WELCOME TO THE QUACK DOCTOR!

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What’s this blog all about?

I started The Quack Doctor as a useful way of categorising some notes I’d made about patent remedies in history – but it turned out that lots of other people liked to read about them too! The featured items are mainly from 19th-century British and US newspapers, but there are a few 18th- and 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 I’m necessarily condemning a product as ‘quackery’ – any medical advertising counts, and sometimes I post about more general history of medicine topics too.

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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.

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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 available from Amazon.  If you’d like to contact me, please email caroline (at) thequackdoctor (dot) com or use the form here. You can also find me on Twitter as @quackwriter and on my Facebook page.

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. Would you believe, at least 50% of the people who contact me for help never say thank you afterwards, so a quick email to say you’ve received my reply is always appreciated.

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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.)