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Selling Sex

Job Moses. Extra Directions for Sir Jas. Clarke’s Female Pills. [Rochester, N.Y., ca. 1860]. (Gift of William H. Helfand)

Job Moses. Extra Directions for Sir Jas. Clarke’s Female Pills. [Rochester, N.Y., ca. 1860]. (Gift of William H. Helfand)

Interesting to Ladies. Dr. Wheating’s Female Pills. [New York, ca. 1860].

Interesting to Ladies. Dr. Wheating’s Female Pills. [New York, ca. 1860].

Wilcox Specific Medicine Co. Confidential. Advice to Ladies! [Philadelphia, ca. 1880].

Wilcox Specific Medicine Co. Confidential. Advice to Ladies! [Philadelphia, ca. 1880].
  Patent medicine purveyors offered any number of pills, douches, and preparations for women who did not have access to professional abortion providers or wanted to keep their pregnancy status to themselves. Often containing tansy, pennyroyal, and other emmenagogues (to stimulate menstruation), they capitalized on effective folk remedies which could be dangerous to a woman’s health if not properly administered.
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