 Townsend’s American Sarsaparilla, 43 Blue dye, 118, 119 Borax, 7, 129, 138 Boric acid, 106, 109, 113 Bostock’s Eye Ointment, 143 Brixa Tablets, 163 Bromide, 2, 35, 124, 129 ” in Tuberculozyne, 35 Brompton Consumption and Cough Specific, 27 Brown’s Vervain Restorative Assimilant, O. Phelps, 127 Bryony, 63 Buckthorn, 104 Buer’s Mul’la, 149 Buer’s Piles Cure, 149 Burdock, 45 Burgess’s Lion Ointment, 180

Caffeine, 38, 39 Calcium carbonate, 6, 109 ” glycerophosphate, 173 ” phosphate, 132 ” sulphate, 28, 109 Calling in the doctor, 9, 12 Calomel, 113, 131, 132, 148, 151 Camomile, 63 Camphor, 2, 5, 65, 135, 173 Cancer remedies, 117 Cardigan Cancer Curers, 121 Caustics and Cancer, 122 Canexia preparations, 163 Capsicum, 14, 35, 69, 156, 160, 176, 177 Capsulated Haemoglobin Ovals, 115 Capsuloids, 114 Carbolic acid (_see_ Phenol). Cardigan Cancer Curers, 121 Carmine, 88 Cascara, 2, 6, 55, 74, 104, 156, 161 Cascarilla, 70 Cassia, oil of, 35 Catarrh Balm, Van Vleck’s, 3 Catarrh Cures, 1 Birley’s, 7 Lane’s, 2 Munyon’s, 6 Van Vleck’s, 3 Catarrh and Cold Cures, 1 Birley’s, 7 Keene’s “One Night”, 5 Lane’s, 2 Mackenzie’s “One Day”, 4 Munyon’s, 6 Van Vleck’s, 3 Caulophyllin, 80 Caustics and cancer, 122 C.B.Q. Tablets, Post’s, 61 “Century Thermal” Bath Cabinet, 99 Charcoal, 172 “Chijitse”, 22, 32 Children’s Cooling Powders, Fenning’s, 133 Chiretta, 168 Chloroform, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 74, 125 ” spirits of 43 Chlorophyll, 111, 112 Cimicifuga, 57 Cinchonine, 2, 5, 6, 167 Cinnamon, powdered, 164 Citric Acid, 64, 81, 84, 86, 87 Clarke’s Blood Mixture, 42 Clifton’s Treatment for Deafness, 136 Cochineal, 27, 35, 86, 120 Cocoa, 41 Cocoa butter (_see_ Theobroma, oil of). Cod Liver Oil, Pastor Felke’s Honey, 36 Colchicin, 61, 64 Colchicum, 51, 63 Cold Cures, 1 Keene’s “One Night”, 5 Mackenzie’s “One Day”, 4 Colds in the head, 1 Coleman’s Nervlettes, 175 Collie’s Ointment, 57 Colza, 88, 135 Congreve’s Balsamic Elixir, 26 Consumption Cures, 20 “Bacillentod” (Pohl’s Family Tea), 36 Brompton specific, 27 Congreve’s Balsamic Elixir, 26 Felke’s Honey Cod Liver Oil, Pastor, 36 Kefyr Ferment, 24 Körber’s, 36 Lieber’s Tea, 36 Pohl’s Family Tea (“Bacillentod”), 36 Star Tonic, 23 Steven’s (Sacco or Lungsava), 21, 28 Tuberculozyne, 21, 32 Weidhaas Hygienic Institute, 23 Consumption, Körber’s Cure for, 36 Consumption and Cough specific, Brompton, 27 Cooling Powders for Infants, 130 Fenning’s Children’s Powders, 133 Pritchard’s Teething and Fever Powders, 132 Copper in Tuberculozyne, 35 ” oleate, 120 Corpulence (_see_ Obesity Cures). Corpulin, 104 Cough Cure, Kilmer’s Indian, 15 ” ” Veno’s Lightning, 16 ” Drops, Lauser’s, 19 ” ” Reichel’s, 19 ” Lozenges, Keating’s, 17 Cough Medicines, 9 Assmann’s Whooping Cough Remedy, 19 Beecham’s Cough Pills, 18 Crosby’s Balsamic Elixir, 15 Kay’s Linseed Compound, 12 Keating’s Lozenges, 17 Kilmer’s Indian Cure, 15 Lauser’s Drops, 19 Owbridge’s Lung Tonic, 13 Powell’s Balsam of Aniseed, 14 Reichel’s Drops, 19 Tussothym, 19 Veno’s Lightning Cure, 16 Cough Medicines, Morphine in, 9, 13, 15, 18, 28 ” ” Opium in, 10, 11, 28 ” Pills, Beecham’s, 18 ” Specific, Brompton, 27 Coza Powder, 162 Creasote, 113, 152 Crompton’s Specific for Deafness, 135 Crosby’s Balsamic Cough Elixir, 15 Cummin, powdered, 164 Curative Syrup, Mother Seigel’s, 176 Cure Alls, 170 Beecham’s Pills, 175 Martin’s Miracletts, 163 Nervlettes, 175 Seigel’s Curative Syrup, Mother, 176 Therapion, 172 Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People, 170, 174 Curic Wafers, 38 Cuticura remedies, 110 Cystamin (_see_ Formamine). Cystogen (_see_ Formamine).

