The Quack Doctor

According to a correspondent of the Monthly Gazette of Health (vol 5 1825), the proprietor of Goss & Co was a former shop assistant going by the unlikely name of Mr Crucifix.

While Mr Crucifix insisted that his company had genuine surgical credentials, it had a terrible reputation among the medical profession. The Medical Adviser and Guide to Health and Long Life, edited by Alexander Burnett, particularly had it in for him, mounting a sustained campaign against Goss & Co in 1824:

Goss and Company! Good God! Was there ever such a heap of filth and infamy as this swindling firm of straw! Was there ever such a cancer upon society – such an adroit and plausible system of rapacious plundering!

The Adviser also remarked that the letters M R C did not stand for Member of the Royal College, but for MURDERING, ROBBING CHARLATAN.

                 ”Domus et placens uxor.”—HOR.
                  Thy house, and (in the cup of life,
                That honey-drop) thy pleasing wife.
H A P P I N E S S  “the  gay  to-morrow  of  the
mind,”  is  ensured  by  marriage;  ”the  strictest  tie
of perpetual Friendship” is  a  gift  from  Heaven,  cementing
pleasure with reason, by which, says Johnson, we approach
in some degree  of  association  with  celestial  intelligence.”
Previous,  however,  to  entering  into  the  hallowed  obliga-
tion of marriage, it becomes an impressive duty not only  to
regulate the passions, but to cleanse the grosser nature from
those impurities which the freedom of unrestricted  pleasure
may have entailed upon it. To the neglect of  such  atten-
tion, are attributable  many  of  those  hapless  instances,
which while they excite the commiseration of  the  behold-
er, should also impress him with the fear of self-reproach.
Luxurious habits will effeminate the body—a residence  in
the tropics will too much relax the elastic fibre—but more
especially does the premature infatuation of youth too fre-
quently reduce the natural dignity into a state of inanition,
from whence the agonized sufferer more than doubts the
chance of relief. To all such, then, we address ourselves,
offering  hope–energy–muscular strength–facility;  nor
ought our advances to appear questionable, sanctioned as
they are by the multiplied proofs of  twenty-five  years  suc-
cessful experience.
The easy cares of married life are sometimes disturbed
by the want of those blessings which twine the nuptial
wreath—for the female habit is often constitutionally weak
—yet it can be strengthened, and deficient energy improved
into functional power.
In every case of syphilitic intrusion, as well as in every
relaxation of the generative economy, we pledge our reputa-
tion to cure speedily and permanently. Earnestly solicitous
to  expel  the  unfeeling  empyric  from  the  position so pre-
sumptuously taken by him, we deviate  from  general   prin-
ciples  with  less  hesitation;  and   confident   in   our   own
honourable integrity as Members of the College of Surgeons,
we invite sufferers of either  sex,  (especially  those  entering
into  matrimonial  life)  at  once  to  our  house,  where  daily
attendance is given  for  personal  consultation;  and  imme-
diate answers are returned  to  country  letters,  which  must
minutely describe the  case,  and  contain  a  remittance  for
advice and Medicine, which can be forwarded  to  any  part
of the  world,  however  distant.  No  difficulty  can  occur,  as
the Medicine will be securely packed, and carefully protected
from observation.
                     GOSS & Co., (M.R.C. Surgeons).
7, Lancaster Place, Waterloo Bridge, Strand, London.
*** Just published (Twenty-First Edition), 1st, The AEGIS
of LIFE, a similar commentary on the above Diseases.—
2d. HYGEIANA, addressed exclusively to the Female Sex.—
3. The SYPHILIST, a Treatise on Lues Venerea, Gonor-
rhoea, &c. May be had at 23, Paternoster-Row, London; F.
Hobson, Leeds; and of all Booksellers, Price 5s.

Source: The Leeds Mercury, Saturday 29 April, 1837

A correspondent to the Medical Adviser described his experience thus: 

When I wrote to Goss & Co., I enclosed a pound bill, and asked their advice. I received a letter by return of post, asking all particulars, (useless to them), for example whether I was fair, tall, handsome, and many other things of little consequence. I was quite disgusted; they concluded with a request for 5l., and they would send me a box of medicine. I received the medicine and a modest request for 25l. and they would cure me … Their medicine I took to a Chemist, and he said I could have got it, bottles and all, for 5s.

 The one and only benefit of this product was that it made guys wash …

                 BY   ROYAL  AUTHORITY

GENERAL SAFETY, or YORK MEDI-
CINAL  SOAP,   an    infallible    Prevention   against
Venereal  Infection;  a  Preparation,  though  simple,  yet  so
efficacious,  as  to  render  it  of  the  utmost  importance  to
every  one  who  values  Health;  and  from  its  peculiar  pro-
perties  as a bracer, must prove highly beneficial as well  as
certain.
    Sold  Wholesale  and  Retail  by  Heath  and  Co.  at  their
Medicinal  Office,  No. 4, Bell-yard,  Fleet-street, in boxes  at
2s  6d.  and  5s.  duty  included;   and  by  their  appointment
at Mr. THOMAS BELAM’s, Portsmouth.
    This  specific,  from  its  superior  cleansing   powers   and
ready use, may justly be considered the  happiest  discovery
Medical  Research  has  provided  against so baneful  a  de-
stroyer.  Just  published,  and may be had as above, a  brief
Treatise  on  the  destructive  tendency  of the Venereal Dis-
ease;  containing  some  approved  Receipts for  the  cure  of
that   disorder,   price   Sixpence.   Gentlemen   inclosing   a
Seven  Shilling  Piece,  may  have  the  amount  sent  to  any
part of the kingdom.

