Judge, 1886-11-20 · page 14 of 16
Judge — November 20, 1886 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **patent medicine advertising**, not political satire. It promotes Dr. Pierce's "Favorite Prescription," a heavily marketed remedy marketed toward women in the late 19th/early 20th century. The satirical element appears in the bottom article, "TREATING THE WRONG DISEASE," which critiques (likely sincerely rather than satirically) how family physicians misdiagnose women's complaints—attributing separate symptoms (dyspepsia, palpitation, backache, nervousness) to distinct diseases when they're actually caused by "uterine disorder." The page features numerous testimonials from women describing dramatic recoveries from "organic weakness" after using the product. While modern readers would recognize this as dubious medical claims, the page presents these as genuine endorsements proving the prescription's efficacy. The masthead "A BOON FOR WOMEN" promises relief for female ailments through a proprietary medicine—a common and largely unregulated practice of the era. No political figures or specific satire is evident here.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Organte Disease.— Bese BE. Goopwix, Springfield, Mc., writes: “After being wick and confined to my bed for three years, I consider myself tn duty bound to you and suffering bumanity, to acknowl edge the benefita re- retved from Dr.Plerce’s javorite Prescription.” [was bedridden and troubled terribly organic disease, the use of this Thave tm: proved most wonder. fully since I com menced taking It.” Oars, of Shumeay, Ill., writes: “When I had A WOMAN'S | used Dr. Pierce's ‘ Favorite Prescription’ one week, Icould walk all over the door-yard, and I could get into a wagon GRATITUDE. | and ride two miles to see my neighbors. I had not been able to walk out in the door-yard for six months. After using the ‘ Favorite Prescription’ two weeks, in a wagon ten miles; my neighbors were all surprised to see me up and going about and helping todo my housework, after doctoring with thirteen of the best physicians we could get—and the last one told my husband that I never would be able to do my housework any more. [am thankful to my God that I wrote to you, for I had suffered from ‘ Organic Weakness’ until Thad almost given up in despair.” Mrs. F. E. WiLcox, Friendship, N. Y., writes: ‘For five TERRIBLE J or six years I had been badly troubled ‘with organic weak- ness and terrible pains across the small of my back and it of the stomach. _ Three bottles of Dr. Pierce's ‘ Favorite ription’ acted like a charm, and cured me completely, to my great joy.” Weakness, Mra. F D, Powens, Valley. Cla- rion Co., Ta, wetter “Twas a'greai sufferer from weakbeas, belag unable to walk’ across the floor. "T'used two bottles of your" ite. Prescription, iteured me of all my trouble, restortn, to perfect beaith fice without rellef, finally used your “Fav. orite Prescription,“ and cannot find words to express my Tam now perfectly free from all pain. and t feel owe you a debt ritade whlch I ‘an repay C. Davis, Galien, Michigan, writes: “1 MARVELOUS letter, to express my gratitude for Mrs. Davis and myself for the great good which has been accom- BENEFITS. | piis in her case by the use of your proprietary medicines. When she began to take them, in January last, she could not endure the least jar, could walk but a very few steps at a time, and could stay up only about thirty minutes at a time. Now she not only sits up almost the entire day, but can walk around, call on her neighbors, two or three blocks away, and not feel any injurious effects at all. When we consider that she had kept her bed the BED-FAST eater part of the time for fourteen months, and would lose repeatedly the advance she had made, her progress now FOR MONTHS.] scems marvelous. We had almost lost confidence in medical practitioners, and advertised remedies, but have found in your Dr, Pierce's ‘ Favorite Prescription ’ and * Pellets’ the prop- erties needed, and which we believe will bring about a complete and final recovery.” TREATING THE WRONG DISEASE. Many times women call upon their family phy ians, one with dyspepsia, another with palpitation, another with backache, or nervousness, another with pain here and there, and in this way they all present alike to themselves and their easy-going and indifferent doctor, separate and distinct diseases, for which he p cribes his pills and potions, not understanding that in reality, they are all symptoms caused by some uterine disorder, While the phy sician is ignorant of the cause of suffering, he encourages his practice until large bills are made, when the suffering patient is no better, but probably worse for the dela; treatment and other complications made. A proper medicine directed to the cause would perhaps have entirely removed the disease, thereby instituting comfort instead of prolonged misery. “Organic Weakness” Cured.—Mrs. Saran A. DOCTORS | Loveny, Greenfield, Adair Co., Iowa, writes: R. V. Pierce, FAIL, | M.D. Dear Sim—“Taving been ill a number of years, and having tried in vain almost every advertised remedy, as well as having paid nearly a hundred dollars to our local physicians, without benefit, Iwas finally induced to consult you. You | auvised me to send for your medicines. I accordingly sent for your al Adviser.” six bottles of your “Golden Medical Discovers,” six of avorite Prescription,” and six vials of your ‘Pleasant Purgative When I first began using these I could not stand on my feet. In ninety days I could walk a mile, and do light housework; and in six months I was completely cured, and my health has remained perfect ever | I recommend you and your medicines wherever I go, and loan | your * Adviser’ to my friends, “Two of our most prominent physicians | who haye read your great work. +The People’s Common Sense Medical | Adviser,’ pronounce it the best family doctor book they have ever seen. Organic Weakness Cured.