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Carleton County Historical Society

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cchs@nb.aibn.com

Carleton County Historical Society

  • About Us
    • Mission Statement
    • Board of Directors
    • Membership
    • Support our Organization
    • Volunteering
    • Hours of Operation
    • Admission
    • Contact CCHS
  • Connell House
    • Connell House Teas
    • Permanent Exhibits
      • Tappan Adney Gallery
      • Military Gallery
      • Music Gallery
    • Temporary Exhibits
    • Connell House Rentals
    • Restoration
      • Architectural Anthaeology
      • West Wing
  • Old Court House
    • Carleton County Court House Rental
    • Restoration
  • Facility Rentals
    • Connell House Rentals
    • Carleton County Court House Rental
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Book Shop
    • Books
  • Research Data
    • Carleton County Historical Society
    • Archives
    • Connell Stamps
    • Artifacts
    • Research Papers
    • Carleton County
    • Provincial Archives
    • Genealogy
    • Woodstock

Quack Medicine

Home Quack Medicine

QUACK MEDICINE

The Oxford dictionary defines a quack as an “ignorant pretender to a skill, especially in medicine, or one who offers wonderful remedies or devices, charlatans.” This definition implies that the quack’s offerings were fraudulent, which, in the case of many philtres and nostrums, they surely were. The pills and potions peddled by quacks were simple blends of common ingredients, a few of which were poisonous, although most caused no harm other than to the purse of the buyer. Perhaps the greatest appeal of the tonics and elixirs often was due to their alcoholic content, in some, nearly 80-proof.

The bottles and boxes that originally contained such “medicines” deserve preservation, and their labels and advertisements are worthy of study as a window into that aspect of earlier society that was probably no more credulous than ours of today.

Developments in the fields of magnetism and electricity inspired the invention of a variety of devices touted as capable of curing a wide variety of ailments. Many of these were devised by people of education and attainment, who honestly believed in the efficacy of their machines. Some were actually beneficial in a few areas, but none were capable of meeting all the claims of their developers.

The Society’s artifact collection contains only two examples of these devices, at present. Click the thumbnail images at left for additional images and details (full screen display is necessary for proper viewing). Donations to augment this area of the artifact collection would be greatly appreciated.

Branston Junior

A “Branston Junior,” one of the several models of Violet Ray devices from Charles A. Branston, Limited, Toronto, Ontario.

Branston Junior
OVERBECK REJUVENATOR

The “Overbeck Rejuvenator,” an electric shock device designed and sold by Dr. Otto Overbeck, Chantry House, Grimsby, England.

Overbeck Rejuvenator

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