Daisy Powders, 38 Dalloff’s Tea, 104 Damiana, extract of, 173 Daturine, 168 Deafness, remedies for ear disease and, 134 Clifton’s Treatment, 136 Crompton’s Specific, 135 Dellar’s Essence, 135 Nazaseptic, 139 Ohraseptic, 139 Ohrsorb Compound, 138 Dellar’s Essence for Deafness, 135 Diabetes Cures, 76 A Lancashire nostrum, 80 Dill’s Mixture. 76, 77, 79 Pesqui’s Uranium Wine (Vin Urané Pesqui), 76, 77 Diabetic foods, 81 ” Mixture, Dill’s, 76, 77, 79 Dill’s Diabetic Mixture, 76, 77, 79 Dipsocure, 164 Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills, 67 ” Pile Ointment, 151 Dodd’s Kidney Pills, 69 Drug Cures for Inebriety, 168 Duboisine, 168 Duty on Secret Remedies, Stamp, 182

Ear disease (_see_ Deafness, Remedies for). Ekzemin Cream, 113 Electricum, 64 Eosin, 91 Epilepsy, Remedies for, 124 Antiépileptique (Uten), 129 Berendorf’s Powder, 129 Lamma Powder, 129 Osborne’s Mixture, 126 Ozerine, 125 Phelps Brown’s Vervain Restorative Assimilant, 127 Taylor’s Anti-epileptic Medicine, W. and J., 126 Trench’s Remedy, 127 Essence for Deafness, Dellar’s, 135 Eucalyptus, 4, 112 Eye diseases, Remedies for, 142 Augenwol, 146 Bostock’s Ointment, 143 “New and Marvellous Remedy”, 144 Okterin, 146 Opthalmol, 146 Pomie’s Anti-cataract Mixture, 146 Singleton’s Ointment, 142 Wisbech Remedy, 144 Eye Ointment, Bostock’s, 143 ” Singleton’s, 142

Fairy Cure, Bell’s, 39 Felke’s Honey Cod Liver Oil, Pastor, 36 Fell Reducing Treatment, 97 Fenning’s Children’s Cooling Powders, 133 Fenugreek, 68 Ferric chloride, 121 ” oxide, 5, 40, 54, 172 Ferrous sulphate, 174 Fever Powders, Pritchard’s Teething and, 132 Figuroids, 94 Fitch’s Kidney and Liver Cooler, 71 Fits, Trench’s Remedy for Epilepsy and, 127 Fluorescein, 70 Formaldehyde, 129 Formamine, 85, 96 _Fucus vesiculosus_ (_see_ Bladderwrack).

