A Balm of 1,000 Flowers
From the shelves—and the world—of Dr. Fontaine → A colorful collection of 90+ printed patent medicine labels and directions
One archive presents a focused look at 1840s patent medicine marketing practices in Boston in 19th-century America
In 1840s America, under the brand name “Dr. Fontaine’s”, Dr. A de Fontaine of Boston offered a wide variety of goods. He sold perfume, reviving bitters, oils, ointments, drops, syrups, elixirs, vegetable bilious powders, and the wonderful curative power of pure electricity. Dr. Fontaine could also help women who faced an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.
What We Are Talking About — Dr. Fontaine [Dr. A. de Fontaine (1798–?)] [Collection of 90+ Patent Medicine Labels and Printed Instructions for Various Remedies Sold by Dr. Fontaine of Boston]. [Likely Boston, c. 1846]. 90+ Items, i.e., labels + 11 direction slips or circulars.
This group of remedies, cures and cosmetics claimed to be all “Prepared by Dr. A. De Fontaine, Inventor, Manufacturer and Proprietor of the celebrated Balm of Thousand Flowers.
”From “Worm Powder” to “Delicately Perfumed Hair Oil,” Fontaine had the product for your commonplace needs and creature comforts. The “Elixir of Life,” as most of the doctor’s concoctions, had multiple uses: “For Feeble Constitutions, Seminal Weakness, Impotent or Debilitated Organs, Nervous Complaints, Derangement of the Alimentary Apparatus, Spinal Diseases, &c.”
The doctor pushed not one but three variations of a gold solution: “Medicated Electro Magnetized Solution of Gold, Concentrated Electro Magnetized Solution of Gold, and Elastic and Flexible Electro Galvanic Conductors.” The doctor explains their usage:
These solutions are to be used as a lotion, with his Electro Galvanic Conductors, or any other Galvanic Bands, Rings, Plasters, &c. This Solution of Gold will cause a sensible increase of electricity in the utmost purity and with the greatest sanative [sic] power, and has proved itself far superior to any other means employed…
Dr. Fontaine also catered to women, (men, also?), with his “Periodical Female Medicines.” These come with lengthy instructions for use and tout their ability to induce an abortion:
[As] a few doses of it, if she be pregnant, will produce distress, vomiting, and pains; which symptoms, if the medicines should not be at once relinquished, would become more and more violent, and be followed by a quick, though not dangerous abortion…
In all, there are labels here for 25 different products, made and sold (both retail and wholesale) under the “Dr. Fontaine’s” brand. As mentioned, there are 110 items: 99 labels in the collection and 11 printed directions. There are multiples of most of the labels and each is printed on different colored stock: lemon, canary, light blue, blue, pink, pale brown, cream, and pale green paper.
In addition to their labels, some products also have their printed directions for use. These circulars and slips describe each product and the medical indications. They include detailed directions for use, and information on prices and ordering.
Also seen are four copies of the label for “Dr. Fontaine’s Balm of Thousand Flowers.” These each have a blank space into which the name of a sales agent could be inserted. Each has a manuscript annotation identifying “Merrick & Judd” as sole agents for America.
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American History via rare books, early letters, diaries, manuscripts, ephemera, graphics — bought, sold, discussed.
