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Victorian-American Headaches: Part 4

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In my most recent Headache article, I shared the 1880s craze for antipyrin, a favored ingredient in headache specifics. Today, in Victorian-American Headaches: Part 4, I’ll focus on “medicines” that were headache remedies in the 19th Century United States.

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Cures, Pills, Medicines

Victorian-American Headaches: Part 4

Today’s exploration through Victorian-American Headaches (Part 4) contains a focus on Victorian-era newspaper advertisements for headache remedies. Whether for pills delivered by mail or remedies for sale at the corner drugstore, Victorians apparently loved their headache medicines. Don’t forget that Coca-Cola began as a headache specific at the corner druggist.

I’ve read several novels with a “headache powder” or two… so this “headache specific” is included among the vast list of Victorian-era “Patent Medicines.”

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No Aspirin

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Today, headache sufferers are trained to reach for OTC (over-the-counter) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Like aspirin. Or Tylenol.

So naturally, I had to dive into aspirin’s history. What did druggists put in that stone pestle of theirs, to make a “headache specific”? Just what ingredients belonged in a headache powder?

Aspirin? Yes? Victorian-American Headaches: Part 4.

Apparently not.

An examination of American medical literature reveals that in the 19th century, headache was seen as an important diagnostic sign, and served to demonstrate medicine’s concern with explanations, rather than its therapeutic effectiveness. Headache treatment was therefore directed at causes rather than its chief symptom: painkilling was regarded as empirical, quackish, and sectarian. Even when nonnarcotic analgesic drugs, such as phenacetin and aspirin, were introduced towards the end of the century, physicians tended not to use them for headache.

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~ Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain

(emphasis added)

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Ads in Vintage Newspapers

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Each advertisement contains the original source (newspaper, city of publication, and date). As remedies are so diverse and with a wide swath of self-proclaimed uses and conditions the medicine will eradicate, it seems silly to try and group the ads by “type.” Instead, I’ve listed the headache remedy advertisements in order by date of publication.

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Speaking of Advertisements…

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Note the format of ads in the 1860s and 1870s. Paragraph format. Endorsements. Authoritative speech from “doctors.” Yet in the 1880s, ads became more of a visual feast. And more of a blatant advertisement. Note the gorgeous use of typography in the following dandelion tonic. Not only does the ad catch the eye, it also makes bold claims about various ailments eradicated by its use.

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The company selling Dr. Miles’ Restorative Nervine did more than ensure entrance to The World’s Fair and all the sales that exposure to their product would bring. They took out a full-page newspaper advertisement (also in the Ellsworth Reporter of Ellsworth, Kansas on the same day (March 22, 1894):

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Conclusion

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Did you notice the lack of ingredient listings? Manufacturers might claim “all vegetable” and “harmless,” but none were required, then, to disclose what the products actually contained. The nineteenth century would officially close before anyone decided to offer a voluntary program of drug approval, beginning in 1905 and lasting until 1955.

In 1911, in U.S. v. Johnson, the Supreme court ruled that the 1906 Food and Drugs Act did not outlaw false medical claims. Great. Snake Oil Salesman, Rejoice!

Desperate people no doubt turned to patent medicines (and other “commercially available” compounds sold as medicine) for cures. Even when promises seemed too good to be true, people in pain must have sought something–anything!–that might alleviate the pain. People do the same thing today.

Remember, too, that legislation that protected the public from contamination of food, drink, and medication was only beginning. People may have been aware of the risks with meds, as they certainly were (becoming) with food and drink. Even if individuals weren’t aware that bacteria and fillers contaminated foods, nineteenth century U.S. residents lived with indigestion and biliousness. (Cook books, newspaper advertisements, diaries, letters, etc. all paint this picture.)

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Up Next

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In previous blog articles in this Headaches series, I’ve covered medical explanations about why people suffer from headaches. Including causes, lifestyle choices (for avoiding headaches), and “patent medicines.” Part 5 will contain a focus on how Sundays lead to headaches. (And more about the mysterious headache powders.)

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Invitation

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Do you have thoughts to ad?

Do you own a vintage medicine bottle? Might you share a photo with us?

Please scroll down and comment. We value your thoughts!

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Updated June 2022
Copyright © 2019 Kristin Holt LC