The Quack Doctor

“No matter what the symptoms may be,” said an early 20th-century pamphlet included with Clarke’s Blood Mixture, “the real cause of a large proportion of all diseases is bad blood.” The infallible cure featured below mainly comprised water coloured by burnt sugar, with a small amount of potassium iodide, sal volatile, chloroform, and syrup sweetener thrown in.

Clarke’s use of the quotation from Deuteronomy ch. XII came under fire in Dracula ch. XVIII, where Renfield (you know, the cove who eats flies and birds and stuff) makes reference to the phrase “For the Blood is the Life,” and goes on to say: “Though indeed, the vendor of a certain nostrum has vulgarised the truism to the very point of contempt.”

Image: Dwight Frye as Renfield in the 1931 film Dracula.

             ”F O R  the B L O O D is the L I F E.”—See
                             Deuteronomy, chap. xii., verse 23.
   C L A R K E’ S   W O R L D – F A M E D   B L O O D
                                      MIXTURE.
            THE GREAT BLOOD PURIFIER AND RESTORER.
  For cleansing and clearing the Blood from all Impurities, cannot be
too highly recommended.
  For Scrofula, Scurvy, Skin Diseases, and Sores of all kinds it is a never
failing and permanent cure.
                It Cures Old Sores.
                   Cures Ulcerated Sores on the Neck,
                   Cures Ulcerated Sore Legs,
                   Cures Blackheads or Pimples on the Face,
                   Cures Scurvy Sores,
                   Cures Cancerous Ulcers,
                   Cures Blood and Skin Diseases,
                   Cures Glandular Swellings,
                   Clears the Blood from all Impure Matter,
                   From whatever cause arising,
   As the Mixture is pleasant to the taste, and warranted free from any-
thing injurious to the most delicate constitution in either sex, the Pro-
prietor solicits sufferers to give it a trial to test its value.
   Thousands of Testimonials from all parts.
   Sold in Bottles, 2s. 3d. Each, and in cases containing six times the
quantity, 11s. each-sufficient to effect a permanent cure in the great
majority of long-standing cases—BY ALL CHEMISTS AND PATENT
MEDICINE VENDORS throughout the United Kingdom and the world,
or sent to any address on receipt of twenty-seven or 132 stamps by,
                  F. J. CLARKE, Chemist, High-street, Lincoln.
                       Wholesale: All Patent Medicine Houses.

Source:  The Era (London) Sunday 20 April 1873