Read a discussion
of the letter testimonials, and their
authenticity, of the Pinkham company (in a
discussion of a Pursettes ad with a letter
testimonial)
Historical remedies
for menstrual period pain and problems. See
more remedies here.
A discussion of
the letter testimonials, and their
authenticity, of the Pinkham company (in a
discussion of a Pursettes ad with a letter
testimonial)
See two letters to MUM about the ingredients of her
Compound, and one about the lyrics of
an English
pop song, Lily
the Pink, about her.
Other amazing women:
Nelli Bly, Dr.
Marie Stopes, Dr.
Grace Feder Thompson
|
The Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Co., maker
of medicine for headaches,
stomach illness, insomnia, depression,
cancer, tumors, women's diseases,
flatulence, menstruation, fertility, etc.:
A "Mrs. Pinkham"
writes to a woman with menstruation and
odor problems
and advises against removal of her
ovaries: a handwritten letter
Mrs. Lydia Pinkham died in the
late 19th century, but her
company, which made the famous
Vegetable Compound, kept on into
the 20th century advising women by
mail and booklet - and by letter
to women who wrote in with "female
complaints." The 20th-century Mrs.
Pinkham who "wrote" the letters
was one of a staff of women
authorized to do so by another
Mrs. Pinkham in the family. When
exposed by an American magazine,
the company confessed to using the
founder's name, although she was
indeed a Mrs. Pinkham. Read more
about the letter
testimonials, and their
authenticity.
A MUM site visitor kindly sent
scans of the letter sent to the
grandmother of her former husband
by "Mrs. Pinkham" in 1910 - below
you see the first and last pages,
the middle page being omitted. In
an often clear handwriting -
typewriters existed then but I
suspect handwritten letters were
more personal - the writer urges
the use of her company's products
- what did you expect? You can
read similar letters and advice in
her books and pamphlets in the
links at left.
I've transcribed the text as
best I could (read it below the
pictures). Unfortunately two pages
overlapped at the bottom, covering
part of the text. But you will get
the gist of the text. Although I
omitted showing the middle page, I
transcribed as much of it as I
could decipher.
|
|
|
|
|
Transcription of
letter:
Dec 12 - 1910
Mrs Rogers
Dear Friend
I never advise an
operation for removal of
the ovaries except as a
last resort after all
known remedies have
failed.
Painful menstruation
is usually caused by
congestion of the mouth
[of the womb] and
leucorrhea is due to
inflammation of the neck
of the womb, vagina or
both. These conditions
and ovarian trouble
prevent conception.
My Vegetable Compound
is excellent for womb
and ovarian trouble[,]
relieves painful
menstruation[,]
strengthens the nerves
and whole system and in
connection with my
Santative Wash [a douche
powder] cures
leucorrhea. My Blood
Purifier will cleanse
and build up the blood.
[unreadable]
for womb and ovarian
troubles
[unreadable]
making five [?] doses
of each a day. Bowels
must move daily, if
sluggish take my Liver
Pills. If they are hard
to move it may require
with the Pills
injections of warm soapy
water. Keep skin active
by frequent baths. Do
not over work.
Take sitz baths two or
three times a week. To
help relieve trouble use
Andersons Vaginal
Capsules size two.
Prepare one as per
enclosed slip.
Medicate it with with
glycerine and Dr
Andersons Prescription
(which is a powder) and
insert it into the
vagina. Let it remain
twenty four hours with
an injection of one
teaspoon Paxtine [?] to
each quart of hot water
first before using my
Sanative Wash as
directed on [the?]
package.
After injection insert
another Capsule as
before. Use hot foot
baths and hot
applications to abdomen
at time of menses.
Spray throat night and
morning [with?] warm
water and a little
Paxtine [?]
Bathe hands and feet
with equal parts alcohol
and warm water and rinse
with a [? ] to restore
the circulation.
Your trouble destroys
sexual [fervor?] and
desire.
The leucorrheal
discharge and disease
condition of mouth
causes offensive odor of
menses.
Yours for health
Mrs. Pinkham
[?]
|
|
NEXT:
SEE a
typed Pinkham letter
to a Canadian (1918) - See
more Mrs. Pinkham, below
(and see her first
page)
The
Schlesinger Library,
of the Radcliffe
Institute for Advanced
Study, part of Harvard
University, has
probably the largest
collection of material
about the Pinkham
enterprise, the records
of the Lydia E. Pinkham
Medicine Company.
Part of the donation
of SarahAnne Hazelwood
to this museum, much of
it patent medicine and
old medical equipment,
was a very interesting
biography and study of
Mrs. Pinkham's business,
Female
Complaints: Lydia
Pinkham and the
Business of Women's
Medicine, by
Sarah Stage.
See two letters to MUM
about the ingredients
of
her Compound, and
one about the lyrics of
an English
pop
song, Lily
the Pink, about
her.
Other amazing
women: Nelli Bly,
Dr. Marie Stopes,
Dr. Grace Feder Thompson
See also the patent
medicine Cardui,
Dr. Grace Feder Thompson's
letter
appealing for patients,
Dr.
Pierce's
medicines, and Orange
Blossom medicine.
©
2003 Harry Finley. It
is illegal to
reproduce or
distribute work on
this Web site in any
manner or medium
without written
permission of the
author. Please report
suspected violations
to hfinley@mum.org
|
|
|