Cardboard box for Dr Scott's Coated Bilious and Liver Pills, West Sussex, England, 1930-1950
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Dr Scott’s Coated Bilious and Liver Pills were recommended for constipation or when, as described on the packaging, a person felt “uneasy in the head or stomach” – ‘bilious’ being a term for gastric problems relating to a liver disorder. Dr Scott’s Pills were also claimed to be useful for treating a loss of appetite, giddiness, coughs, colds and depression. They are typical of a large range of treatments that were available ‘over the counter’ at pharmacists for many years – such as at W Lambert & Co Ltd in Lancing, West Sussex, who prepared this example. They were very popular with the public and encouraging reports of the pills’ successes could be found in the daily newspapers.
Object number:
1988-317/142/1
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: pill box
A small box for pills
Glossary: depression
A mental state associated with acute sadness. Activity can be decreased, especially interaction with others, and sleep, appetite, and concentration can also be disturbed.