QUACKS AND ABORTION:

QUACKS AND ABORTION: A CRITICAL AND ANALYTICAL INQUIRY. his

own

rigid attention to cleanliness and technique

gave him

excellent results. In private life Lawson Tait shc,wed himself to be a man of the widest interests and the most varied knowledge. He was a student of archæology, an enthusiastic lover and patron of the drama, and an insatiable collector of objets d’art of all sorts, especially Japanese. In his nutnerous contributions to the medical and lay press, and in his many addresses to literary, scientific, and philosophical institutions he always showed complete familiarity with the best English models and his style of speech and writing, though devoid of all attempts at embellishment, was excellent in its clear, racy unpretentiousness. Mr. Lawson Tait married in 1870 Sybil Annie, daughter of Mr. William Stewart, a solicitor of Wakefield, who survives him and with whom widespread sympathy will be felt in the loss which she has sustained. His death occurred at Llandudno where he had resided of recent years. The body was cremated at Liverpool and the ashes are by his testamentary desire to be deposited in Gogarth’s cave, an ancient burial cave in the grounds of his Welsh home. ’

QUACKS AND ABORTION: A CRITICAL AND ANALYTICAL INQUIRY.

x.1 IN our fourth article upon this topic we printed an advertisement of a quack medicine vendor trading under the name of Madame Frain and described how our first letter to this person, enclosing a postal order, had not obtained for us the "remedy " advertised and how although we wrote a second time we did not receive the "remedy," nor did we manage to secure the return of our postal order. A glance at the article referred to will remind those who take an interest in this inquiry of the nature of Madame Frain’s socalled testimonials and we are now able to append an analysis of her remedy" which a second postal order and possibly a more discreetly veiled letter has obtained for us. We may state that none of our letters contained a direct allegation of pregnancy and the subjoined extract from the evidence given at a recent inquest3 will show the practice alleged to be in force at Madame Frain’s establishments by those who serve there. Annie Cross, single, said: "I am a manageress at Madame Frain’s

1739

Reactions were obtained with the alcoholic extract of the substance of these pills which were strongly suggestive of jalap. On distillation a very marked smell of myrrh was evolved. No appreciable quantity of pennyroyal could be detected. The pills were coated with a pink aniline dye. Testing for aloes gave negative results. The pills were accompanied by a leaflet advertising a Injecting Powder" which it stated "relaxes the os uteri (entrance to the womb) thereby greatly facilitating the action of our remedies." This powder consisted of sulphate of zinc coloured with a pink clye. How such pills and powders can be considered " indispensable to ladies" we do not attempt to guess, but it is easy to see that vaginal injections and purgatives combined might produce abortion.

"Vaginal

We have now dealt with nearly all the most prominent advertisers of abortifacients and " remediesobviously liable to be bought as such. The result of our articles and of the prominence given to the case of the brothers Chrimes has been that nearly all respectable papers have ceased to insert this class of advertisement, and particularly the advertisements of the persons whom we named, whose pamphlets we discussed, and whose concoctions we analysed. There remain, however, two or three advertisers who have become more prominent owing to the disappearor partial anca disappearance of some of their rivals. We now desire to call attention to the names of these persons and believe that we have only to do this to ensure their advertisements being refused generally as are those of "Dr." Davis, Madame Wood, Allen, and other

quacks. M The first of these firms trades under the name of Dasmail and has, we believe, done so at the same place, Walthamstow, for many years. No doubt inquiry at the local post-office,. should anyone in authority think it worth while to make it, would show the extent of the trade done by a vendor of this class of goods. The advertisement of Dasmail is frequently in the following suggestive terms ; sometimes it is considerably modified, from which we may conclude that there are newspaper proprietors who while willing to be remunerated for advertising a "never failing remedy for obstructions" nevertheless draw a line somewhere. The subjoined specimen is from the Ilfracombe Gazette of April 8th:

