Secret remedies : $b What they cost and what they containBritish Medical Association
Science
Secret remedies : $b What they cost and what they contain
British Medical Association
Patent medicines
The directions for use were:
Give one powder three times a day, before meals,
dissolved in half a tea-cup of Hot Coffee, Tea, Whisky,
Milk, Gin, &c.
Use either the brown or white powder, as the colour of
the liquid may require.
The powders had an average weight of 4·2 grains, single powders varying
from 2·9 to 6·0 grains. The composition of both kinds was found to be
the same except for the trace of colouring matter contained in the
tinted powder. Analysis showed the composition to be—
Acetanilide 6 parts.
Potassium bromide 35 ”
Sugar of milk 59 ”
The estimated cost of the ingredients for 50 powders was one-third of a
penny.
ANTIDIPSO.
This is supplied by another “Chemical Company,” giving an address in
London. The price of a box, containing 48 powders, 24 being white, and
24 tinted pinkish-buff, was 10s.
The statements made about this article, in circulars and letters, were
very similar to those made about the preceding one. A few extracts will
suffice:
You will not forget that to insure an absolute complete
and permanent cure for the craving, two boxes are
invariably required. We have had data of cures effected
with one box, but to make absolutely sure you will
do well to immediately send us remittance, to the
same value as the last, and get the second box of the
specific. Antidipso may be administered with or without
the knowledge of the patient.... We enclose you a
booklet showing our agency terms. Kindly give it your
attention, as we are confident you will be so surprised
and satisfied at the cure which will be effected that
you will either yourself want to take up agency with
us, or get some one in your district to do so.
The directions were:
Give one powder, dissolved in half a tea-cup of hot
coffee, whisky, milk, gin, &c. (using either Brown or
White Powder as colour of liquid may require) 3 times a
day before meals.
The powders had an average weight of 5·3 grains, single powders ranging
from 3·7 to 9·9 grains. The white and tinted powders were made of the
same constituents, with a trace of colouring matter added in the latter
case, but in different proportions. Analysis showed the composition to
be:
WHITE POWDERS.
Potassium bromide 24·5 parts.
Sugar of milk 75·5 ”
COLOURED POWDERS.
Potassium bromide 35 parts.
Sugar of milk 65 ”
The estimated cost of the ingredients for 48 powders was one-third of a
penny.
THE TEETOLIA TREATMENT.
The following is an extract from an advertisement of a “Teetolia
Treatment Association,” giving an address in London:
After years of Drink and Drug taking—
Cured in 4 days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account