18th-century women

The Bloom of Ninon

DELICACY of Complexion.—The incomparable BLOOM of NINON DE L’ENCLOS, superior to any thing yet discovered for rendering the skin soft, smooth, and beautiful in the extreme. Its wonderful effects in removing freckles, morphews, worms, &c. justly entitle it to that preference so long bestowed on it by the most elegant beauties in this kingdom. It […]

Hystericon

I’m attempting to use the long ‘s’ for this transcript – I hope Wordpreſs doesn’t do anything weird with it: . HYſtericon, or Antidote againſt Fits, Vapours, Hypochondriack Melancholy, Vertigoe, Gid- dineſs or Swimming in the Head, Phrenzy, or Deprivation of Senſes, Suffocations, or Riſings in the Throat, Faintings, Swoonings, &c. (common- ly called Fits […]

Cosmeticon

This is another of the ads from Defoe’s A Review of the Affairs of France, which I have mentioned previously. COSMETICON: A most excellent wash to Beautifie the Face, &c., rendring the Skin sur- prisingly white and clear: It takes away all Hard- ness, Tan, Sunburn, or other Discolourings: All Morphews, Scurfs, Freckles, Lentils, &c., tho’ of […]

White's Restorative Salo Pills

Nothing very funny about today’s remedy, I’m afraid. Adverts for abortifacients appeared in many 18th- and 19th-century newspapers, but they had to be discreet, as is the case with this one, which focuses on the pamphlet before mentioning the availability of the pills. The pamphlet was most likely an advertisement for Mr and Mrs White’s other services – they also offered lying-in […]