Life — May 1, 1919 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Beeman's Pepsin Chewing Gum Advertisement This is a vintage advertisement, not satire. It promotes Beeman's Original Pepsin Chewing Gum as a digestive aid. The ad features a testimonial from someone named "Beeman" (shown in the portrait) claiming that chewing the gum for ten minutes after meals relieves indigestion, sleeplessness, and nervousness. The pitch reflects early 20th-century medical thinking that attributed modern ailments like nervousness to poor digestion caused by rushed eating and inadequate chewing. The gum, containing pepsin (a digestive enzyme), was marketed as a convenient solution for busy professionals. The American Chicle Company produced this gum, with offices listed in major U.S. cities.