Dr. Walker’s Vinegar Bitters

Quite a few of our papers contain advertisements for Dr. Walker’s Vinegar Bitters. This concoction was sold all over the country in the late 19th century, and advertises in various publications and languages. What exactly was this drink and what was did it supposedly cure? According to the label, it was a natural, non-alcoholic remedy that cured an incredible variety of ailments! Scroll down to read the full advertisement text or click on the images below to visit articles about the history of this product.

Full advertisement text:

Vinegar Bitters are not a vile Fancy Drink, made of Poor Rum, Whiskey, Proof Spirits and ReftiM Liquors, doclored, spiced, and sweetened to piease tlie taste, called ”Tonic.s,” ” Appetizers,” “Restorers,” &c, that lead the tippler on to drimkenness and ruin, but are a trtie Medicine, made from the native roots and herbs of California, freefrom all Alcoliolic Stimulants. They are the Gteat Blood Purifier and a Life-giving Principie, a Perfect Renovator and Invigorator of the System, carrying off all poisonous matter and restoring the blood to a healthy condition, enrichmg it, refreshing and inyigorating both mind and body. They are easy of administraron, prompt in tlieir action, certain iu their resulta, safe and reliable in all forms of disease. Nu I’crson eau take tltcse Bitters according to directions, and remain long unwell, provided their bones are not destroyed by minera! poison or other means, and the vital organs wasted beyond the point of repair. Oyspepsia or IndiesHon. Headche, Pain in the Shoulders, Coughs, Tightness of the Client, Dizriness, Sour Eructations of the Stomach, Bad Taste in the Mouth, Rilions Attacks, Palpitatton of the Heart, Inflammation of the Lungs, Pain in the regions of the Kidneys, and a hundred other painfu! symptoms, are the oflsprings of Dyspepsia. In tliese complaints it has no equal, and one bottle will prove a better guarantee of its merits than a lengthy advertisement. For Female Complaints ip young or old, married or single, at the dawn of womanhood, or the turn of life, these Tonic Bitters display so decided an influence that a maiked improvement ís soon perceptible. For liiUnniiiiiitury and Cltronic Kieumatism and Gout, Dyspepsia or Indigestión, Bilious, Remittent and Intermittent Fevers, Ciseases of the Biood, Liver, Kidneys and Bladder, these Bitters have been most successful. Such Diseases are caused by Vitiated Blood, which is generally produced by derangeraent of the Digestive Organs. They are a Oeiitle Pnrgative as we 11 as a Tonic, possessing also the peculiar merit of acting as a power ful agent in relieving Congestión or Inflammation of the Liver and Visceral Orgaus, and in Bilious Diseases. For Skin DUeases, Eruptions, Tetter, SaltRheum, Blotches, Spots, Pimples, Pustules, Boils, Carbuncles, Ring-worms, Scald-Head, Sore Eyes, Erysipelas, Itch, Scurfs, Discolorations of the Skin, Humors and Diseases of the Skin, of whatever name or nature, are literally dug up and carried out of the system in a short time by the use of these Bitters. One bottle in such cases will convince the most iucredulous of their curative effects. _ uieaiise tnO vit latea uiooa whenever you find its impurities bursting through tlie skin in Pimples, Eruptions, or Sores; cleanse it when you find it obstructed and sluggish in the veins ; cleanse it when it is foul ; your feellngs will teil you when. Keep the blood pure, and the health of the system will follow. Grateful thousands proclaim Vinkgar Bitters the most wonderful Invigorant that ever sustained the stnking system. Pin, Tape, and otlier Worms, lurking in the system of so many thousands, are effectually destroyed and removed. Says a distinguished physiologist: There is scarcelyan individual upon the face of the earth whose body is exempt froin the presence of worms. It is not upon the healthy eleinents of the body that worms exist, but npon the diseased humors and slimy deposits that breed these living monsters of disease. No system of Medicine, no vermifuges, no anthelminitics, will free the system, from worms like these Bitters. Mechnnicnl Dlscnses. Persons engaged in Paints and Mineral, such as Plumbers, Type-setters, Gold-beaters, and Miners, as they advance in life, will be subject to paralysis of the Bowels. To guard against this take a dose of Walker’s Vinegar Bitters once or twice a week. as a Preventive. Bilious. Rem i t tent, anti I ui i miUetit PcverS) which are so prevalent in the valleys of our great nvers throughout the United States, especial] y those of tlie Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Teunessee, Cuinberland. Arkansas, Red, Colorado, Brazos, Rio Grande, Pearl, Alabama, Mobile, Savannah, Roanoke, James, and many others, with their vast tributaries, throughout our entire country during the Summer and Autumn, and remarkably so during seasons of unusunl heat and dryness, are invariably accompanied by extensive derangements of the stom ach and liver, and other abdominal viscera, There are always moreor less obstructions of the liver, a weakness and irritable state of the stomach, and great torpor of the bowels, being clogged up with vitiated accumulations. In their treatment, a purgat i ve, exeriing a powerful influence upon these various organs, is essentially necessary. There is no cathartic for the purpose equal to Dr. J. Walker’s Vinegar Bitters, as they will speedily remove the dark-coljred viscid matter with which the bowels are loaded, at the same time stimulating the secretions of the liver, and generally restoring the healthy functions of the digestive organs. Srrofulfi, or King’s TCvM, White Swelnngs, Ulcers, Erysipelas, Swelled Neck, Goiter, Scrofulous Inflammations, Indolent Inflammations, Mercurial Affections, Old Sores, Eruptions oí’ the Skin, Sore Eves, etc, etc. In these, as in all other constitutional Diseases, Walker’s Vinegar Bitters have shown their great curative powers iu the most obstinate aud intractable cases. Dr. Walker’s California Vinegar Bit tera act on all these cases in a similar marnier. By purifying the Blood they remove the cause, and byresolving away the effects of the inflammation (the tubercular deposits) the aiTected parts receive health, and a permanent cure is effected. The propertlefl of Dr. Wai.kers Vinegar Bitters are Aperient, Diaphoretic and Carminative, Nutritious, Laxative, Diuretic, Sedative, Counter-Irritant, Sudorific, Alterative, and Anti-Biliotis. The Aperient and mild Laxative properties of Dr. Walkhr’s Vinhgar Bitters are the best safeguard in all cases of eruptions and malignant fevers, their balsamic, healing, and soothing properties protect the humors of the fauces. Their Sedative properties allay pain in the nervous system, stomach, and bowels, either from inflammation, wind, colic, cramps, etc. Their Irritant influence extends throughout the system. Their Diuretic properties act on the Kidneys, correcting and regulating the flow of urine. Their Anti-Bilious properties stimulate the liver, in the secretion of bile, and its discharges through the biliaryducts, and are superior to all remedial agents, for tlie cure of Bilious Fever, Fever and Ague, etc. Portify the lorty against disease bv purifying all its fluids with Vinkgar Bitters. No epidemie can take hold of a system thus forearmed. The liver, the stomach, the bowels, tlie kidneys, and the nerves are rendered disease-proof by this great invigorant. Direct ions. – Take of the Bitters on going to bed at night from a half to ona and one-half wine-glasfull. Eat good nourishing food, such as beef steak, mutton chop, venison, roast beef, and vegetables, and take out-door exercise. They are composed of purely vegetable ingredients, and contain no spirit. J. WALKER, Prop’r. R. H. McDONAXD & CO., DrugKists and (ïen. Agts., San Francisco, Cal.. and cor. of Washington and Charlton Sts., New York. SOLD BYALL DRUGGlSTS AND DEALERS.