—Mrs. W. H. Patwer, Luther, Mich., writes: ‘I have taken one bottle of ‘Golden’ Medical Discovery’ and two bottles of * Favorite Perscription,” the medicines you recommended to me. They have perfectly cured me of flatulency and belching, and the most te rible sick headaches. Everybody tells me how much better I look. My sickness was of six years’ standing. For the past year I had failed very rapidly, until L weighed but ninety pounds. My health is most wonder- | fully improved since the use of your medicines. I am now able to walk to church. You have done for me what two doctors had faithfully tried to do for the past year, but failed, although they treated me earnestly and patiently for the same failure in health.” Mrs, CAROLINE BYERS, corner Duke and Argyle Streets, A THOUSAND | Hatifax, N. S., writes: “Dn. R. V. Prerce, I thank God, | THANKS, [284 thank you'a thousand times, for the relief, that, your - | valuable niedicines, the ‘Favorite Prescription’ and‘ Pel- lets have given me. I am perfectly cured of a chronic sickness that had troubled’ me for years, How my heart is overflowed with joy and gratitude towards you, my tongue can never express.” | Neuralgia,—Mrs, Vior.a Loxa, Johnstown, Pa., writes: * Your ‘Golden | Medical Discovery’ and ‘Favorite Prescription’ have cured me of a most | troublesome and long-standing neuralgia, for which our family physician | treated me in vain for some time. Immediately on commencing your medicine I could sleep well, which was a thing I had not done for months. | Thave since felt like a new person, and am desirous that others should know of the great merits of your remedies.” r Mas. V. H. Petersox, of Lockport, N. Y., had suffered ALL BUN } for three years from “organic weakness,” was greatly Down.” jated and * allrun down,” as she expressed it, and Dr. ." | Pierce's “ Favorite Prescription” and“ Golden’ Medical Discovery ” promptly cured her, as they have thousands of similar cases. 7 Mrs. E. F. Monaax, of Neweastle, Lincoln Co., Maine, D0 says: “ Five years agoI wasa dreadful sufferer from uteri troubles. Having exhausted the skill of three physicians I LIKEWISE.” } was greatly discouraged, and so weak Icould with difficulty cross the room alone. I began taking Dr. Pierce's “ Favorite Prescription * and using the local treatment recommended in his ‘ Common Sense Medical Adviser,’ I commenced to improve at once. In three months I was perfectly cured, and have had no trouble since, I wrote a letter to my family’ paper, briefly meitioning how my health had been restored, and offering to send the full particulars to anyone writing me for them, and inclosing a stamped envelope for reply. 1 have received over four hundred letters. In_reply, I have described my case and the treatment used, and have earnestly advised them to ‘do likewise.’ From a great many I have received second letters of thanks, stating that they had commenced the use of * Favorite Prescription,’ had sent the $1.50 required for the ‘ Medical Adviser,’ and had applied the local treatment go fully and plainly laid down therein, and were inuch better already.” Profuse Hemorrhages.—Mary Jaye Sus, Jamestown, Ar “T have been taking your * Favorite Prescription,’ and I have received more benefit from its use than from any physician I have tried in seven years. When I first used it, I was not able to be out of bed, from profuse hemor- rhages; in three days after [commenced to improve, and have continued since, until T am now in better health than I have been in years. DOCTORS’ MISTAKE. | worse during all this time, when, chancing to see a copy of Dr. Pierce's Medical Adviser at the residence of a frien I read that part devoted to * Woman and her Diseases.’ T soon becan convinced that my disease was a uterine affection, which, as you si caused sympathetic backache, inward fever, nevousness and general debil- ity. Tcommenced the use of Dr. Pierce's ‘Favorite Presoription’ and ‘Golden Medical Discovery,’ applying. also the local treatment which he recommends in the Adriser, and in three months I was well and strong. Mrs, Hesry Pattersox, of New York City, writes: ‘1 had been under an eminent physician's care for eight months for what he called ‘spinal disease.’ I became OVER-WoOoRKED WOMEN. For “worn-out,” “rundown,” debilitated school teachers, milliners, dress makers, general housekeepers, and over. worked women generally, Dr. Pierce's Favorite Preset restorative ‘ription 4s the best of all Dr, Vierce's Favorite Prescription Is not a Cureall." bat admirably fuldtsoae great, purpose, being a most potent Specific for all those Chronfe Weaknesses | ” | and Discasra preuliarto womn.. Itisa powerful, general as weil as Uterine, tools and Rervioe: ant mr vizbe am strength to the st i OT A“ GURE-ALL, TE prom fy cages baaare and weakness of samach, todizestion, Mating, ructatious of gaa Béevous fret rat picastiran In elther sek. serie “EVERY INVALID LAD WORLD’S DISPENSARY MEDICAL ‘bloating. eructations of gaa nervous} ‘epossnras. In elther sex." Pavorite Pre For conditions, sce wrappers around «rice Reduced to @1.00 per Bottle, or Six should send for “ The People’s Common Sense Medical Adviser." in which over fi 0 devotd tn the consideration of diseases ) liar to women. Iliustrated with numerous wood cats and colored plates. “it will be sents post plas to any addres for A large pamphlet, treatise on Diseases ot Womea, protusely tilastrated with colored plates and numerous wood-cuta, will bs sent for fe ent. posi paid, to any addresa for 1-50, aceats to postage stamps, address. nel ASSOCIATION, No. 663 Main Street, BUFFALO, N, Y.