Quackery in medicine is as old as medicine itself. In times of crisis, desperate patients often believe extraordinary claims. In the annals of pain-killer quack medicine, elixirs, nostrums and liniments hold a prominent position. NYU College of Dentistry (NYUCD) has a collection of 234 bottles of such medicines dating from the mid-1800s through 1940. The Virtual Museum will display about 120 of the most significant ones. Some contained opium, cocaine or morphine. Other’s claimed to contain snake oil. Many were linked to overdose, addiction and sometimes death. In 1906, Congress enacted The Pure Food and Drug Act to stop unsubstantiated medicinal claims and control the use of addictive substances. The sample shown here was made by the Bro. Bailey’s Quaker Med. Co., Worchester, MA and claimed to treat rheumatism, nuralgia, headache, dizziness, toothache, sprains, bruises, frosted feet, chilblains, cuts, burns, scalds, sorethroat, catarrh (Inflammation) & pleurisy. Quite a list! Description by Andrew Spielman
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