they will sell "Catherine Deimer's Ointment," and "Deimer's Pills for the Gravel and Pain in the Back"; and that they will take persons into their homes for treatment.1 They continued to advertise until 1771. Apparently "scald head" was a familiar demon in colonial times, for in the year that Catherine Deimer made her first appearance Hannah Pearson, of Philadelphia, concluded an advertisement regarding real estate thus: 2 "N.B. The said Hannah Pearson can cure a scal'd head." Certain preoccupations of the fair sex seem to have been very much the same in early days, even in the staid Quaker City, as they are now, if the following may be taken as evidence: 3 To be sold by Nurse Tucker, living next Door Below the Sign of Lord Loudon, in Front Street, an extraordinary Ointment for Clearing the Skin, taking off Freckles, and all kinds of Roughness, is good to soften the skin, and many other Things beside, too tedious to mention; also a Tooth Powder for whitening the Teeth, and Preserving them from the Scurvy; likewise silk Pomatum. Any Person by applying to the said Tucker the first Time they have the Toothache, shall be perfectly cured. It may be, however, that this was too frivolous for 1 Pennsylvania Gazette, July 1, 1762. 2 Ibid., March 5, 1751. 8 Ibid., May 27, 1762. her patrons, for in 1765, when announcing a change of address, she called attention to the following articles, viz: A choice ointment for curing the Piles, Rheumatism, strains, all kinds of Pains, Ring-worm, Moths, Carbuncles, Sun-burning, Freckles, and chopping of the Skin; and Women that are likely to have sore Breasts, if they apply in Time, it will certainly be of great Service to them. Likewise a Powder for curing the Toothache, and keeping the Scurvy from the Gums. And Pills for cleansing the Blood, and a gentle Purge. Any Persons that have old Sores to cure, may apply to the said, ANN TUCKER 1 This sounds serious enough to satisfy any one. The ladies of New York also had an opportunity to indulge their vanity. As early as 1736 we read: 2 To be Sold at Mrs. Edwards, next door to Mr. Jamison, opposite the Fort Garden, an admirable Beautifying Wash, for Hands, Face, and Neck, it makes the Skin soft, smooth and plump, it likewise takes away Redness, Freckles, Sun-burnings, or Pimples, and cures Postules, Itchings, Ring-Worms, Tetters, Scurf, Morphew, and other like Deformities of the Face and Skin, (Intirely free from any Corroding Qualities) and brings to an exquisite Beauty, with Lip Salve, and Tooth Powder, all sold very Cheap. If the poor women of New York suffered from 1 Pennsylvania Gazette, February 21, 1765. ? New York Journal, March 29, 1736. these and "other like Deformities," one must hope that they patronized Mrs. Edwards generously. Other annoying afflictions besides the scald head apparently moved in better society in the days of our forefathers, than among their squeamish descendants. The "Boston Evening Post" for March 28, 1748, contains this interesting announcement: Hannah Chapman makes and sells a Smell in Mixture, that will cure the Itch or any other breaking out, by the Smell of it. Enquire for me at the Sign of the Stayes at the Head of Seven-Star Lane. Cupid works under strange circumstances, and perhaps he touched the heart of a grateful patient, for the Boston marriage records give the marriage of Hannah Chapman and Matthew Kitchin on June 26, 1751.1 Cupid, however, did not interfere with Hygeia, as on February 28, 1758, we read: Hannah Kitchin makes and sells a smelling Nectar that will cure the Itch, or any other breaking out only by the Smell. Apparently there was competition for the post of most successful healer of the itch, and one wonders if Mrs. Kitchin was among those slightingly referred to in the following: 2 1 Boston Marriages, 1700-05, p. 297. |