WELCOME TO THE QUACK DOCTOR!

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What’s this blog all about?

The main idea is to build up a collection of transcripts of patent medicine advertisements. These are mainly from 18th- and 19th-century British and US newspapers, but I might start to do a few 20th-century ones too. There are also occasional adverts for cosmetics, and some for products that were considered orthodox medicine in their time. Inclusion on the site doesn’t mean a product is necessarily ‘quackery’ – the only criteria are that it was medical and advertised.

Why patent remedy adverts?

I find them interesting and often entertaining, and I hope you will too. The site might also be a basic starting point for those undertaking more in-depth research.

Every advert includes a reference to the periodical(s) where I found it, so you can go and search for the original source for yourself if necessary.

Spellings

Where there are errors in the originals, or where spellings differ from the modern form, I’ll add a note at the end so you know it’s not a typo. The exception is where ‘vender’ is used rather than the more common modern British form ‘vendor’ – this crops up so often that it would get annoying to keep pointing it out. Otherwise, if there is no note… well, possibly it is a typo, though I will make every attempt to be accurate. You are welcome to contact me to check (or you can just leave a comment on the post in question).

Who runs the site?

My name is Caroline Rance and I’m a writer of historical fiction. My first novel, Kill-Grief, set in a 1750s hospital, is out now.  If you’d like to contact me, please email caroline (at) thequackdoctor (dot) com or use the form here.

I have a keen interest in the history of medicine and am running this blog as a hobby. I am not a health professional.

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Can you help with my research?
I am happy to receive your questions, but might not be able to respond immediately as I have a real-life job,  a small child, various dependent animals, and a second novel to write. I will be particularly helpful, however, to people who have bought my book.

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Disclaimer

The historical information on this site is intended for research and entertainment purposes and is NOT a source of medical advice, nor is it possible to buy any of the remedies described. (Sorry if this sounds obvious, but it is the internet we’re talking about and I’d rather be too obvious than get into trouble.)