Galeopsidis, 36 Gall stones, 79 Galls, powdered, 156 Gaultheria, oil of, 73 Gelsemium, 60 Genoform Tablets, 60 Gentian, 62, 63, 161, 173, 179 Germicides, 31 Ginger, 49, 88, 89, 109, 110, 175, 180 Gloria Tonic, 53 Gloria Treatment for Rheumatism, 52 Gluten flour, 81, 82 Glycerine, 17, 30, 32, 35, 73, 74, 78, 89, 90, 92, 93, 103, 113, 120, 135, 138, 142, 143, 144, 146, 173 Glycerophosphate, calcium, 173 Gout, Rheumatism, and Neuralgia, remedies for, 50 Baring Gould’s Pearls, 55 Bishop’s Varalettes, 62 Blair’s Pills, 50 Collie’s Ointment, 57 Electricum, 64 Genoform Tablets, 60 Gloria Treatment, 52 Gower’s Green Pill, 56 Hamm’s Cure, 51 Laville’s Remedies, 64 Lazarus Soap, 64 Oquit, 59 Pistoia Powders, 62 Portland Powder, 62 Post’s C.B.Q. Tablets, 61 Rheuma Tabakolin, 65 Rheumacid, 64 Uricedin, 64 Weigand’s Spirit, 65 Zox, 58 Gout and Rheumatic Pills, Blair’s, 50 Gout and Sciatica Cure, Hamm’s Rheumatic, 51 Gout Powders, Pistoia, 62 ” ” Portland, 62 ” Varalettes, Bishop’s, 62 Gower’s Green Pills, 56 Graziana Reducing Treatment (Zehrkur), 103 Green Pills, Gower’s, 56 _Grindelia robusta_, 17 Guaiacum, 44, 54, 62, 64 Guarantee bonds, 30

Haemoglobin, 114, 115, 116 ” Capsules, 116 ” Ovals, Capsulated, 115 Hæmorrhoids (_see_ Piles, Remedies for). Hair (_see_ Baldness). Hamamelidis, 150 Hamamelin, 152 Hamamelis (witch hazel), 148, 149, 152 Hamm’s Rheumatic, Gout, and Sciatica Cure, 51 Hargreave’s Reducing Wafers, 91 Harmless Headache Powders, Hoffman’s, 41 Harvey’s Blood Pills, 44 Headache, 37 ” Cure, Stearns’s, 39 Headache Powders, 37 Bell’s Fairy Cure, 39 Curic Wafers, 38 Daisy, 38 “Good as Gold”, 41 Hoffman’s Harmless, 41 Kaputine, 40 Retailers supplying, 41 Stearns’s Cure, 39 Healine Treatment for Rupture, 160 Hemlock pitch, 68 Hemotora, 153 Henbane, 69, 71 Hexamethylene-tetramine (_see_ Formamine). Hoffman’s Harmless Headache Powders, 41 Homatropine, 168, 169 Hood’s Compound Extract of Sarsaparilla, 46 Hughes’s Blood Pills, 48 Hydrastine, 80 Hydrastis, 77, 80 Hydrochloric acid, 121, 169, 176, 177 Hyoscine, 168, 169 Hyoscyamine, 168, 169

Icthyol, 140, 151 Ills of humanity, 177 Burgess’s Lion Ointment, 180 Kidd’s Treatment, 178 Indian Cough Cure, Kilmer’s, 15 Inebriety, cures for, 162 Antidipso, 165 Coza Powder, 162 Dipsocure, 164 Drug cures, some other, 168 Teetolia Treatment, 166 Inebriety, drug cures for, 168 Iodine, 84, 94, 102, 103, 126 ” tincture, 126 Ipecacuanha, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 28 Iridin, 157 Iron, 71, 87, 89, 121, 162 ” chloride, 121 ” phosphate, 89 ” sulphate, 175

