Sure Cures for Hydrophobia & Seminal Weakness
Cherokee Cure-An
Unfailing cure for Gonorrhea-cures
in 1 to 3 days
and all the
diseases of the Urinary Organs
Medicine was still by guess and by God. No regulation of
prescriptions or any drug combination existed. There was little science to even
base a cure on. Louis Pasteur in France had not yet published any ideas that
bacteria could cause disease, and when published in the 1860s, it was not
universally known or accepted until almost 1900.
A few modern medical procedures were known—vaccination
against smallpox, eating fruits and vegetables to prevent scurvy. Beginning in
1850, chloroform as an anesthetic came into wide use.
Imbalance in “humors” or “biles” was thought to be the agent
of illness. “Bleeding,” whether by
cutting a vein or applying leeches, was often thought to be a cure. Yellow
fever and malaria were believed to be caused by “foul miasmas” arising in the
night air, particularly in low lying areas. One doctor even developed a
completely logical and coherent theory on how and why these “foul miasmas”
arose and why they caused disease. Sadly, it was completely wrong.
The New York Herald reported on February 11, 1861, “The
total number of deaths in this city last week was 138, of which there were 66
males and 72 females. The principal diseases were” scarlet fever 26;
consumption 19; inflammation of the lungs 8; bronchitis 5; diphtheria 6 etc.
(deaths) Under one year of age 31; natives of the United States 107; Ireland
21; England 7; Germany 3.”
Serious surgery was primitive, but sometimes effective. The clipping below recounts a cancer operation in Louisiana in March 1859.
Another difficult and dangerous surgical operation was
performed yesterday by Doctor Berthelot, assisted by Doctors Castellanos, Drew
and Avilla. It was the removal of a large fibrous tumor, extending from the
bottom of the right ear, under the jaw, nearly to the middle of the chin; a
removal which involved the extrapolation of the parotid gland, or that part of
the machinery of the throat and jaw which is most affected during an attack of
the “mumps.” The operation necessitated the laying open of the throat, and much
careful cutting around the carotid artery, as well as other vital connections,
damage to which would have resulted in death. The operation was entirely successful.
The patient is a gentleman from Woodville, Miss. who came to this city for the
purpose of undergoing the operation.
A considerable percentage of newspaper ads were for medical cures. Lengthy testimonials often appeared in the ads and the pills or syrup could be ordered direct.
Local druggists were members of community. They had a
reputation to protect so would only sell what they could compound themselves or
what they felt would work. Powders were sold in folded paper packets, liquids,
in glass jars. (A Southern druggist advertised in 1863 to buy “clean clear
jars” from the public.)
Toilet paper--"medicated paper" as it was known--was a new concept for the masses and not bought at a food store, rather at your local druggist's.
Heroin, called laudanum, and cocaine were commonly used to not only kill pain, but to keep babies quiet--an early form of child care while Mother is away in the sweatshop 12 hours a day.
Herbal remedies worked to a limited extent; saw palmetto for older men’s
swollen prostates; or bee balm and chamomile teas for minor ailments.
Given the primitive level of medical knowledge, it is little
wonder outrageous, ridiculous—even deadly—remedies were reported in the news. A man
claimed firing cannons into the clouds would drive away the yellow fever
epidemic sweeping Norfolk, VA in 1855.
The sure cure for hydrophobia seems to be a great way to die deformed and foaming at the mouth.
“Sure Cure For Hydrophobia”
I was surprised to find an effective “morning after”
medicine for women. Advertised as a way to help married women maintain regular
periods, the ads and bottle had in bold letters “If pregnant three months or
more, do not take this. It will surely cause a miscarriage.” Certainly,
cutting down on married women’s unwanted pregnancies would make a married
woman’s periods more regular!
There were medicines promising hair restoration.
And not just hair restoration. “The Cherokee Cure for
Seminal weakness, nocturnal emissions, impotence, loss of power, pains in the
back, stones in the bladder, obstructed and difficult menstruation, and
diseases caused by deviation from nature and self-pleasuring.” All in one
medicine!
Spas and sulfur springs were widely popular to restore general health especially gout, rheumatism and arthritis. See the clipping advertising springs in Catawba County, NC. “”5 miles from the Western Railroad station.”
Two items from the New York Herald in 1857 should convince you why modern cities enforce codes and have a public health department.
Pigeries in Central Park
June 6, 1857
New York City Public Health Wardens
Piggeries in the Central Park --Health Wardens Key and Travers were yesterday dispatched by City Inspector Morton attended by Captain Bennett and a portion of his squad to examine the sanitary condition of the piggeries in Central Park grounds, and if necessary to take proper action to promote the public health in that locality. Over 1000 swine are domiciled on the grounds from 57th to 86th St between 5th and 8th avenues and are fed on offal and swill collected from hotels, boardinghouses, and saloons throughout the city. The odor arising from these pins is intolerable and impregnates the atmosphere for a great distance. Many of these hogs were fat, others lean, sickly, and emaciated. Numerous juvenile hogs were rusticating in the park, unnurtured by maternal protectors. Mr. Morton’s health officers had occasion to exercise their official prerogative in giving of notices on parties owning quite a number of these animals, to abate the nuisance forthwith, whilst parties who refused to obey the order of the health wardens were taken in charge by Captain Bennett and his squad. It is asserted by the health wardens that in several places examined the swine were actually taking their meals as regular borders with the family. The wardens have left their report with the City Inspector, for future reference, giving the names of the owners of each sty. They have also been ordered to keep a strict watch on this locality in future. Some action on the part of the Common Council or Board of Health should be taken to expel this and kindred nuisances from the city limits.
New York City Public Health Wardens
June 6, 1857
MEETING OF THE HEALTH WARDENS-- In accordance with a previous notice from city inspector Morton, the health wardens met at their rooms yesterday at 11:00 o'clock AM. Mr. Morton assured the wardens of his decided determination promptly to promote the public health by every possible means in his power, and assured them that the vast accumulations of animal and vegetable matter now in the streets were calculated in their nature to prejudice the public health, and that as the warm weather approaches, he had great reason to fear pestilence in all its alarming forms; that he confidently anticipated the continued diligence of the health wardens so far as their duties were concerned, in shielding the citizens of New York from the merciless attacks of disease and death; for on their vigilance and prompt action depend in a great measure the sanitary condition of the city . He faithfully encouraged them to be as ambitious to keep their respective wards clean; that he expected a faithful discharge of the duties assigned them. He charged them to be constantly on the watch for nuisances in their wards; to give special attention to tenant houses; by all means in their power to prevent the casting of garbage, vegetable, and decaying substances, of offal or filth of any kind into the streets, alleys and walks, and to report such violations. He instructed them, also, to report to the department, all unsound beef, pork, fish , hides, skins and, indeed, every offensive unsound or unwholesome substance found on any premises or in the streets and promptly order their removal; to keep a constant vigilance over all low and sunken lots with stagnant water thereon, cow stables hog pins, slaughter houses, manure heaps, bone and offal boiling establishments and all other places where the business carried on would be likely to become dangerous to the health of the occupants; to report at the earliest possible moment to the dead animal contractors all dead horses or other dead animals found in the streets or on any premises within the city limits. The wardens were evidently favorably impressed with the enlarged and comprehensive views in relation to their duties entertained by the City Inspector, and repaired to their respective wards determined to give continued and faithful diligence in the discharge of the duties assigned them in promoting the public health.
Larger cities were beginning to set up hospitals, often run by Catholic nuns. Surprisingly, Richmond, Virginia not only had a new hospital for White people. A good separate hospital for surrounding plantation owners’ slaves was also built.
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