portrait-photo

The Wunderkammer of the Mild Colonial Boy, Esq., a Reactionary Tory Gentleman, who armed only with a Steampowered Babbage Engine and Pure Intentions, wanders the Time Streams and Aetheric Plane gathering an Eccentric Hodgepodge of Curiousities, Frivolities, Whimsicalities and Nonsense.

Q. Why is your Tumblelog called "My Ear-Trumpet Has Been Struck by Lightning"?

A. Because "My Grandmother's Ear-Trumpet Has Been Struck by Lightning" wouldn't fit in the available space.

First tests of old patent medicine remedies from a museum collection

What was in Dr. F. G. Johnson’s French Female Pills and other scientifically untested elixirs, nostrums and other quack cures that were the only medicines available to sick people during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries?

(Source: gwydionmisha)

questionableadvice: ~ The Whittier Register, August 7, 1903via Whittier Digital Archives“If you are so fortunate as not to know everything, you will find that the opportunity to know is unlimited.”

questionableadvice:

~ The Whittier Register, August 7, 1903
via Whittier Digital Archives

“If you are so fortunate as not to know everything, you will find that the opportunity to know is unlimited.”

mudwerks: Brown’s Iron Bitters - a true tonic. (front) (by Boston Public Library)

mudwerks:

Brown’s Iron Bitters - a true tonic. (front) (by Boston Public Library)

(via vintascope)

underlandjunction: (via Morbid Anatomy: Wolcott’s Instant Pain Annihilator, Medical Advertisement, 19th C?)

underlandjunction:

(via Morbid Anatomy: Wolcott’s Instant Pain Annihilator, Medical Advertisement, 19th C?)

(via rrrick)

my-wanton-self: questionableadvice: ~ Accidents, Emergencies, and Illnesses, Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, 1902via Internet Archive I seem to have SO many emergencies these days….. Some old fashioned remedies are the best.

my-wanton-self:

questionableadvice:

~ Accidents, Emergencies, and Illnesses, Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, 1902
via Internet Archive

I seem to have SO many emergencies these days…..

Some old fashioned remedies are the best.

questionableadvice: ~ American Social Health Association, 1922via University of Minnesota“Don’t worry. Lead an active, healthy life and forget about sex matters.” Words of wisdom.

questionableadvice:

~ American Social Health Association, 1922
via University of Minnesota

“Don’t worry. Lead an active, healthy life and forget about sex matters.”

Words of wisdom.

treselegant: ‘WHISKERS AND MOUSTACHES (TO PROMOTE THEIR GROWTH).’ Invaluable advice to gentlemen, Bow Bells, 1866.

treselegant:

‘WHISKERS AND MOUSTACHES (TO PROMOTE THEIR GROWTH).’

Invaluable advice to gentlemen,

Bow Bells, 1866.

plenilune: (via f-yeahvictorians) Shouldn’t this cure, you know, wizardry? Or just icky uncomfortable things done to one by a wizard? Or maybe it’s for magical rheumatism? I mean, the phrase ‘Wizard Oil’ is inherently hilarious. I feel its potential is wasted here. ^-^

plenilune:

(via f-yeahvictorians)

Shouldn’t this cure, you know, wizardry? Or just icky uncomfortable things done to one by a wizard? Or maybe it’s for magical rheumatism?

I mean, the phrase ‘Wizard Oil’ is inherently hilarious. I feel its potential is wasted here. ^-^

treselegant: Advertising for ‘CIGARS DE JOY’ for relief of respiratory ailments (!) and ‘Tonga’ for Neuralgia, from The Illustrated London News Christmas Number, 1887.

treselegant:

Advertising for ‘CIGARS DE JOY’ for relief of respiratory ailments (!) and ‘Tonga’ for Neuralgia,

from The Illustrated London News Christmas Number, 1887.

miss-givings: CARBOLIC SMOKE BALL CARBOLIC SMOKE BALLWILL POSITIVELY CURE COUGHS CATARRH HOARSENESS THROAT DEAFNESS INFLUENZA CROUP COLD IN THE HEAD ASTHMA LOSS OF VOICE SNORING HAY FEVER WHOOPING COUGH COLD ON THE CHEST BRONCHITIS SORE THROAT SORE EYES HEADACHE NEURALGIA As all the Diseases mentioned above proceed from one cause,they can be Cured by this Remedy. £100 REWARDWILL BE PAID BY THE CARBOLIC SMOKE BALL CO.to any Person who contracts the Increasing Epidemic,INFLUENZA,Cold, or any Diseases caused by taking Cold, after having used theCARBOLIC SMOKE BALL according to the printed directionssupplied with each Ball. £1000 IS DEPOSITEDwith the ALLIANCE BANK, Regent Street, showing our sincerity in the matter. During the last epidemic of INFLUENZA many thousand CARBOLIC SMOKE BALLSwere sold as preventives against this disease, and in no asscertained case was thedisease contracted by those using the CARBOLIC SMOKE BALL.

miss-givings:

CARBOLIC SMOKE BALL

CARBOLIC SMOKE BALL
WILL POSITIVELY CURE

COUGHS

CATARRH

HOARSENESS

THROAT DEAFNESS

INFLUENZA

CROUP

COLD IN THE HEAD

ASTHMA

LOSS OF VOICE

SNORING

HAY FEVER

WHOOPING COUGH

COLD ON THE CHEST

BRONCHITIS

SORE THROAT

SORE EYES

HEADACHE

NEURALGIA

As all the Diseases mentioned above proceed from one cause,
they can be Cured by this Remedy.

£100 REWARD
WILL BE PAID BY THE 
CARBOLIC SMOKE BALL CO.
to any Person who contracts the Increasing Epidemic,
INFLUENZA,
Cold, or any Diseases caused by taking Cold, after having used the
CARBOLIC SMOKE BALL according to the printed directions
supplied with each Ball.

£1000 IS DEPOSITED
with the ALLIANCE BANK, Regent Street, showing our sincerity in the matter.

During the last epidemic of INFLUENZA many thousand CARBOLIC SMOKE BALLS
were sold as preventives against this disease, and in no asscertained case was the
disease contracted by those using the CARBOLIC SMOKE BALL.