Early Eighteenth-Century Newspaper Reports compiled by Rictor Norton

Panaceas

ADVERTISEMENT 28 June-1 July 1700
There is now made publick for general good, that famous medicine, called Aqua-anti Torminalis, being an incomparable water against all manner of gripings of the guts, wind-chollick, or dry-belly-ach; having in a little time restored several to the use of their limbs, which has been taken from ’em by such terrible distempers. Its safe for children in the month who are subject to wind, gripings, &c. and for wet-nurses, who for want of taking such proper medicines, often cause infants to suffer. It is put up in glass vials containing a quarter of a pint; price 1s. 6d. With printed directions for its use. And to prevent counterfeits, is sold by none but, the publisher of this paper. [London Post]

ADVERTISEMENT 10-13 December 1708
The English Cephalick Snuff. Which gives immediate ease to the head-ach. It instantly removes Drowsiness, Giddiness and vapours. In deafness it’s a certain remedy, as also noise in the ears. It cures stoppages and colds in the head, or any humour in the eyes. It helps very much dimness of sight, and prevents apoplexy and falling-Sickness. In short, thousands can testifie the benefit which they have received by this incomparable snuff. To be had only at Jacob’s Coffee-house behind the Royal-Exchange. Price 6d. the paper, with directions. [English Post]

ADVERTISEMENT 10 July 1725
The Royal BEAUTIFYING FLUID. Which vastly transcends any thing ever yet made publick, and is really the noblest secret in nature to beautify the face, neck and hands, as most of the first quality have experienced; for it gives an inexpressible fine air to the features of the face on the spot, and surprising handsomeness to the neck and hands, on which last account several gentlemen as well as ladies use it, and admire its superior excellency, it being indeed far beyond any paste, powder, washball, or any other thing whatever, for immediately making a red or rough hand exceedingly smooth, fine and delicately white, it certainly takes away all disagreeable redness, spots, pimples, heats, roughness, freckles, morphew [dark blotch on the skin esp. of elderly people], worms in the face, sunburn, or any other discolouring, almost in an instant; and removes all wrinkles so perfectly, as not only to conceal, but even to rectify the defects of old age, making the skin become so truly and incomparably fine, clear, plump, soft and charming fair, as to cause admiration in all persons; and yet is nothing of paint, but far exceeds it, for it brings the skin, whether of the face, neck or hands, and tho’ brown, red or rough, to its natural beauty and perfection, viz. a lasting youthful fairness, smoothness and delicacy, which paint only faintly imitates, neither is this royal beautifier prepared from the least particle of mercury or any thing metalline, but is perfectly innocent and harmless, and may be given inwardly, even to children. It has also a pleasant scene, will not soil the finest lawn, and is so far from being troublesome to use, that the nicest ladies think it pleasant. Is to be had only at Mr. Radford’s toyshop, at the Rose and Crown against St. Clement’s Church Yard in the Strand, near Arundel Street End, at 3s. 6d. a bottle with directions. Beware of counterfeits under other names. [Mist’s Weekly Journal]

ADVERTISEMENT 1 January 1726
The water that was sold at the millener’s, between the Castle-Tavern and the Earl’s-Court, in Drury-Lane, is now sold up one pair of stairs at the joyner’s, next door to the Black-Bull’s-Head, in Princes-Street, near Drury-Lane, and no where else: Is sold the water that cures all cold sores, tho’ of 30 years continuance, and takes away all mortified or proud flesh, cleans the bone, preserves the sinews, and makes a perfect and sound cure, without any trouble, only this water applied. Within these 8 years, it has cured a vast number of the King’s and Joint Evil [scrofula], fistula’s, green sores, strains, and outward bruises, but is not to be taken inwardly. One that had his lip quite eat off, and another part of her nose eat off, was by this water cured, and brought again to their right form, that was given over by more than 20 surgeons, and of more than 20 years continuance. This water dissolves kernels, and all swellings; and if the limbs be dead and useless, penetrates and removes the cause, and brings them again to their natural direction; it cures sore eyes of all kinds, when given over by occulists. A miraculous cure was done upon the eye and both the hands of a youth, he had been under the cure of, and given over by Sir Hans Sloan, Physician to his sacred Majesty, and several others of the most learned. A gentlewoman’s two Breasts, that were eating off with an evilish and sourbutick humour [i.e. scorbutic, symptom of scurvy], was cured by it. It takes out heats and carbuncles. It is sold from 5s. to 1s. the bottle. Any person may be directed by the author to them that have been cured by it for satisfaction. If any thing is offer’d at the millener’s between the Castle-Tavern and Earl’s-Court, in Drury-Lane, where I did lodge, under pretence of this water, it is counterfeited. A person of distinctionn lately cured by this water and the directions of the Author, of a violent leprosy. A patient afflicted with the most offensive sores, after being drest with this water, may appear in the King’s presence without being discover’d. [Weekly Journal, or The British Gazetteer]

ADVERTISEMENT 4 June 1726
The Famous BRITISH OIL, For curing the following distempers, viz. ulcers of the lungs, of shortness of breath, phthisick, coughs, pains in the stomach, scurvey, cholick and worms, in young or old, by taking 30 or 40 drops in sugar, or warm ale: It also cures by bathing well before the fire, all contractions of the nerves, bruises, strains, green wounds, scalds or burns, and has surprizingly cured many who have been lame of the rheumatism; and also knits broken bones. Price one shilling each bottle. They are wrapt up in printed directions for its use, where are also many instances of its wonderful cures. Sold wholesale or retail by Mr. Bagnall in the Long-Walk, near the Blue-Coat Hospital; and retail at Mrs. Garaway’s at the south-entrance, and Mrs. Raw’s at the north-entrance of the Royal Exchange; at Mrs Browne’s at the Corn-Chandlers in the Butcher-Row, Ratcliff-Cross; at Mr. Sprags’s a broker, at the upper-end of East-Smithfield; at Mr. Dowry’s at the Blue-Ball in Red-cross-Street; at Mr. Jackson’s a bookseller in Pall-Mall, near St. James’s; and at Mr. Dandoe’s in King-street, near Westminster-Abbey. [Weekly Journal, or The British Gazetteer]

(Texts have been modernized with regard to capitalization, italicization, and punctuation, but original spelling has been retained. This edition copyright Rictor Norton. All rights reserved. Reproduction for sale or profit prohibited. These extracts may not be archived, republished or redistributed without the permission of the compiler.)

CITATION: Rictor Norton, Early Eighteenth-Century Newspaper Reports: A Sourcebook, "Panaceas", 18 November 2001, updated 30 November 2001 <http://grubstreet.rictornorton.co.uk/panaceas.htm>

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