Jalap, 48, 49, 55, 57, 69, 70, 180 Jaundice, 72, 79 Juniper, 66, 68, 71 ” preparations, 113 J.Z. Obesity Tablets, 87

Kaolin, 54, 109, 172 Kaputine, 40 Kay’s Linseed Compound, 12 ” Linum Catharticum Pills, 12 Keating’s Cough Lozenges, 17 Keene’s “One Night” Cold Cure, 5 Kefyr, 23 Kidd’s Treatment, James W., 178 Kidney medicines, 66 Doan’s Pills, 67 Dodd’s Pills, 69 Fitch’s Kidney and Liver Cooler, 71 Munyon’s Cure, 75 Var’s American Pills, 70 Veno’s Seaweed Tonic, 74 Warner’s Cure, 72 Kidney Pills, Doan’s Backache, 67 Kilmer’s Indian Cough Cure, 15 Kino, 32 Körber’s Cure for Consumption, 36 Krameria, decoction of, 32 Kupfinn, “Dr.”, 139

Lactose (_see_ Milk sugar). Lamma Powder, 129 Lancashire Nostrum, A, 80 Lane’s Catarrh Cure, 2 Lanoline, 149, 154 Lauser’s Cough Drops, 19 Lavender, 104 Laville’s Antigout remedies, 64 Laxatol (_see_ Phenolphthalein). Laxen (_see_ Phenolphthalein). Laxoin (_see_ Phenolphthalein). Lazarus Gout and Rheumatic Soap, 64 Lead, 122 ” acetate, 113, 127, 148, 152 ” oleate, 113, 119, 181 ” oxide (litharge), 143, 144 ” plaster, 181 ” sub-acetate, 127 Lemon, 84 ” grass, 113 ” oil, 65 Leptandrin, 74 Lieber’s Tea for Consumption, 36 Lime-juice, 77, 81 Linseed compound, Kay’s, 12 Lion Ointment, Burgess’s, 180 Liquorice, 11, 14, 18, 19, 45, 54, 55, 61, 69, 89, 91, 102, 103, 133, 156, 173, 174, 175, 176 Lithium citrate, 62 Liver Cooler, Fitch’s Kidney and, 71 Lloyd Reducing Treatment, Nelson, 100 Lotion, X.L. Reducing Pills and, 89 Lungsava, 28 Lung Tonic, Owbridge’s, 13 Lycopodium, 71 Lymphol, Rice’s, 158

Mackenzie’s “One Day” Cold Cure, 4 Magnesia, 61, 109, 119, 174, 175 ” calcined, 150 Magnesium, 71, 91, 119 Malachite green, 111 Mandelyl-tropeine (_see_ Homatropine). Marmola, 85, 93 Martin’s Miracletts, 171 Medicine Stamp Act, 182 Medi-cone Pile Treatment, Oxien, 151 Menthol, 156, 172 Mercuric oxide, 143 Mercury, ammoniated, 113, 143, 144 Methyl, orange, 86 Metramine (_see_ Formamine). Milk sugar (lactose), 19, 39, 56, 100, 131, 132, 165, 166 Miracletts, Martin’s, 171 Mixture for Epilepsy, Osborne’s, 126 Mother Seigel’s Curative Syrup, 176 Muco-Food Cones (Van Vleck’s), 148, 155 Mul’la, Buer’s, 149 Munyon’s Catarrh Tablets, 6 ” Catarrh Cure, 6 ” Blood Cure, 44 ” Kidney Cure, 75 ” Pile Ointment, 150

