In Nazi Germany: Spalt
pain tablets, 1936
Myzone menstrual pain pills ad, 1952 (Australia)
A discussion of the letter testimonials,
and their authenticity, of the Pinkham company (in a discussion of a Pursettes
ad with a letter testimonial)
See two letters to MUM about the ingredients
of her Compound, and one about the lyrics of an English
pop song, Lily the Pink, about her.
Other amazing women: Nelli Bly,
Dr. Marie Stopes, Dr. Grace Feder Thompson
 
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Ad for Lydia Pinkham's medicine, 1967
Unknown publication, probably U.S.A.
More patent medicine, sanitary
napkin, tampon, pad,
belts, menstruation, women's health, ads for teenagers, menstrual period, cycle, panty
Many companies have created solutions for menstruation-related pain
although Mrs. Pinkham's must have been among the
first in America. A competitor was Midol,
which started out as a -, well, see for yourself.
And look at the early tins that held them!
"Girl" appears three times in the text, "women"
once. Is "girl" demeaning or something you say to someone in pain?
More than one woman told me when the museum
was in my house that she didn't believe any women suffered from severe menstrual
pain that was "real" - it was all in their heads.
My opinion - but I'm just a guy!
- is that some women DO really suffer. Some have it much easier. Guys have
it the easiest of all. Read a thousand other opinions
about this.
Whoever designed the ad I think did a terrific job.
I thank the generous donor of the scan!
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Below: The scan donor didn't say if the
ad is in color. But black and white (and blue) seem perfectly appropriate
for the mood: black and blue.
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Below: Finding the words hard
to read? Here's my go at it:
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Then, there's that once a month when a girl could use a good old-fashioned
medicine.
Maybe you feel just plain bad [there?], because cramps can put anybody
out of commission. Or maybe a little lonely and sad. [?] you could use a
pair of arms around you.
Well, we have just the thing for the once a month time. Lydia E. Pinkham
tablets. They're made with gentle, natural ingredients, including one that
works to help relax tightened muscles that give you cramps. Plus a little
iron that a girl could use at a time like this. And, you don't run any chance
of the kind of unpleasant side effects you could get from some of the newer
drugs.
Now, there are a lot of things a girl can take that once a month. But
maybe with an old-fashioned problem like this, you should take an old-fashioned
medicine.
Lydia E. Pinkham
Maybe the natural way Lydia Pinkham is why a lot of women use it for
[?].
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