At this time of year people are more likely to be sick than in warmer seasons when they can be outside and are not so likely to be exposed to germs spread by their family and friends.

Pharmacies are now able to give flu shots and immunizations from other ailments (such as shingles when a physician has prescribed this). Many years ago so-called “patent medicines” were advertised widely, if mostly erroneously, as remedies for common “ailments.”

Here is an initial list of some of the medicines the advertisements for which were regularly seen by both our nineteenth and early twentieth century ancestors and potential customers more recently.

In order to add to the credibility of the medicines they were frequently proceeded by a real or fictitious doctor’s name as were those listed this week.

Dr. Agnew’s Cure for the Heart

Dr. Arnold’s Cough Killer

Dr. Bateman’s Pectoral Drops

Dr. Batty’s Asthma Cigarettes

Dr. Bell’s Pine-Tar-Honey

Dr. Briggs’ Curative (corns, inverted nails, bunions)

Dr. Brown’s Liquid Drops (sick, nervous headaches)

Dr. Bull’s Worm Destroyer

Dr. Cheeseman’s Female Pills

Dr. Craig Safe Cure (Bright’s Disease)

Dr. Crook’s Wine of Tar

Dr. Dix’s Tonic Tablets

Dr. Greene’s Nervura (stomach, liver remedy)

Dr. Hall’s Balsam

Dr. Haynes’ Arabian Balsam

Dr. Herrick’s Kid Strengthening Plaster

Dr. Jayne’s Tonic Vermifuge (dyspepsia)

Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root (obesity, lack of energy)

Dr. Kilmer’s Heart Remedy

Dr. McGown’s Sarsaparilla (scrofula, lumbago, jaundice)

Dr. Morse’s Indian Root Pills (overnight laxative)

Dr. Greene’s Nervura (stomach, liver remedy)

Dr. Miles’ Extract of Tomato Pills (jaundice, biliousness, rheumatism)

Dr. Miles’ Nervine

Dr. Paramenter’s Magnetic Belt (rheumatism cure)

Dr. Pierce’s [women’s patent medicine]

Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription (invigorating tonic)

Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery [stomach, liver, blood)

Dr. Pierce’s Spring Tonic and Blood Purifier

Dr. Rose’s Obesity Powders

Dr. Sawen’s Magic Nervene Pills

Dr. Sears’ Cough Syrup (coughs, colds, influenza)

Dr. Seeley’s Catarrh Remedy

Dr. Slocum’s Psychine (consumption, disorders of the throat, lungs completely cured)

Dr. Thompson’s Eye Water (ophthalmic preparation)

Dr. Tichenor’s Antiseptic

Dr. Walter’s Reducing Rubber Garments

Dr. Vines’ C.C.C. (“certainly cures cancer”)

Dr. Warren’s Formula B (cold cure)

Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills (“for pale people”)

Dr. Wilton’s Catarrh Cure

Dr. Wishart’s Dyspepsia Pills

Dr. Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordial (throat, lung diseases)

Doctor’s Reducing Bread