Nazaseptic, 139 Nelson Lloyd Reducing Treatment, 100 Nerve stimulators, 31 Nervlettes, Coleman’s, 175 Nettle, 36 Neuralgia (_see_ Gout, Rheumatism and Neuralgia, remedies for). “New and Marvellous Remedy for the Eyes”, 144 Nitre (_see_ Potassium nitrate). “No cure no pay”, 5, 29, 95 Nostrum, A Lancashire, 80

Obesity cures, 83 Absorbit Paste and J. Z. Tablets (Zobiede), 87 Allan’s Anti-fat, 92 Anticelta Tablets, 163 Antipon, 86 Corpulin and Dalloff’s Tea, 104 Dalloff’s Tea and Corpulin, 104 Fell Treatment, 97 Figuroids, 94 Graziana Treatment (Zehrkur), 103 Hargreave’s Wafers, 91 J. Z. Tablets and Absorbit Paste, 87 Marmola, 85, 93 Nelson Lloyd Treatment, 100 Russell’s Anti-corpulent Preparation, 87 Trilene Tablets, 90 X.L. Pills and Lotion, 89 Zehrkur (Graziana Treatment), 103 Zobiede (Absorbit Paste and J. Z. Tablets), 87 Obesity Tablets, J. Z., 87 Ohraseptic, 139 Ohrsorb Compound, 138 Oil, Pastor Felke’s Honey Cod Liver, 36 Ointment, Collie’s, 57 Okterin, 146 Oleic acid, 115, 161 Opthalmol, 146 Oquit, 59 Origanum, oil of (_see_ Thyme). Osborne’s Mixture for Epilepsy, 126 Owbridge’s Lung Tonic, 13 Ox-bile, 88 Oxien Medi-cone Pile Treatment, 151 Ozerine, 125

Paciderma Blood Wafers, 109 ” cream, 109 ” powder, 109 ” preparations, 106 Pale People, Williams’ Pink Pills for, 170, 174 Paraffin, 4, 70, 100, 106, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 120, 140, 143, 144, 146, 151, 152, 156 Patients’ names, obtaining, 25 Peppermint, 14, 36, 69, 71, 77, 81, 94, 127, 160 Pepsin, 76 Pesqui’s Uranium Wine, 76, 77 Petroleum jelly, 58, 156 Phelps Brown’s Blood Purifier, 46 ” ” Vervain Restorative Assimilant, 127 Phenacetin, 38, 39 Phenol (carbolic acid), 1, 3, 4, 7, 120, 151 Phenolphthalein, 77, 81, 85, 94, 96, 97 Pheun Skin Paste, 113 Phosphoric acid, 8 Phosphorus, 176 Phytolaccin, 54 Pile Ointment, Doan’s, 151 ” Munyon’s, 150 Piles, remedies for, 147 Buer’s Cure, 149 ” Mul’la, 149 Doan’s Ointment, 151 Hemotora, 153 Muco-food cones (Van Vleck’s), 148 Munyon’s Ointment, 150 Oxien Medi-cone Treatment, 151 Rollo’s Remedy, 153 Van Vleck’s Absorptive Treatment, 154 Pills, Kay’s Linum Catharticum, 12 Pine preparations, 64 Piperazine, 62 Pistoia Gout Powders, 62 Plasma, Van Vleck’s, 155 Podophyllin, 69 Pohl’s Family Tea (“Bacillentod”), 36 Pomies Anti-cataract Mixture, 146 Portland Gout Powder, 62 Post’s C.B.Q. Tablets, 61 Potassium bromide, 89, 90, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 165, 166 ” carbonate, 174, 175 ” chlorate, 133 ” chloride, 89, 90, 125 ” iodide, 43, 45, 47, 52, 54, 61, 89, 90, 92, 93, 111, 126, 142, 146 ” nitrate, 66, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73 Powders, headache, 37 Daisy, 38 “Good as Gold”, 41 Hoffman’s Harmless, 41 Powell’s Balsam of Aniseed, 14 Prescriptions, secret remedies said to be made from physicians’, 27, 38, 59, 80, 108 Pritchard’s Teething and Fever Powders, 132 Pumilio pine, 4, 15 Purgen (_see_ Phenolphthalein).

