When dismantling an antique mirror prior to restoration, I found some pages from
one of Lydia Pinkham's publications being used as backing material. There was
no date, but it appears to be late 19th century.
Lydia Pinkham was, in her day, probably as famous as Steve
Jobs. Her "vegetable compound" patent medicine was sold to help with
"female troubles", that long-ago term for things that were not to be
discussed around the men-folk. This seemed to be a pretty much all-encompassing
category of issues. What efficacy it had is questionable, but the 20% alcohol
content may have been part of the reason for its success.
Apparently there is still a product being sold under this
brand name, but it appears to be blended and marketed as an iron supplement.
You can learn more about her here.
The factory was located in Lynn, Massachusetts, and is now
home to artist studios and small businesses.
My dad found one of her bottles on a fishing trip.
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