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
 
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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.
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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
[?]
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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
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