Quinine, 2, 45, 61, 64, 167 “ sulphate, 176 “ valerianate, 172

Rapeseed (_see_ Colza). Reducing Paste, Absorbit, 87 “ Pills and Lotion, X.L., 89 “ Treatment, Fell, 97 “ “ Graziana (Zehrkur), 103 Reducing Treatment, Nelson Lloyd, 100 Reducing Wafers, Hargreave’s, 91 Reichel’s Cough Drops, 19 Resin, black, 58 “ (colophony), 58, 112 “ plasters, 119 Retailers, headache powders supplied by, 41 Rheuma Tabakolin, 65 Rheumacid, 64 Rheumatic, Gout, and Sciatica Cure, Hamm’s, 51 Rheumatic and Gout Spirit, Weigand’s, 65 Rheumatic Pills, Blair’s Gout and, 50 Rheumatism (_see_ Gout, Rheumatism, and Neuralgia, remedies for). Rheumatism, Gloria Treatment for, 52 Rhubarb, 45, 55, 74, 104, 111 Rice’s Lymphol, 158 “ Treatment for Rupture, 158 Rino Ointment, 113 Rock Rose, 46 Rollo’s Remedy for Piles, 153 Rupture, preparations for, 158 Healine Treatment, 160 Rice’s Treatment, 158 Russell’s Anti-corpulent Preparation, 87

Saccharin, 11, 172 Sacco, 28 Salicylate, alkaline, 57 “ sodium, 52 Salicylic acid, 92, 93, 113 “ Methylene-glycol-ester of, 61 Saltpetre (_see_ Potassium nitrate). Sal volatile, 43 Sarsaparilla, compound solution of, 44 Sarsaparilla, Hood’s Extract of, 46 “ Townsend’s American, 43 Sassafras, oil of, 44 Scammony, 80, 180 Sciatica (_see_ Gout, Rheumatism and Neuralgia, remedies for). Sciatica Cure, Hamm’s Rheumatic, Gout, and, 51 Scopolamine, 168 Seaweed Tonic, Veno’s, 74 Seigel’s Curative Syrup, Mother, 176 Senna, 19, 74, 104 Singleton’s Eye Ointment, 142 Skin diseases, cures for, 105 Antexema, 105 Cuticura Remedies, 110 Ekzemin Cream, 113 Juniper preparations, 113 Paciderma preparations, 106 Pheun Skin Paste, 113 Rino Ointment, 113 Zam-buk, 111 Zip Ointment, 112 Skin Paste, Pheun, 113 Soap, 57, 64, 65, 70, 113, 119, 135, 140, 175 “ Antigout, 64 “ Lazarus Gout and Rheumatic, 64 Soda alum, 142, 145 Sodium benzoate (_see_ Benzoate). Sodium bicarbonate, 7, 41, 62, 70, 80, 96, 97, 109, 164, 179 “ bromide, 129 “ chloride, 1, 3, 7, 94, 96, 97, 146 “ phosphate, 74 “ sulphate, 77, 81, 120, 145 Soothing powders for infants, 130 Steedman’s Powders, 131 Soothing, teething and cooling powders for infants, 130 Fenning’s Children’s Powders, 133 Pritchard’s Powders, 132 Stedman’s Powders, 130 Steedman’s Powders, 131 Spearmint, 160 Specific for Deafness, Crompton’s, 135 Spirit, Weigand’s Rheumatic and Gout, 65 Stamp Act, 182 “ on secret remedies, 182 Star Tonic, 23 Stearns’s Headache Cure, 39 Stedman’s Teething Powders, 130 Steedman’s Soothing Powders, 131 Steven’s Consumption Cure, 21, 28 Stillingia, 46 Storax, 27, 115 “ Stramonine“, 168 Sulphur, 88, 140 ” precipitated, 109, 113, 150 Sulphuric acid, 16