LADIES! T ADIES REQUIRING ASSISTANCE and RELIEF in FEMALE

AILMENTS, IRREGULARITIES, SUPPREScan obtain the Most valuable informaare overcome, no matter how Obstinate or difficulties tion whereby six or establishment. I remember the name of Christmas. Some Long-Standing. THIS EXTRAORDINARY MEDICINE has met with eight weeks ago such a person came. She asked for a bottle of immense success in THOUSANDS OF CASES after all others have that she was to on her courses. I asked her to remedy bring signa paper failed. Read these extracts from Testimonials :— She and I did not sell her I did not take declined not pregnant. any. MEXBORO’. 15s. from her. The bottle produced is like one of ours. I don’t know I Dear Madam,-Kindly send me a bottle of your medicine and pills. the date when I refused to serve Mrs. Christmas. There is another on one occasion they put me right with The question of sale or refusal I have tried them before ; woman in our service who is not here. to sell to a woman depends uoon the woman’s statement as to whether Fottr Doses afte-/’ Sixteen Weeks, and another time One Dose did me Good.—Mrs. L. T. she is or is not pregnant. The medicine or pills are sold separately. SHELTON. The medicine at 4s. 6d. and higher prices according to size and the pills Dear Madam,-Will you please send by return one bottle of Medicine 4s. 6d. a box. There are no other women who serve in the shop or very and Pills. Your mixture cured me after Three Months last rarely. I did not offer any stronger medicine at a higher price to the Hoping this will prove effectual, this being No less than Twelvespring. Times deeeased." you will have Cttred me.-Mrs. G. CHESTEB-LE-STHEET. CHESTER-LE-STREET. This evidence was corroborated at the same inquiry and Dear Madam.—I am pleased to say your medicine has proved effectual we note that a further statement was made that Madame Last time the suppression was of Five Months and this time Frain, whoever she may be, is not now interested in the again. Three Months.-Yours truly, Mrs. W. business to which she lends her name. She, or those who The above, and Thousands of similar Testimonials, guaranteed conduct it for her, may or may not expect women who Genuine Under a Penalty of £1000. Abandon not ; here you will find a Genuine SPECIALITY and purchase across the counter to sign the form referred to and CURE. Failurehopeimpossible. Send stamped addressed envelope for deny pregnancy, we can only say that our representative particulars. A. DASMAIL, Box 269, Langdale House, Walthamstow, purchasing through the post was not asked to make any London. such statement and made

none.

L4

Analysis

of Madame FRAIN’S PILLS.

Moisture, 11’50 per cent. Mineral matter. 30’00, per cent. Organic extractives, 58-50 per cent.

SIONS, and OBSTRUCTIONS

The pamphlets accompanying the remedy are of the nature usually found with these goods. Mr. Dasmail appears to have dubbed it " Xanthosia," no doubt from the saffron revealed in its analysis, and he lays particular stress on Xanthosia and Electric Pills as a remedy specially prepared for obstinate cases but perfectly harmless, the value of which " to Ladies is above all price, a real gem of the first water." He prints several testimonials and dwells upon the fact that he holds the original documents, while he vaunts the magnitude of his business, which last circumstance we are far from questioning. It must be considerably greater than the prevalence of menstrual irregularities not connected with pregnancy would account for, in order to pay for half his

1 Articles I., II., III., IV., V., VI., VII., VIII., and IX., were published in THE LANCET of Dec. 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st, 1893, and Jan. 21st, Feb. 4th, March 11th and 25th, and April 1st, 1899. 2 THE LANCET, Dec. 31st, 1898. 3 THE LANCET. March 25th, 1899. 4 We place a letter of the alphabet against each quack for purposes of advertisements. reference. See THE LANCET, Dec. 31st, 1898.

METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND.

1740

Analysis of

DASMAIL AND CO.’S FEMALE CORRECTIVE MIXTURE SPECIAL SS.

Specific gravity,

998.

