Alfred Fennings, "Every Mother's Book, or, The Child's Best Doctor" (c.1860) (SOLD)

Alfred Fennings, "Every Mother's Book, or, The Child's Best Doctor".  A fascinating mid-Victorian booklet, measuring approximately 13.8 x 21cm (5.45 x 8.25in) and containing 20 pages (plus paper covers), produced by an Isle of Wight manufacturer of patent medicines, and filled with advice upon the treatment of various children's ailments, with a good measure of caution against the use of certain injurious remedies.  (For instance, speaking of narcotics, it states that "More Children have been destroyed by them and Mercury, than ever fell victims to the blood-stained wheels of Juggernaut, or the child-fed alligators of Hindoostan".)  A page of testimonials in praise of Fennings' Cooling Powders and Lung Healers is included, nearly all dating from 1857 (plus one from 1858); it is thus likely that the booklet dates from around this period.  The cover of the booklet is very worn with marking and discoloration, creasing, tears to edges, splitting to the fold and paper loss to corners; the pages, which are attached to the cover by a loop of black thread at the top, are in a similar condition with some pencil marks and underlining.

SOLD Oct. 2010

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