In a previous article, I described how I found a pamphlet dated May 1893 under some fallen masonry from the gallery area of the former Barony St. John’s church in Ardrossan.

Looking through the pamphlet, some of the adverts are for magical cure-all medicines which seem to be favoured by the Victorians.

The first cure-all is Mellin’s Emulsion which the advert says was a mix of Cod Liver Oil and Hypophosphites (whatever they are) and was “very palatable”, “easily digested” and thankfully “perfectly safe”.

Mellin’s Food for Infants and Invalids is described as “For infants, growing children, convalescents, consumptives, dyspeptics and the aged. A perfect nutriment in acute illnesses and all wasting diseases.”

I managed to find an old coloured advert from 1880 on the internet for the emulsion as well as pages from an 1891 booklet to accompany Mellin’s Food for Infants and Invalids.

Another product advertised is Smedley’s Chillie Paste and claimed to cure Rheumatism, Gout, Lumbago, Bronchitis, Sore Throats, Neuralgia and Sciatica among other illnesses.

It contained oils from chilli peppers and although chillies had been used to treat inflammation for over a century in the USA, the chilli was still very much a novelty in Victorian Britain.

Smedley’s Chillie Paste was so popular that it later became known as “The King of all Cures” (once Edward VII came to the throne upon the death of Queen Victoria in 1901) as can be seen in a colour advert I found on the internet.

Lascelles’ Pills was recommended to be taken “for the most obstinate cases” if the chilli paste didn’t work so I dread to think what might be in them.

Allcock’s Porous Plasters also intrigued me and my investigations showed that Thomas Allcock (1815–1891) was the inventor (in 1854) and subsequent founder of the Allcock Manufacturing Company.

Thomas, although born in Birmingham, England, emigrated to the USA in 1845, settled in New York and opened a drug store. He was later called up and served as an artillery officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

I love the heading on the advert I found which says “Here you have a remedy that has made millions of ladies bless the maker of Allcock’s Porous Plasters”.

And an alternate advert which I found states that Allcock’s Porous Plasters can cure almost anything and could even be used to stop a cough. Amazing.

Symington’s Edinburgh Coffee Essences were produced in bottles alongside Symington’s Dandelion Coffee Essence by Thomas Symington & Co. of Edinburgh around 1880 which ties in with the 1893 date of this pamphlet.

Symington’s coffee essences preceded the more popular and still going Camp Coffee in bottles produced by Robert Paterson of Glasgow from 1897 onwards.

Thomas Symington’s posters advertised that by adding boiling water to his essence, you could have “a cup of coffee in one minute” - the world’s first instant coffee.

Between 1880 and 1890, the Victorians recognised that the caffeine in tea and coffee could cause an increase in heart rates as well as stomach upsets and sleeplessness so Thomas Symington rose to the challenge and developed an alternative hot drink using dandelion roots -Symington’s Dandelion Coffee Essence.

The health benefits of dandelion coffee were promoted as almost a cure-all aiding everything from stomach upsets to gout and even bad tempers.

Both Symington’s products were sold throughout the British Empire and into the USA, winning many medals and prizes for their exceptionally high quality along the way.

Symington’s continued to be sold until 1975 when the company was acquired by G R Lane Health Products and is apparently still available today from specialist health stores.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed researching it – and if you would like to read more ‘behind the scenes’ news about our discoveries and the renovation work in the Barony St. John buildings, please check out my blog at www.ardrossman.wordpress.com or if you would like to volunteer to help us, help us fundraise to save the church buildings or simply know more about our charity, please contact us via our website www.ScotCPS.org.uk or look us up (ScotCPS) on Facebook or Twitter.

Stay healthy. Goodbye for now.