Dr. MARTIN’S MIRACLETTS.
These wonders are supplied by a Medicine Co., from an address in London. The prices are 1s. 1½d., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., and 11s. per bottle. A 2s. 9d. bottle contained sixty tablets.
They are described on the package as:
A real Elixir of Life in solid form. The world’s greatest remedy.
Cures Constipation, Indigestion, Headache, Neuralgia, Anæmia, Nervous Disorders, Liver Troubles, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Gout, St. Vitus’ Dance, Hysteria, Rickets, Heart Disease, Kidney Complaints.
Cures Melancholia, Loss of Appetite, Sleeplessness, Lassitude, Mental Depression, Brain Fag, Palpitation, Stomach Disorders, Women’s Special Ailments and Irregularity of Health, etc., etc.
A little book, entitled “A Fortune for All,” enclosed in the package, contained the following statements:
Whatever you may be suffering from do not worry or fear, as Dr. Marten’s Miracletts will be certain to cure you!
Dr. Martin’s Miracletts make the weak and sickly become strong and healthy, and the aged become youthful and full of energy; the tired worn-out look being replaced by an appearance of cheerfulness and vivid health. The pale and wrinkled face with bad complexion gives way to rosy cheeks and a clear skin; the thin gain flesh, and the stout lose superfluous fat; indigestion quickly disappears, the appetite returns, and a new life is open to all.
A separate small slip enclosed in the package was worded as follows:
Guarantee.
Dr. Martin’s Medicine Company being absolutely confident of the marvellous curative properties of their Miracletts, will willingly refund the money to any purchaser who has taken eighteen Miracletts according to directions, and is not satisfied with the results.
Much less conspicuously, on another slip chiefly devoted to the relative quantities in the packages of different size, it was stated:
Those whose ailments have been of long standing must not expect immediate perceptible results, but with a little patience and perseverance the result is Sure.
The “Miracletts” consisted of sugar-coated tablets, the coating being coloured brown with ferric oxide (so-called chocolate coating). After removal of the coating they had an average weight of 4·3 grains; this included the weight of a strong coating of varnish, which was not removed with the sugar-coating. Analysis showed them to contain valerianates of quinine and zinc, iron oxide, menthol, kaolin in considerable quantity, and a little talc. A substance of extract nature was also present to the extent of about 5 per cent.; it possessed no characteristic taste or other property by which it could be identified; a resinous substance, which was found in small quantity, appeared to be merely the varnish with which the tablets were covered. The quantities of the different ingredients were determined as nearly as possible, and the results indicated the following amounts:
| Quinine valerianate | 0·4 | grain. |
| Zinc valerianate | 0·1 | ” |
| Ferric oxide | 0·3 | ” |
| Menthol | 0·03 | ” |
| Kaolin and talc | 2·3 | grains |
| In one tablet. | ||
The estimated cost of the ingredients of the tablets is 4d. a hundred.