The two most critical times in a woman’s life are the times which makes the girl a woman, and the woman a mother. At these times, Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription is of incalculable value. It strengthens and invigorates the organs distinctly feminine, promotes regularity of the functions, allays irritation and inflammation, checks unnatural, exhausting drains, and puts the whole delicate organism into perfect condition. Almost all the ills of womankind are traceable to some form of what is known as “female complaint.” There are not three cases in a hundred of woman’s peculiar diseases that Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription will not cure.
According to a bottle collecting site,
The formula for his Favorite Prescription as published by the Pharmaceutical Era’s Formulary contained: savin, cinchona, agaric, cinnamon, water, acacia, sugar, tincture digitalis, tincture of opium, oil star anise and alcohol.
Savin (from Dorlands Medical Dictonary): “an acrid oil from the fresh tops of Juniperus sabina, the chief constituent of which is sabinol; it has been used in folk medicine as an emmenagogue, anthelmintic, and antirheumatic, and is used in perfumery. It may cause hematuria and violent gastrointestinal irritation when administered internally; fatal poisoning has resulted from its use as an abortifacient.”
Cincona: a source of quinine and quinadine
Agaric: used to inhibit the production of sweat
Acacia (assuming Gum Arabic): “exerts a soothing influence upon irritated or inflamed mucous tissues”
Digitalis: Tinture means “in alcohol” — used probably as a diuretic
Opium: makes you feel good and want to buy more
So, all in all, this preparation probably tasted bitter with a hint of spiciness. With the alcohol and opium, it is likely that a woman who bought a few bottles bought more.
Yum!
It’s interesting to note that Pierce stopped using opium about the time this ad was published, but the medicine remained on the market for several years afterward.
But is this really any different from the “dietary supplements” being promoted today? With the exception of the opium, of course.
2 comments ↓
Juniperus sabina, the chief constituent of which is sabinol; it has been used in folk medicine as an emmenagogue,
.. that’s the key. Lots of herbal concoctions “to promote menstruation” contained savin. I’ve seen mention of 16th century herbals that have recipes containing savin that “provoke the menses”. Think of this as code phrases: what these potions were intended for was as a “morning-after” (or week-after”) pill.
Pennyroyal was the other popular ingredient, and its descripion of use contains coded hinhts as to its function: In Enquire within you’ll find this as hint #628:
Ah, so not exactly like dietary supplements of today.