Tabakolin, Rheuma, 65 Tablets, Munyon’s Catarrh, 6 ” Trilene, 90 Talc, 5, 54, 57, 59, 96, 97, 109, 156, 161, 172, 176 Tannin, 27, 32, 73, 152, 153, 161 Tar, 119 Taraxacum, 45, 66, 71, 73 Tartaric acid, 8, 62, 78, 96, 97 Taylor’s anti-epileptic medicine, W. and J., 126 Tea, Dalloff’s “Contre l’Obesité”, 104 Tea, Lieber’s (for Consumption), 36 “ Pohl’s Family (“Bacillentod”), 36 Teething powders for infants, 130 Pritchard’s Teething and Fever Powders, 132 Stedman’s Powders, 130 Teetolia Treatment, 166 Terebene, 118, 119 Theobroma, oil of (cocoa butter), 148, 152, 154, 156 Therapion, 172 Thermal Bath Cabinet “Century”, 99 Thyme (oil of Origanum), 19, 160 Thyroid Extract, 84, 94, 102, 103 Tolu, 13, 16, 18, 27 Tonic, Gloria, 52 ” Owbridge’s Lung, 13 ” Star, 23 ” Veno’s Seaweed, 74 ” Zox, 58 Townsend’s American Sarsaparilla, 43 Tragacanth, 106 Trench’s Remedy for Epilepsy and Fits, 127 Trilene Tablets, 90 Tropyltropeine (_see_ Atropine). Tuberculozyne, 21, 32 Tumenol, 140 Turmeric, 70 Turpentine, 65, 113, 122, 136 Tussothym, 19

“Umckaloabo”, 22, 32 Uranium nitrate, 76, 78, 79 ” Wine, Pesqui’s, 76, 77 Uricedin, 64 Urisol (_see_ Formamine). Urotropine (_see_ Formamine).

Valerianate, Quinine, Zinc, 172 Van Vleck’s Absorptive Pile Treatment, 154 Van Vleck’s Catarrh Balm, 3 ” ” Muco-food Cones (Pile Treatment), 148 Van Vleck’s Pile Pills, 155 ” ” Plasma (Pile Treatment), 155 Var’s American Kidney Pills, 70 Varalettes, Bishop’s, Gout, 62 Varicocele, 161 Varicose veins, 161 Veno’s Lightning Cough Cure, 16 ” Seaweed Tonic, 74 _Verbena officinalis_ (_see_ Vervain). Vervain Restorative Assimilant, O. Phelps Brown’s, 127 Vervain (_Verbena officinalis_), 124, 125, 127 Vesalvine (_see_ Formamine). Vin Urané Pesqui, 76, 77

Wafers, Curic, 38 ” Hargreave’s Reducing, 91 ” Paciderma Blood, 109 Warner’s Cure, 72 Weidhaas Hygienic Institute, 23 Weigand’s Rheumatic and Gout Spirit, 65 White precipitate (_see_ Ammoniated mercury). Whooping Cough Remedy, Assmann’s, 19 Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People, 170, 174 Wine, Pesqui’s Uranium, 76, 77 ” spirit of, 32 Wintergreen, oil of, 73, 180 Wisbech Remedy for the Eyes, 144 Witch hazel (_see_ Hamamelis).

Xaxa (_see_ Acetyl-salicylic acid). X.L. Reducing Pills and Lotion, 89

Yonkerman Company (Tuberculozyne), 32

Zam-buk, 111 Zehrkur (_see_ Graziana Reducing Treatment), 103 Zinc, 156 ” chloride, 122 ” oxide, 109, 129, 148, 151 ” sulphate, 120 ” valerianate, 172 Zip Ointment, 112 Zobeida (_see_ Zobeide). Zobeide, 87 Zox, 58