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Chichesters (or Chi-ches-ters or with 's) English Pennyroyal Diamond
Brand pills for menstruation problems like pain, scanty or no menses (amenorrhea,
dysmenorrhea), and probably abortion, 1890s-early 20th century, U.S.A.
Box, probably after 1906
Harry Finley created the images.
I thank the retired teacher who donated this
material!
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Below: According to the donor, this
small box originally sat in the previously pictured large box, or
similar one.
The metal box measures 2.75 x 1.75 x 1.125". I brightened the colors
to make the type legible.
Just try to find the word pennyroyal! The food and drugs act, mentioned
in the curving type at left
center, probably banished it in 1906.
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Next two pictures: The long sides.
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Below: The ends.
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Below: See how the company adopted a "new
style" six months after the food and drugs act of 1906. I think it
means they eliminated pennyroyal.
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Below: AHA! Moon
symbolism (menstruation?) in the inside
of the lid! The beauty (the goddess Diana, whose symbol was the moon?) -
look at the size of her eyes -
appears in a newspaper ad (at right) on Dec. 28, 1888,
in the Hornellsville [New York] Weekly Tribune,
which might have helped date the box had not the date 1906 appeared on the
top (first picture, above).
Note that pennyroyal appears in the ad but not on
the box. Apparently the food and drugs act in 1906 banished it because it
was dangerous.
Also, in the ad an apostrophe appears between
the R and S in Chichester's, which seems to disappear in later products
such as this box and in advertising.
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Below: In the center, the bottom shows
the hole and piece of metal that held a ribbon encircling the box, a feature
of the "put up."
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© 2007 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute any
of the work on this Web site in any manner
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