This stuff contained, among other things, potassium nitrate which is used in gunpowder but also has properties that lower blood pressure. 

Lithia, or lithium, is used today in Bi-polar disorder as a mood stabilizer. This is a good example of a tin looking older than it really is, it seems to be from around 1900 but is from 1923 or so.

These are some of my favorites, I think they range from around 1880 to 1920  and they are 3 1/2” x 2 1/4”. Note that the claims went from 1) is a positive and permanent cure... to 2) is a guaranteed remedy for...to 3) intended to assist in overcoming...  I really like the back of the older ones implying that your “Old Man” will be revitalized and will make weak men strong. It also goes from calling the purchaser a “patient” to a “user” I would be curious to know what was actually in the ones with no ingredients on them.

2

3

4

2

1

1

1

Number 4 actually gives the ingredients but I bet this is not what was in it when they didn’t show the ingredients. It contains...Glycyrrhiza (Licorice root), Gentian (which is like a tulip bulb and the flavoring for “Moxie Cola”), Taraxacum (dandelion root), and caffeine. Again, The Sterling Remedy Co., one of the most notorious quack remedy rip off artists of all time.

I think this is from around 1890-1905. I  love the claims that it makes such as preventing colds, curing colds and La Grippe (flu), and “head off” dangerous diseases.

3/4” x 3 1/4” x 3/16” from around 1910 I would think. The instructions are great with no mention of airplanes of course.

I wonder if the people on the Titanic took this stuff for the voyage.

From about 1905 a rare set of Ovelmo tins. There is also a tin of skin cream apparently but I have never been able to find one (yet!)

Two  rare tins in mint condition from around the late 1800’s; they both have their original boxes and directions. The things they wanted a woman to do with these products I won’t go into, suffice it to say, I’m no groinacologist but even I know you don’t do  the things they suggest.

From “Dr. Miles”  treating every condition under the sun to “Miles’” treating simple headache and neuralgia. The one tin on the far right says, “contains no morphine, cocaine, opium, or other enslaving drugs” obviously a bunch of stuff from then did (and “Dr.” Miles was probably  no doctor). 

Only a few of these are known to exist; it is from 1880 –1890 and I’m lucky to own it. It is about 3” x 2” and as you can see far more colorful than most two or three color lithography back then. 

The earlier version of Smith’s pills from 1890 or so. The poster right sold for $3000.00 in 2009