1870s Advertising

I've finished looking over some archives of the Herald of Truth, a 19th century Mennonite newspaper based in Indiana and devoted to aiding Mennonites on their way from Europe. There are reports from those preparing to come over, lists of collections taken by American citizens to help pay for passage, warnings to immigrants about scam artists at the NYC docks, updates about new communities in the Plains, and climate reports. And then there are the ads:

Gray’s Special Medicine

The Great English Remedy. An unfailing cure for Seminal Weakness, 

Spermatorrhea, Impotency, and all Diseases that follow as a sequence of self–abuse: 

as Loss of Memory, Universal Lassitude, Pain in the Back, Dimness of Vision, 

Premature Old Age, and many other diseases that lead to 

Insanity of Consumption and a Premature Grave.

Full particulars in our pamphlet, which we desire to send free by mail to every one. 

The Specific Medicine is sold by all druggists at $1 per package, or six packages for $5, 

or will be sent free by mail on receipt of the money, by addressing 

The Gray Medicine Co, Sold in Topeka.

----------

[a variant of the below is still sold in Walgreens and CVS]

Lydia E. Pinkham’s

Vegetable Compound.

Is a Positive Cure

for all those Painful Complaints and Weakness

so common to our best female populations.

           

It will cure entirely the worst forms of Female Complaints, all ovarian troubles, 

Inflammation and Ulceration, Falling and Displacements, and the consequent Spinal Weakness, 

and is particularly adapted to the Change of Life

            

 It will dissolve and expel tumors from the uterus in an early stage of development. 

The tendency to cancerous humors is checked very speedily by its use.

             

It removes faintness, flatulency, destroys all craving for stimulants, and relieves 

weakness of the stomach. It cures Bloating, Headaches, Nervous Prostration, 

General Debility, Sleeplessness, Depression, and Indigestion.

            That feeling of bearing down, causing pain, weight and backache, 

is always permanently cured by its use.

             

It will at all times and under all circumstances act in harmony with the laws 

that govern the female system. For the cure of Kidney Complaints 

of either sex this Compound is unsurpassed.

[$1, six bottles for $5. Pills or lozenges. Mrs. Pinkham freely answers all letters of inquiry.

            No family should be without Lydia T. Pinkham’s Liver Pills. 

They cure constipation, billousness, and torpidity of the liver. 23 cents per box.

----------

A Preventive for Chills, Fever and Ague.

a sure cure for

Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Liver Complaint,

Headache, Dizziness, Loss of Appetite,

Languor, Sour Stomach, etc.

Especially adapted for Kidney Disease

and all Female Weaknesses.

The Dandelion Tonic is principally composed

of fresh Dandelion Root, Juniper Berries,

Red Peruvian Bark, Prickly Ash Bark, Iron and

Alteratives; also an antacid, which will remove

all belching sensations that are produced from

sour stomach.

Price, $1.00 per Bottle, or Six for $5.00

For Sale by all Druggists and Dealers in Medicines.

If your dealers do not keep it, sens direct to

the proprietors with money enclosed

Sole Proprieters,

Leis Chemical Manufacturing Co.

Lawrence, Kas

Aren't they fascinating? Clearly the first one is for teenaged boys. I'd like to see contemporary ads try this style on for a change, especially when discussing female weaknesses and how the tonic works in harmony with the laws of health.