Water, 95’79 per cent. Oil, 4-00 per cent. Organic extractives, 0’16 per cent. Mineral matter, 0’05 per cent. The fluid had a faintly alkaline reaction. The oil floating upon the top of the mixture was drawn off and its boiling point was ascertained to be 314° F., its specific gravity being 0’863. These factors are practically identical with those obtained with the oil of pinus pumilio and it possessed a fragrant smell indistinguishable from that of this oil. The

bright orange-colour of the fluid,

which was quite opalescent, found to be due to saffron. Saffron is described as anodyne, cordial, emmenagogue, and exhilarant, and is clearly a drug that cannot be taken with impunity by women suffering from the only common cause of menstrualobstrucwas

tions-pregnancy. N The advertisement of this person is of very rence. It usually runs as follows :-

frequent

occur-

WOMEN’S AILMBNTS.

IRREGULARITIES, every

&c.-A

Lady, having

tried in vain

advertised remedy, has at last discovered a Simple Cure, which will act in a few hours, no matter how stubborn the case. Bona-fide sufferers can get it Free of Charge by enclosing stamped ’ envelope. Don’t experiment with Worthless Pills, Mixtures, Cones, and other injurious nostrums.-Write at once, with full hope and confidence, to Mrs. 0. ST. CLAIR, 46, Southampton-buildings, Chancery-

lane, London. The medicine which

This advertisement is of vBery frequent occurrence ; indeed, the firm in question must among the largest advertisers of the class of goods which we have so often defined as being liable to be bought by pregnant women desirous of procuring abortion upon themselves. Jt will be observed that in addition to the statement that the pills "remove all obstructionsthere is the statement! that they contain pennyroyala drug not now used in medical practice, but once enjoying a wide and long-established reputation among the poorer classes as an abortifacient. Those who purchase Towle’s pills will find them accompanied by a paper extolling their merits for the cure of " sick headache, whites, eruptions and sallowness of the skin, depression of spirits, languor, lassitude, hysteria, and kindred complaints," while their power to correct"all irregularities " is again dwelt upon and they are styled in large capitals " Woman’s unfailing Friend." A second leaflet announces that Stronger Pills specially prepared for obstinate cases may be sent where required, secure and free from observation, to any part of the United Kingdom." We are not aware, however, of any reason why a woman afflicted with sick headache or any of the other complaints enumerated, none of which can fairly be said to bring disgrace, should be attracted by a suggestion of" secrecy, or why even ifher case may rank as "obstinate" she should be anxious to have her medicine sent " free from observation.""

be

Analysis of TOWLE’S PENNYROYAL Moisture, 6’20 per cent.

AND

STEEL PILLS.

Mineral matter, 57-58 per cent. Organic extractives, 36’22 per cent. On examining the mineral matter it proved to contain both iron and sulphates and had also a distinctly alkaline reaction. The pills were coated with a white substance like steatite. Very little indication was given of the presence of oleum pulegii (pennyroyal) but reactions were obtained