Source: The Portsmouth Telegraph, or Mottley’s Naval and Military Journal, Monday 2nd March 1801

Robert Walker obtained the King’s Royal Letters Patent for his remedy in 1755, and on his death, surgeon Joseph Wessels took it over. The drops were still around, under the name Wessel’s Jesuit Drops as late as the 1870s. In 1843, the Medical Times published a note stating that the Drops were ”a spirituous tincture of balsam of copaiba, guiacum, and oil of sassafras. They are the same as the elixir anti-venereum of Quincey.”

        CAUTION to the PUBLIC.
             By the King’s Patent.
DR. WALKER’S PATENT GENUINE
JESUITS DROPS, for which his Ma-
jesty was pleased to honour him with his roy-
al letters patents for England, Scotland, and
Ireland, and the plantations in America.—
The great success and demand that is daily
made for these never failing, genuine JESU-
ITS DROPS at 2s. 6d. each bottle; and
SPECIFIC PURGING REMEDY, at 2s.
6d. per pot, which are the most certain, cheap,
pleasant, safe, effectual, and immediate cure
ever discovered for gleets and seminal weak-
nesses both sexes are subject to, though ever so
obstinate, of ever so long continuance, and by
whatever means occasioned, and also for the
venereal disease, from its slightest to its most
malignant symptoms. Likewise, for the gra-
vel, stone in the bladder, and all scorbutic ca-
ses of ever so long a standing; several patients
being deemed incurable, have found relief, af-
ter trying all other medicines; likewise, all
nervous disorders, the gout, rheumatism, and
all disorders in the stomach.
The public may be assured that when the
surprizing and quick efficacy of these medicines
is considered, they are the cheapest remedy e-
ver yet offered to sale.— To prevent counter-
feits, each bottle and pot have J. Wessels and
Co. marked on them, in their own handwrit-
ing, and without which they are not genuine.
To be had at FRANCIS MARSHALL’s
hard-ware shop, being the third shop above
Don’s close, opposite to the Luckenbooths;

Source: The Edinburgh Advertiser, Tuesday 11th February 1772.

Notes: “surprizing” is as in original. The advert continues at great length about the other products available from Francis Marshall’s shop, including coffee mills, best hair powder, mathematical instruments and backgammon tables.

I have absolutely no idea what was in this medicine, so instead of a witty and/or informative comment, here is a picture of a fellow epitomising health and manly vigour. The image is from the Dictionnaire encyclopédique Trousset, published in Paris between 1886 and 1891, and is reproduced courtesy of Old Book Illustrations.

HEALTH and MANLY VIGOUR GUARANTEED
̶ The RENOVATING ESSENCE OF AZILICA. ̶ One
packet of this remedy will convince the most sceptical of its surprising
invigorating virtues; it may be taken with the greatest safety and
certainty by all who suffer from weakness, lowness of spirits, depres-
sion, nervousness, and debility. Females would do well to take this
remedy, as, by quickening the circulation and enriching the blood, it
imparts health and bloom to the most impaired constitution, and is a
remedy for relaxation, spermatorrhӕa, and all the distressing con-
sequences arising from early abuse, indiscriminate excesses, or too
long residing in hot climes. It has restored bodily and sexual
strength and vigour to thousands of debilitated persons, who are now
in the enjoyment of health and the functions of manhood; and what-
ever may be the causes of disqualification for marriage, they are
effectually subdued by this wonderful discovery. Parties taking the
above remedy are entitled to the advice of a Medical Man, Free of
Charge. Price 1s. 6d. per Package, to which are added advice and
directions for self-cure. ̶ Sole Agents : Winnall, High Street, Bir-
mingham ; Mander and Weaver, Victoria Street, Wolverhampton ;
Hutchings, Dudley; C. Britten, Wednesbury; W. Britten, Tipton
and Prince’s End; Osborn, High Street, West Bromwich.

Source: The Birmingham Daily Post, Thursday 23rd January 1868

I decided against searching for a picture to go with this one…

REES’S COMPOUND ESSENCE has
proved in all cases the most safe and efficacious remedy
ever discovered for the removal of strictures without the use of
a bougie, as well as a speedy and certain cure for all discharges,
gleets, whites, seminal weakness, irritation of the urethra and
bladder, pains in the back and kidneys, gravel, &c. It contains,
in a concentrated state, all the efficacious parts of sarsaparilla,
combined with other well-tried and approved alteratives, which
make it an excellent remedy for secondary symptoms, pains of
the bones, glandular swellings, chronic rheumatism, scrofulous,
scorbutic eruptions, blotches and pimples, and all disorders
originating from impurity of blood. In cases of debility,
attended with lassitude, nervous depression of spirits, and loss
of manly vigour, brought on by early imprudence, long residence
in hot or unhealthy climates, and other causes, it has been found
to quickly produce a beneficial change, restoring health, energy,
and vigour throughout the whole system. For weakness,
obstructions, and other disorders incidental to delicate females
it has proved highly beneficial.
Prepared only by the Proprietor, JOHN STIRLING, Chemist, 86,
High-street, Whitechapel, in bottles, at 2s 9d., 4s 6d, 10s, and
20s each, from whom it can be sent to any part of the world,
upon enclosing the amount, or a Post-office order payable in
Whitechapel. It can be had of all respectable medicine venders.

Source:  The Era (London) Sunday 13^th January 1850