The Victorian era is notorious for the proliferation of "quack" remedies, medicine men, medicine shows, bizarre devices (such as electric belts), and "medicines" made up of dangerous drugs or worse. Such products, however, were almost literally a sideshow. Then, as now, there was a ready audience for "miracle" and "instant" cures - and a host of hucksters willing to provide them. Mainstream Victorian medicine, though it may have had a great deal to learn, was nearly unanimous in its condemnation of such products - and many doctors advised that the less medicine one took, the healthier one would be. Many of these articles offer tips on holistic medications; as always, our advice is "don't try this at home!"

New Domestic Remedies (Illustrated London Almanack, 1845)

Tested Medical Receipts (Peterson's, 1858)

Health Recipes (Peterson's Magazine, 1865)

Medical Recipes (Peterson's, 1872)

The Value of Simple Remedies (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1877)

The Doctor's Corner in the Kitchen Garden (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1878)

"There is many and many a simple herb, that can very easily be cultivated in any out-of-the-way corner of the kitchen garden... [that are] simply invaluable in many cases of sickness."

Mother's Department: Medical Botany (monthly column) (Peterson's, 1879)

On the Incautious Use of Medicine (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

Tonic Remedies, and How to Benefit by Them (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

What May Be Done with Simple Herbs, by "Medicus"* (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

The Family Medicine-Chest, and What Should Go in It (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1882)

Milk as a Curative Agent (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1882)

On the Virtues of Simple Herbs and Flowers, by "Medicus"* (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

Medical Botany of the Garden, Field and Forest, by Abram Livezey (Peterson's, 1883)

An interesting monthly column on herbal remedies.

Medicines: When to Take and When to Avoid, by "Medicus"* (Girl's Own Paper, 1883)

A blind faith in the efficacy of medicine for the cure of diseases and the restoration of shattered systems to a state of health has been the ruin of many thousands."

A Plea for Vegetables v. Drugs, by "Medicus"* (Girl's Own Paper, 1883)

Some Simple Facts About Medicines, by "Medicus"* (Girl's Own Paper, 1885)

"It may well be said that a family medicine-chest...is a source of safety, but at the same time a source of danger."

Tonics: How to Use Them Beneficially, by "Medicus"* (Girl's Own Paper, 1886)

A Word About Tonics (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1888)

Nature's Simple Remedies (Girl's Own Paper, 1894)

Some interesting holistic remedies involving herbs, fruits and vegetables -- many of which are probably still being applied today.

Replies to Often-Asked Questions (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

The key question here is "What should be the contents of a medicine cupboard for an isolated country cottage?"

Medicinal Herbs, by The Lady Georgina Vernon (Girl's Own Paper, 1898)

Our Medicine Chest, by "The New Doctor" (Girl's Own Paper, 1899)

"You do not want a medicine chest to contain everything you may require. You want it to contain everything that is absolutely necessary for emergencies" -- which include injuries, acute poisoning, and acute disease.

*"Medicus" was the pen-name of Gordon Stables, M.D., R.N., health columnist for The Girl's Own Paper. Read the complete collection of Medicus Columns from 1881-1902 in chronological order.

• See also First Aid, Home Health & Safety Tips