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  • Public exposure, analysis, etc., of advertised remedies : patent medicines and foods showing their estimated costs, analytical contents, and various claims / copyright by the Advertised Remedies Exposure Campaign ... organiser- Wm. T. Davison.
  • Senna corymbosa (Lam.)H.S.Irwin&Barneby Caesalpinaceae. Argentine Senna. Distribution: Argentine (other species from Europe). This beautiful shrub that flowers from midsummer until the frosts of winter, is the source of one of the best known of all herbal medicines – Senokot (and senna pods and senna tea), introduced to European medicine (as Senna alexandrina from Egypt) by the Arabians. Every part of the plant contains anthraquinones which, if taken internally, act as a powerful laxative to treat constipation by stimulating the nerve cells of the large bowel. Gerard (1633) notes ‘it is a singular purging medicine’ with over a page on its uses. When used regularly the nerves to the large bowel may be destroyed, leaving a permanently dilated large bowel that never functions properly again. This is a plant which causes the condition it treats to become permanent. Additionally, with prolonged use, the lining of the bowel turns black, serum potassium levels may fall, resulting in cardiac irregularities and sometimes death. Coma, neuropathy and hepatitis have also been reported. It is advertised on television (the actor involved is seen to be depressed and bloated until she takes Senokot, after which she is happy - Hippocrates would have attributed this antidepressant effect to the plant's ability to purge her of the black melancholic humour present in her bowel motions). It is available without prescription or health warning against long-term use. What do you think? Lyte (1578) recommends it strongly for depression, but one might claim to be cured rather than take it again. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Senna corymbosa (Lam.)H.S.Irwin&Barneby Caesalpinaceae. Argentine Senna. Distribution: Argentine (other species from Europe). This beautiful shrub that flowers from midsummer until the frosts of winter, is the source of one of the best known of all herbal medicines – Senokot (and senna pods and senna tea), introduced to European medicine (as Senna alexandrina from Egypt) by the Arabians. Every part of the plant contains anthraquinones which, if taken internally, act as a powerful laxative to treat constipation by stimulating the nerve cells of the large bowel. Gerard (1633) notes ‘it is a singular purging medicine’ with over a page on its uses. When used regularly the nerves to the large bowel may be destroyed, leaving a permanently dilated large bowel that never functions properly again. This is a plant which causes the condition it treats to become permanent. Additionally, with prolonged use, the lining of the bowel turns black, serum potassium levels may fall, resulting in cardiac irregularities and sometimes death. Coma, neuropathy and hepatitis have also been reported. It is advertised on television (the actor involved is seen to be depressed and bloated until she takes Senokot, after which she is happy - Hippocrates would have attributed this antidepressant effect to the plant's ability to purge her of the black melancholic humour present in her bowel motions). It is available without prescription or health warning against long-term use. What do you think? Lyte (1578) recommends it strongly for depression, but one might claim to be cured rather than take it again. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Advertisement for Dr Steer's Chemical Opodeldoc, c 1794
  • Advertisement for Dr Johnson's Yellow Ointment
  • The Evelina Hospital, Southwark: a mother and daughter visiting a girl in hospital at Christmas. Coloured process print, 1882, after C. J. Staniland.
  • The Evelina Hospital, Southwark: a mother and daughter visiting a girl in hospital at Christmas. Coloured process print, 1882, after C. J. Staniland.
  • A patient sits helplessly in a chair while proponents of different medicines brawl with each other, overturning tables and chairs; beneath, a comic strip and a further six comic episodes. Lithograph by C.J. Grant, 1834.
  • A patient sits helplessly in a chair while proponents of different medicines brawl with each other, overturning tables and chairs; beneath, a comic strip and a further six comic episodes. Lithograph by C.J. Grant, 1834.
  • A figure comprised of medicine bottles and tablets, representing the patent medicine business, dances behind a pensive Lloyd George; representing attitudes to the introduction of the National Insurance Act of 1911. Wood engraving by B. Partridge, 1912.
  • A figure comprised of medicine bottles and tablets, representing the patent medicine business, dances behind a pensive Lloyd George; representing attitudes to the introduction of the National Insurance Act of 1911. Wood engraving by B. Partridge, 1912.
  • A quack doctor offering a gouty John Bull some medicine while conventional doctors are turned away; referring to British politics. Coloured lithograph attributed to J. Doyle.
  • A quack doctor offering a gouty John Bull some medicine while conventional doctors are turned away; referring to British politics. Coloured lithograph attributed to J. Doyle.
  • A quack doctor offering a gouty John Bull some medicine while conventional doctors are turned away; referring to British politics. Coloured lithograph attributed to J. Doyle.
  • Try Dr. Seth Arnold's cough killer : it works like magic. Price 25 cents / Dr. Seth Arnold Medical Co.
  • Try Dr. Seth Arnold's cough killer : it works like magic. Price 25 cents / Dr. Seth Arnold Medical Co.
  • "They are for mother" : Doan's Backache Kidney Pills Co.'s specific for kidney complaints / Doan's Backache Kidney Pill Co.
  • "They are for mother" : Doan's Backache Kidney Pills Co.'s specific for kidney complaints / Doan's Backache Kidney Pill Co.