Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Horsford's





www.hagley.org, the website of the Hagley Museum in Wilmington, DE, is a source for information on patent medicine of the 19th century, and provides the following on Horsford's:


Horsford's Acid Phosphate, circa 1885

Prepared according to the directions of Prof. E. N. Horsford, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, this concoction was suggested for dyspepsia, indigestion, headache, mental and physical exhaustion, nervousness, hysteria, night sweats, consumption, and other ailments. According to their advertising: "This Acid Phosphate…imparts new energy to the system, giving the feeling and sense of increased intellectual and physical power." The use of the baby on the front of the card helped reinforce the "gentleness" of the compound.

Rumford Chemical Works, Providence, Rhode Island

2 comments:

  1. Linda,

    Thanks for these great posts. What a hoot to look at all these pieces of history.

    A. Brous

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  2. Thanks for visiting, glad you enjoy this site!

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