received from Mrs. St. Clair was accompanied by pamphlet to which we have already referred as putting beyond question the nature of the derangement which she professes to cure, for it offers for preventing irregularities"the ordinary indiarubber and other goods advertised for the prevention of concep- pointing to Barbary aloes. tion. We also note among Mrs. St. Clair’s testimonials one signed "Miss R." which commences thus: "It is with unspeakable joy I write to tell you thanks to your wonderful specific all came right Sunday after taking METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL SUNDAY six doses." The satisfaction of a patient for whom an FUND. emmenagogue has been "successfully prescribed does not as a rule take the form of unspeakable joy." THE following were among the principal amounts received Analysis of Mrs. ST. CLAIR’S MIXTURE. at the Mansion House during the past week in aid of this Specific gravity, 1005 Fund. The total now exceeds .635,000 :— cent. 99-60 Water, per 2 s. d. Organic extractives, 0-38 per cent. St. Michael, Chester-square, with additions ......... 1340 0 0 Mineral matter, 0’02. Christ Church, Lancaster-gate ............... 1375 0 6 200 2 1 St. Marylebone Parish Church ............... Nothing in particular could be detected in this mixture. The 108 7 7 Temple Church It is a simple herbal infusion. As will be seen the Christ 184 13 4 Church, Mayfair total extractive matters only amounted to 0’4 per cent., a St. Alban, Streatham-park 167 11 7 195 15 4 St. James, Piccadilly..................... great part of which was due, as analysis showed, to All 402 14 3 Saints, Ennismore-gardens ............... saccharine matters. On releasing the cork from the bottle 125 11 8 St. Stephen, Ealing ..................... it was evident that there was pressure inside and bubbles of St. Mary, Kilburn ..................... 141 1 9 102 5 0 gas ascended through the fluid. In short, it behaved like St. Anne, Soho ........................ 90 12 8 most herbal infusions and had commenced to ferment. St. Mark, North Audley-street ............... Immanuel Church, Streathain ............... 98 6 11 of the the there is no liquid According to appearance 91 0 1 Central Hill Congregational Church, Upper Norwood 85 2 3 necessity to "shake the bottle"as is enjoined on the label. St. Paul Presbyterian Church, Westbourne-grove ...... 96 3 4 The "mixture"was a brownish fluid possessing little Regent-square Presbyterian Church and School ...... 491 6 3 Paul, Onslow-square character in regard either to taste or smell and monstrously St. St. Paul, Wilton-place, and St. Mary, Graham-street 384 4 6 St. Stephen, South Dulwich 203 9 6 expensive at 6s. 6d. the bottle. St. John, Blackheath..................... 88 12 10 0 St. Thomas, Portman-square 81 13 II) 92 14 6 Some time ago we received from the editor of one of our St. Saviour, Upper Chelsea.................. 220 8 10 Trinity, Sydenham best provincial journals a letter complaining that we had Holy St. 101 10 6 .................. Highgate made a mistake in inserting the name of his paper in our St. Michael, 273 3 6 Mark, Hamilton-terrace This Dutch Church, Austin Friars 88 1 6 ............... list of those printing objectionable advertisements. 114 11 4Stephen, Gloucester-road gentleman added that he was in the habit of refusing all such St. St. Barnabas, Addison-road 120 7 5 advertisements and invited us to point out that of which we St. John’s Wood Presbyterian Church ......... 82 3 7 111 16 6; Paul, Avenue-road complained. Our answer was to send him the following St. 140 2 5 advertisement cut from his newspaper, and as we have St. Matthew, Bayswater 135 13 0 Blackheath Congregational Church not received further remonstrance from him, we con- St. Sophia (Greek Church), 81 4 2 Bayswater clude that its character is to some extent recognised even St. Paul, Wimbledon ..................... 82 0 0 90 9 1 Mary Aldermary, St. Thomas, St. Antholin, City... by those who do not advertise the more flagrant solicitations St. St. Andrew, Fulham.., ..’ ........, ...... 94 6 10 of Frain, Dasmail, and the like. 113 0 0 St. we

a

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’"

Peter, Brockley .....................

TOWLE’S

&PENNYROYAL STEEL

PPILLS I L L S

FOR FEMALES. IRR-EGUL-4,RITIT,-S, REMOVE

ALL OBSTRUCTIONS, QUICKLY CORRECT ALL and relieve the distressing symptoms so prevalent with the sex. Boxes, & times the three of 1/1 2/9 (contains quantity), lall Chemists. Sent anywhere on receipt of 15 or 34 stamps, by E. T. TOWLE & Co.,

Manufacturers, Dryden-street, Nottingham. l:e2vcre of imitations, inj urious and worthless.

Saints, North Peckham St. George. Hanover-square, and St. Mary ......... St. Paul, Beckenham........, .....’ ....., St. James, Ki(lbrook................., ’" Portman Chapel, Baker-street St. John Presbyterian Church, Kensington .........

All

...............

...............

172 10 0 158 0 1 108 0 0 96 7 5 93 0 8 94 0 0 96 6 10

Lyndhurst-road Congregational Church, Hampstead The records of other amounts have been reeeived and 1I:ill be published in ocr next issue. ...