|
CLICK PICTURES FOR MORE DETAIL
Vintage Chi-Chester Abortion Inducing Pills Drug Store Tin
For your consideration:
Rare and very attractive, ca 1906, lithograph patent medicine tin. This is an
herbal medicine advertising tin which once contained "che-ches-ters pills" -
A pill containing pennyroyal and tansy root - a late 19th and early 20th century
Herbal remedy advertised as a "relief for ladies" but used as an emmenagogue
(menstrual flow stimulant) in order to induce abortion.
There is a large size tin which was used as a store display, and in it held 12 smaller tins,
which is what I have for sale, one of the smaller tins.
The small tins were originally sealed with a blue ribbon which is why there is a
"catch" located at the bottom of the tins in order to secure this blue ribbon.
On the front and back panels and on the lid of the large display tin were illustrations of
beautiful Victorian women along with ornate decorations and elaborate text. Most of the text
implores the buyer to beware of "imitators" and nowhere are we told what is in the pills are or
what exactly they were to be used for.
Chi-ches-ters pills were manufactured by the Chichester Chemical Co of Philadelphia beginning
in the 1880's. This same design tin was used from at least 1888 to 1906 with only slight variations
in the printed text that were made necessary by government regulations.
In the 1880's Chichesters first pills were called "chi-ches-ters pennyroyal pills". These pills
contained the ingredients like tansy root, pennyroyal, apiol, cotton root, and ergotin, all of
which were supposed to treat "female problems" but in actuality were taken as the first Victorian era
"Morning After Abortion Pill.
These herbs are highly toxic and act as an emmenagogue (menstrual flow stimulant) in order to
induce abortion. However, in some cases, they did their job but at lethal or near-lethal doses,
making this pill (and dose) unpredictable and dangerous. Some deaths were blamed on Chi-ches-ters
pills, and more recent deaths were said to be caused by people using a combination of these herbs.
This tin a vintage Diamond Brand Abortion Inducing pill tin distributed by Chi-Chester.
This tin is in very good shape for it's age.
This advertising tin, measuring 2 and 7/8 inches x 1 and 5/8 inches x 1 inch tall once
held chi-ches-ters diamond brand pills; though no where does it say what these pills are
supposed to cure! The tin reads "caution beware of counterfeits."
There are attractive graphics on the inside of the snug fitting hinged top as well as on
the outside for the tin.
Condition is very good considering its age.
All bottles are sold only for collector purposes
and contents must not be used in any way. This item is being sold as a collectible only and
not for use of the contents.
Order by ITEM# Vintage-548
THIS ITEM IS SOLD
|
Copyright © MadameTalbot.com/BDP. All rights reserved.
|
