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Title

An Abstract of the Patent Granted by His Majesty King George…

Description

Patent medicines originated in England in the mid 17th century and were marketed with extravagant claims, offering cures for a host of maladies. Recommendations for dosage were vague, and ingredients (often including opium) were usually not specified. In 1726 Benjamin Okell was granted the royal patent for Dr. Bateman’s Pectoral Drops, a tincture of gambir (an astringent extract from an Asian plant) and opium. Advertisements published in the London Mercury as early as 1721 directed prospective customers to the warehouse and printing shop at Bow's Churchyard, where they could purchase the drops for one shilling. Our copy of the 1731 reprint by Peter Zenger is likely the first piece of medical printing in New York. Zenger, who would later become famous for printing seditious texts, was instrumental in establishing freedom of the press in America. The Academy has the only known copy. Bound with our copy of the abstract is a copy of A Short treatise of the virtues of Dr. Bateman's Pectoral Drops, also issued by Okell and his printing house partners. Here, Batemans efficacy as a treatment for numerous ailments are described in sections dedicated to each. The last section of the treatise offers testimonials from satisfied customers.

Subjects (LC)

Advertising—Medicine, Early works to 1800, Fever, Medicine, Patent medicines, Rheumatism

Title: Au Régiment Spécifique Victorieux: La corvée de quartier
Description: Trade card advertising Victorieux featuring an image of five men in white uniforms cleaning the street. They are sweeping and shoveling horse refuse and carting it away in a wheelbarrow. Soldiers (including one playing a trumpet), a horse, and buildings are visible in the background. The back mentions the French army's use of the Victorieux.
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Animals, Brooms And Brushes, Carts And Carriages, Hats, Housing, Men, Men's Hats, Musical Instruments, Refuse And Refuse Disposal, Shovels, Street Cleaning, Streets, Trees, Trumpet
ID: WH372
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Ayer's Cathartic Pills, a safe, pleasant and reliable Family Medicine
Description: Trade card advertising Ayer's Cathartic Pills featuring seven cherubic, naked babies handling oversized pill boxes and such with the words Ayer's Pills on them. Some babies are wrapping the items, some are pasting labels onto them, and some are filling them with pills. The back has an image of a bottle with name of the manufacturer on it: J.C. Ayer and lists what ailments Ayer's Cathartic Pills cure.
Conditions Cured (LC): Biliary Tract—Diseases, Constipation, Dizziness, Headache, Indigestion, Jaundice
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Babies
ID: WH121
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Ayer's Cathartic Pills, a safe, pleasant and reliable Family Medicine
Description: Trade card advertising Ayer's Cathartic Pills featuring seven cherubic, naked babies handling oversized pill boxes and such with the words Ayer's Pills on them. Some babies are wrapping the items, some are pasting labels onto them, and some are filling them with pills. The back has an image of a bottle with name of the manufacturer on it: J.C. Ayer and lists what ailments Ayer's Cathartic Pills cure.
Conditions Cured (LC): Biliary Tract—Diseases, Constipation, Dizziness, Headache, Indigestion, Jaundice
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Babies
ID: WH122
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Ayer's Hair Vigor for the Toilet: Restores Gray Hair to its Natural Vitality and Color
Description: Trade card advertising Ayer's Hair Vigor featuring five mermaids, four of whom arein the forefront in various stages of using Ayer's Hair Vigor. The fifth is swimming off to a ship that seems to be capsizing in the background. The back has an image of an Ayer's Hair Vigor bottle and two brushes. It also lists the ailments Ayer's Hair Vigor helps combat.
Conditions Cured (LC): Baldness, Dandruff
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Boats And Boating, Bottles, Flowers, Hair, Hair—Care And Hygiene, Hairbrushes, Mermaids, Ocean, Ocean—Folklore, Ocean—Mythology, Plant-Water Relationships, Sailboats, Sailing Ships, Women
ID: WH125
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Boyd's Medicated Conserves [from verso]
Description: Trade card advertising Boyd's Medicated Conserves featuring a blank space where one might presumably write an address. It is surrounded by a pink flower that a bee is pollinating. The back details how to get more illuminated cards by purchasing Boyd's products.
Conditions Cured (LC): Biliary Tract—Diseases, Headache
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Bees, Flowers, Insects, Roses
ID: WH233
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Boyd's Miniature Galvanic Battery, For the effectual cure of nearly all diseases [from verso]
Description: Trade card advertising Boyd's Miniature Galvanic Battery featuring a blank card where one might presumably write an address. Tucked into the card is a bouquet of small, blue-and-pink flowers with one, larger red flower. The back details how to get more illuminated cards by purchasing Boyd's products.
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Bouquets, Flowers
ID: WH232
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Brown's Iron Bitters the Best Tonic Cures Malaria, Dyspepsia & Female Infirmities
Description: Trade card advertising Brown's Iron Bitters featuring a framed portrait of a woman's head. The glass of the frame is broken, revealing the woman's nose and mouth. She has brown hair that is in an updo and is wearing a brown dress and gold, hooped earrings. The back describes the disease malaria and how the Iron Bitters can help cure it.
Conditions Cured (LC): Indigestion, Malaria
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Bows, Earrings, Glass, Gold Jewelry, Hair Ornaments, Picture Frames And Framing, Portrait Frames, Portraits, Ribbons, Women
ID: WH238
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Buy it, Try it, and be Happy! Morse's Dyspepsia Cure, Holliston, Mass.
