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This is perhaps the most bizarrely named product yet featured on this site. It is not surprising that it should be obscure to the modern observer, but in fact it made no sense to the denizens of the early 19th century either.
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……………HEALTH
……….A MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
……….The Modena Fossil
……….A SPEEDY AND EFFECTUAL CURE
For the Hooping-Cough, Palsy, Rheumatism, Asthmatic
…..Fits, Scrophulous Swellings, and Diseases of the
…..Glands ; White Swellings of the Joints ; Pains
…..and Diseases of the Breasts of Women ; Spasms,
…..Cramps, Pains and Weakness of the Head, Sto-
…..mach, or any other part of the Body ; Sprains,
…..Bruises, and Chilblains, &c.
……….BY OUTWARD APPLICATION ONLY.
…Price 2s. 9d.—5s. 5d.—and 11s. 6d. the bottle
…………………..(Duty included)
…………….To Mr. OXLEY, Surgeon, Hull.
……………………………………..Howden, August 4th, 1800
…..DEAR SIR
I Did not expect writing you again so soon,
by any means; but calling at Bromfleet yesterday
I found Mr. JOHN KITCHING, of that place, per-
fectly recovered from a very severe attack of the
RHEUMATISM; by using your MODENA FOSSIL,
which I recommended to him. For several days the
pain was so violent in his Back, Hip, and Knee, that
he could not rest day nor night, and could but just get
over the room, leaning upon a staff with both hands.
MRS. KITCHING is at times much afflicted with a
Pain in her Head, but has it always removed by the
application of the MODENA FOSSIL. When you
advertise you are at liberty to mention these as your
witnesses, if you choose. I shall, at all opportunities,
recommend the MODENA FOSSIL, which I believe
will be of general benefit to mankind.
……………………………..I remain Sir, yours, &c.
……………………….JOHN WILTSHAW.
The Modena Fossil is prepared and sold Wholesale
……..and Retail by the Inventor and Proprietor,
……………..EDWARD OXLEY,
Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of London;
…And Surgeon to the Poor and Strangers’ Friend
…Society, in Hull, at his House, No. 17, Bowl-alley
…Lane, Hull.
…Sold also by Mr. Pidding (late Surgeon in the
army) No. 76, (opposite the Pantheon) Oxford-
street; and Retail by Mr. Tutt, Royal Exchange,
Mr. Ward, No. 324, Holborn, Mr. Swinney, No.
21, Pall Mall, Mr. Walsh, Chemist, No. 6, Catha-
rine street, Strand, London; Savage, Howden;
Christopher and Jennet, Stockton; Turner and Ains-
worth, Scarboro’; Stephenson, Bridlington-Quay; and
all respectable Venders of Medicines in the Kingdom.
…………A saving of FIVE SHILLINGS by purchasing
the LARGE Bottle at 11s. 6d. which contains equal to
SIX of the SMALL, at 2s. 9d.
Source: The Hull Packet, Tues 26 August 1800
The basis of the product was oil of amber, and as The Medical Observer (1806) explained ( or rather, in its usual outraged fashion, exclaimed!!!):
Amber is now supposed to be a fossil, and having probably been obtained near Modena in Italy, our advertiser thought that the title of Modena Fossil was not altogether inapplicable to his nostrum, and from its novelty very likely to attract the attention both of the medical profession and the ignorant!!!
The Medical Observer also made a point that is still pertinent today:
If the Modena Fossil be capable of curing cancer, he need not incur the expense or disgrace of advertising it. A person that can cure that disease, would not only amass a considerable fortune by his practice, but would also receive a very handsome remuneration from parliament.
