[ List of Quack Medicines, Family Nostrums &c ] Dr. William James Almon
Date: Late 18th century; exact date unknown.
Source:
Manuscript Notebook of Dr. William James Almon
Institution: Nova Scotia Archives
| Source Origin: Almon Family Fonds
| Reference: MG 1 / Microfilm Reel 10,045
A chart of commercial medicines and medicinal ingredients detailing their composition, advertised effects, assessed efficacy, and purchase price, pp. 151-54.
List of Quack Medicines, Family Nostrums &c
Name
Composition
Advertized effects
&c Diseases in which
it is recommended
as infallible -
Real effects or effects
of imprudent
Administration
Sale price
inclusive
of Stamp
Per
1st Soloman’s Cordial Balm of Gilead
Tincture of Cantharides in Brandy
Sexual Debility
Nervous disorders &c
Turor Uterinus
Stranguary & Madness
“ 10 6
Bottle
2nd Gowland’s Lotion
Dickensons Solution of Corrosive Sublimate in Almond Milk
Diseases of the Skin
Madness
“ 8 6
Quart
[2] Vincent’s Lotion
The same as Gowland’s wt ye addition of Sal: Ammon
Scorbutic Eruptions
Madness
3 Walker’s Jesuits Drops
Saffron, Oil of Sassafras,Gum Guaiacum, Salt of Tartar,
Balsam of Copaiba, & Spt. of Wine
Certain Complaints
Aggravation of the Disease
“ 2 9
¾ Bottle
4 Whitehead’s Essence of Mustard
Tincture of Camphor & Mustard in Ol: Terebinth
Lumbago Rheu-
-matism &c
Not [removable]
2 9
¾ Bottle
5 Godbolt’s Vegetable Balsam
Oxymel of Squills
Consumptions
Protraction of Pain
1 1 “
Pint
6 Essence of Coltsfoot
Paregoric Elixir without a particle of Coltsfoot
Coughs and consumptions
The same wt the Paregoric of ye Shops
- 2 9
31 Bottle
7 Freeman’s Bathing Spirits
Tincture of Camphor
Bruises & c & c
Useful
.. 2 9
8 Patent Air Pump Vapour Bath
- - - -
Rheumatism
Gout & c & c
Inefficacious
£20 to £30
each
9 Whitehead’s Essence of Mustard Pills
Balsam of Folic &
Black Resin
Rheumatism
Gout & c
Useless
- 2 9 -
Box
10 Rymers Cordial Tincture
Black pepper, Gentian, orange peel, Cardamon seed & Spirits of Wine
Nervous Disorders
Useless
- 2 9
11 Taylor’s Anti[venereal] pills
Calomel
Lues & c
Efficacious
but dangerous
- 2 9
Box
12 Royal Preventative
Sugar of Lead and Water
Prevention of Gonorrhoea
Inefficacious
1 1 -
Bottle
13 Mordant’s Antiscorbutic Drops
Solution of Corrosive Sublimate & Infusion of Gentian
Scurvy & c
Madness Colic
& death *
“ 10 6
Bottle
*See the Trial of Ann Buterfield for the {...} of Mr. Sca[rin]
14 Anderson’s Pills
Aloes a little Gum Arabic & Oil of Aniseed
Cathartic
Efficacious
“ 1 1 ½
Box
15 Tyces Preventative powder
Common Caustic
For preventing
Gonorrhoea & c
Dangerous &
Inefficacious
“ 2 6
Paper
16 Walker’s Electuary
Lenitive Electuary & Cinnabar
For the cure of
Gonorrhoea
Harmless & useful
when properly
employed
“ 2 9
Pol
17 Durable Ink
Solution of Lunar Caustic in Water
Marking Linen
Burning, but
Useful when
cautiously employed
- 1 6
18 Imperial Tincture
Tincture of Pimento
Nervous Disorders
Inefficacious
1 5 -
34 Bottles
19 Dalby’s Carminative
Magnesia, Peppermint water & a little assafotida
Wind in the stomach
Innocent & efficacious
- 2 9
Bottle
20 Botts Tooth Powder
Chalk. Rose pink, [Orris]
Root a drop of the Oil of Rhodium
Cleaning and
Preserving the Teeth
Inefficacious
- 2 9
Box
21 Hooper’s Female Pills
Hiera Picra & Copperas
Obstructions & c & c
Profluvia
“ 1 1 ½
Box
22 Salt of Lemons
Equal parts of Cream of Tartar & Salt of Sorrel
For taking out stains of Port wine Saline making Saline [mysticals] & Punch
Useful
1 ½
Box
23 Henry’s Aromatic Vinegar
The consentrated Vine =gar of the late London Pharmacopia with a small proportion of camphor and oil of cloves
Security against Infection and from Fevers and plague
Inefficacious
- 2 9
Bottle
24 Perkins Metallic Tractors
Steel with a minute pro=
portion of Silver, Gold or platina
Rheumatism
Gout & c
Variable but generally in=
efficacious
5 5 ..
Pair from
25 Milk of Rose
Oil of Almonds Rose water & Oil of Tartar
Diseases of the skin
Innocent
- 1 1 ½
31 Bottle
26 Haerlem Oil
Oils of Amber and Turpentine
Wound Debility &c
Diuresis &c
“ 1 1 ½
¼ 3 Bottle
27 Hill’s Balsam of Honey
Honey Flowers of Benja= =min & Spts of Wine
Coughs and Consumptions
Inefficacious
“ 2 9
3iy Bottle
28 Cundells improved Do
Do. with Folic Lozenges
Do
Do
2 9
do
29 Singleton’s Eye Salve or Golden Ointment
Yellow Arsenic & Hogs Lard
Blindness & c
very dangerous
2 9
1/20 of [an] 3
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