Whelpton's Vegetable Purifying Pills, approx. 1885

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[roeskva]

I found an interesting text, where they evaluate and give the contents of some of these old drugs. It's from The British Medical Journal June 1911, part of which can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2334043/pdf/brmedj07833-0028.pdf

Whelpton's Purifying Pills are supplied by G. Whelpton and Son, London, E.C., at 1s. 1 1/2d. per box containing
60 pills.

They are advertised in the following terms:

"Indigestion is the primary cause of most of the ills to which we are subject. Hence a medicine that stimulates the
digestive organs will relieve quite a number of complaints. Whelpton's Vegetable Purifying Pills arouse the stomach
to action, promote the flow of gastric juice, and give tone to the whole system. Headache flies away. Biliousness, Kidney
Disorders, and Skin Complaints disappear, while cheerful spirits and-clear complexions follow in due course.... The
occasional or regular use of Whelpton's Pills, by assisting Nature to get rid of superfluous matter, relieves the congested
condition of skin and kidneys, and speedily restores the natural functions of these important organs. Whelpton's Purifying
Pills are thus a direct purifier of the blood. . . . Daily doses of Whelpton's Purifying Pills will arouse the Liver to proper action, and, by removing the cause of obstruction, speedily restore the general health of the body. These Pills may
be taken at any time, but it is generally found most convenient to take them at bed-time. In ordinary cases two will
be a sufficient dose, but three or four may sometimes be necessary according to the age and strength of the patient
or obstinacy of the complaint."

The pills had an average weight of 2 1/2 grains. Chemical and microscopical examination showed the
presence of

aloes (apparently Socotrine),
powdered colocyntb,
ginger,
and
gentian,

the last-named ingredient being less positively indicated than the others. No evidence of the presence of mercury or
calomel was obtained.