Description: Trade card advertising Morse's Dyspepsia Cure featuring an image of a lighthouse and a sailing ship in choppy waters. Text at bottom reads "Eddy Stone Light House." The back lists ailments that Morse's Dyspepsia Cure helps.
Conditions Cured (LC): Biliary Tract—Diseases, Constipation, Headache, Heartburn, Indigestion, Palpitation
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Boats And Boating, Lighthouses, Sailboats, Sailing Ships, Water Waves
ID: WH177
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Cas-car-ria is made by a distinguished chemist [from verso]
Description: Trade card advertising Cas-car-ria featuring a young girl and a dog chasing devil-esque creatures, labeled as various ailments, into a body of water. The girl is wearing a bright pink dress and holds a switch in her hand. The dog is large and brown and white. The back quotes a piece by Lord Roscommon.
Conditions Cured (LC): Asthenia, Rheumatism
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Animals, Children, Cliffs, Demonology, Devil, Dogs, Folklore, Grasslands, Mythology, Staffs (Sticks, Canes, Etc.), Trees, Water
ID: WH244
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Cas-car-ria is worth its weight in gold [from verso]
Description: Trade card advertising Cas-car-ria featuring a young girl and a dog chasing devil-esque creatures, labeled as various ailments, into a body of water. The girl is wearing a bright pink dress and holds a switch in her hand. The dog is large and brown and white. The back quotes a piece by Izaak Walton.
Conditions Cured (LC): Asthenia, Rheumatism
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Animals, Children, Cliffs, Demonology, Devil, Dogs, Folklore, Grasslands, Mythology, Staffs (Sticks, Canes, Etc.), Trees, Water
ID: WH245
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Compliments of H. D. Thatcher & Co. Wholesale Druggists
Description: Trade card advertising Dr. C. McLane's Liver Pills and Vermifuge featuring a bunch of pansies tied together with a red string. The back is obscured, but contains a customer testimony.
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Bouquets, Bows, Flowers, Pansies, Ribbons
ID: WH296
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Compliments of John S. Shaffer & Co., Druggists, Dealers in Dr. C. McLean's Liver Pills and Vermifuge
Description: Trade card advertising Dr. C. McLane's Liver Pills and Vermifuge featuring a bunch of pansies tied together with a red string. The back contains a customer testimony.
Conditions Cured (LC): Helminths
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Bouquets, Bows, Flowers, Pansies, Ribbons
ID: WH297
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Dr. Mettaur's Headache Pills
Description: Trade card advertising Dr. Mettaur's Headache Pills featuring a young girl who seems to be praying on a bed. She is barefoot and wearing a nightgown. There is a pillow by her knees. The back has testimony from satisfied customers.
Conditions Cured (LC): Headache
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Children, Children—Prayers And Devotions, Pillows, Portraits
ID: WH303
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Dr. Morse's Compound Syrup of Yellow Dock Root
Description: Trade card advertising Dr. Morse's Compound Syrup of Yellow Dock Root featuring a bouquet of red, pink, and blue flowers with some greenery.
Conditions Cured (LC): Biliary Tract—Diseases, Body Fluids, Constipation, Headache, Hemorrhoids, Indigestion
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Bouquets, Flowers, Roses
ID: WH312
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Dr. Morse's Compound Syrup of Yellow Dock Root the Blood Purifier Cures Constipation and Biliousness: The Great Kidney Remedy
Description: Trade card advertising Dr. Morse's Compound Syrup of Yellow Dock Root featuring a young boy peering into a jeweled, egg-shaped, over-sized box. His dress resembles a formal military officer's.
Conditions Cured (LC): Biliary Tract—Diseases, Constipation
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Children, Children's Clothing, Costume, Dress And Clothing
ID: WH173
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills
Description: Trade card advertising Morse's Indian Root Pills featuring a toddler crawling on the floor towards a collie. Behind the two is a cat peeking through a door at them from another room. The back has text explaining the benefits of Morse's Indian Root Pills.
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Animals, Babies, Cats, Dogs, Domestic Space, Infants
ID: WH308
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills
Description: Trade card advertising Morse's Indian Root Pills featuring a young girl wrapping or unwrapping a rabbit from a cloth while a dog jumps on her from her left. She is in front of a brick wall and is wearing a dress and a blue hat. Her hair is in two pigtails. The back has text explaining the benefits of Morse's Indian Root Pills.
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Animals, Blankets, Children, Children's Clothing, Dogs, Rabbits
ID: WH307
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Dr. Morses
Description: Trade card advertising Dr. Morse's Compound Syrup of Yellow Dock Root featuring a young boy in what looks like formal military attire drinking out of an oversized glass. The boy is wearing a hat with a feather in it and has a horn in his belt.
Conditions Cured (LC): Headache, Indigestion
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Children, Children's Clothing, Children's Hats, Costume, Drinking Glasses, Feathers, Hats
ID: WH311
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

Title: Dr. Morses Compound Syrup of Yellow Dock Root the Great Blood Purifier
Description: Trade card advertising Dr. Morse's Compound Syrup of Yellow Dock Root featuring a young boy in formal dress presenting an oversized envelope with his head bowed.
Conditions Cured (LC): Headache, Indigestion
Subjects (LC): Advertising—Medicine, Children, Children's Clothing, Dress And Clothing, Letters, Necklaces
ID: WH172
Collection: William H. Helfand Collection of Pharmaceutical Trade Cards

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