Life — May 15, 1919 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Advertisement Analysis This is a vintage advertisement for Rexall Orderlies, a laxative product sold at Rexall drugstores. The repeated slogan "They work naturally and form no habit" appears three times in descending text boxes, with an image of the product box and individual pills displayed. The advertisement's emphasis on "form no habit" reflects early 20th-century concerns about dependency on patent medicines and laxatives—a legitimate public health worry of the era. By repeatedly stressing the non-habit-forming nature, the ad attempts to reassure consumers that this product was safe for regular use, distinguishing it from other remedies that might cause dependency. The price "10¢" at the bottom indicates affordability for mass-market appeal.