Elite Journal

Pop culture gossip with broad entertainment charm.

Cocaine tooth drops, morphine teething syrup and other Victorian quack cures

Author William Burgess
general
An advert for Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup, a patent medicine of the late 19th century which contained morphine, and was used as a cure for teething troubles in infants
These products were once readily available over the counter in the late 1800s to early 1900s. An advert for Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup, a patent medicine of the late 19th century which contained morphine, and was used as a cure for teething troubles in infants Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert from 1889 for a battery that supplied patients with a pleasant current of low intensity electricity, treating deafness, gout and nervous complaints
Stephen Jackson, medicine historian, said: "Since nobody tested them to see if they lived up to their wild claims, companies could say and claim anything they wanted to. They invested a tremendous amount of money in advertising and the public was pretty gullible. An advert from 1889 for a battery that supplied patients with a pleasant current of low intensity electricity, supposedly treating deafness, gout and nervous complaints Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert from 1891 for a kidney and liver cure from US drug company Warner
"They used a lot of alcohol in products for kidney and liver problems, which is the last thing you want in that situation." An advert from 1891 for a kidney and liver cure from US drug company Warner Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert from 1895 selling a product that makes you fat, once seen as the sign of good health
The posters and magazine adverts were all in circulation in the late 1800s to early 1900s before regulation was formally introduced. It wasn't until the Pure Food and Drug Act was introduced in 1906 in America that regulation was slowly introduced. In the UK the practice was largely eradicated by the time WWI ended. An advert from 1895 selling a product that makes you fat, once seen as a sign of good health Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advertisement for an anti-fat remedy, patented by the Botanic Medicine Company, Buffalo, New York, in 1878
An advertisement for an anti-fat remedy, patented by the Botanic Medicine Company, Buffalo, New York, in 1878Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert from 1900s for Vin Mariani, a French tonic wine made from coca leaves
An advert from 1900s for Vin Mariani, a French tonic wine made from coca leavesPicture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
A blood purifier from the early 1900s which was sold as a treatment for cancer
A blood purifier from the early 1900s which was sold as a treatment for cancerPicture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert from 1881 for Dr. Scott's Electric Flesh Brush, which was guaranteed to cure everything from rheumatism to toothache and paralysis
An advert from 1881 for Dr. Scott's Electric Flesh Brush, which was guaranteed to cure everything from rheumatism to toothache and paralysisPicture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert produced by the Minnesota Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company in 1895 claiming its cigars don't damage health because they are pure and scientific
An advert produced by the Minnesota Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company in 1895 claiming its cigars didn't damage health because they were pure and scientificPicture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert from 1912 for a product which consisted mainly of cocoa butter, claiming to offer treatment for female diseases and piles,
An advert from 1912 for a product which consisted mainly of cocoa butter, claiming to offer treatment for female diseases and pilesPicture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An breast enlargement advert dating from the early 1900s
An breast enlargement advert dating from the early 1900sPicture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert from the late 1800s for Dr Seth Arnold's Cough Killer, which contained morphine and was claimed to cure coughs, asthma, pneumonia, malaria and many other diseases
An advert from the late 1800s for Dr Seth Arnold's Cough Killer, which contained morphine and was claimed to cure coughs, asthma, pneumonia, malaria and many other diseasesPicture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert from 1880s which claimed setting fire to this paper and inhaling the smoke would cure and relieve the symptoms of asthma and bronchitis
An advert from 1880s which claimed setting fire to this paper and inhaling the smoke would cure and relieve the symptoms of asthma and bronchitisPicture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media
An advert for Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup for children from the late 19th century, which contained morphine
An advert for Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup for children from the late 19th century, which contained morphinePicture: SPL / Barcroft Media Credit: SPL / Barcroft Media

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