Friday, October 9, 2020

How are your nerves, and what color is your discharge?

Cookie has no idea what the Viavi Cure was. But these types of traveling doctors were the rage in the late 19th century.  They would distribute forms, gather information and then based on returns, schedule time in various towns, usually in hotels near railroad stations where they would thump, palpitate, feel things on the body that affected you.  Towards the end of the 19th century, with the advent of the portable electric vibrator along, so they could release women's feelings of frustrations and shame. 

Can you imagine that? 

But wait, there is more!  They also sold patent medicines, and syrups to calm the nerves, relieve neuralgia, and otherwise soothe those sick headaches.  When the patients were all seen - off they were to the next town with advice ("If that beast of a husband takes care of his own needs and not yours, see your doctor. And thank you, madam, that will be one dollar for our time, your treatment and the tincture of Lillies White Laudanum...")

Well, right here, dear readers is your own copy of the Viavi Company's very own, official, symptom list for its next visit to a town, city, or rural hickville nearest your abode.  This was found in a treasure of family papers left in a box for nearly 100 years!  Simply fill out the form with your name and will write to you with the date of the first visit and what time the doctor will see you.  Notice that discretely, on the back, is a place to discuss those topics worthy only of whispers and private miseries, lest any creeping eyes spot your application while you are filling it out.  Leave no detail unmentioned, even if its the "vapors".  

Tah, Tah, and I am off to the next metropolis down the road. 

Tell us reader, what are your complaints and maladies?  Coated tongue?  Yellow or greenish-yellow discharges?  Halitosis?  Bromedosis?  Oh, dear lord not the scourge of bromidrosis, we hope!  Tell us it all. 





 

4 comments:

  1. In light of the orange ogre's recent infomercial for Redeem-his-fear, I feel like we currently have one of these quacks in the oval office.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I refuse to tell you about the veins in my scrotum. Jx

    ReplyDelete