HARGREAVE’S REDUCING WAFERS.
This preparation is supplied from an address in London in boxes price 1s. 1½d., containing 21.
The following extracts are taken from a circular enclosed with the box; the circular contained also a number of testimonials, with directions, etc.
Purely vegetable. Contain nothing harmful. Can be taken at any time with perfect safety. Dose: Three wafers daily. One after Breakfast, Dinner and Supper. If Supper is not taken, one after Tea instead. May be dissolved on the tongue or taken as pills. No change in diet necessary.
The supply sent herewith lasts one week, in which time the Fat commences to get less. In most cases, however, to complete a cure takes about seven weeks, therefore clients should now send for the further six weeks’ treatment.
The “wafers” were really compressed tablets of the ordinary shape, coated with French chalk, and coloured pink externally with eosin. After removing the coating the average weight of the tablets was 2·4 grains; they consisted of substances of “extract” nature, with about 10 per cent. of powdered liquorice. Analysis of the ash showed all the constituents of the ash of extract of Fucus vesiculosus (bladderwrack), and other tests indicated that this extract formed about one-half of the tablet; the other constituent (or constituents) also of “extract” nature, showed no reactions or properties by which it could be identified, and it was probably present merely as excipient.