I know...how funny a name is that; ANALAX? They have fruit juice in them (which has little insoluble fiber) but still have good old Phenolphthalein  to make them work. 

From about 1910 to 1935.

They say that phenolphthalein assists in the “natural” movement of the bowels but actually does just the opposite (and apparently causes cancer). The word “aperient” (or mild laxative) seems to disappear from the tins around 1920 or so.

Lots of the laxatives have quinine in them. These products are to treat colds and quinine does have fever reducing and pain relieving properties and of course, as usual,  a good crap cures anything, hence the cascara.

An interesting comparison of “snake oil” claims and a definite backpedaling  after the Food & Drug Act came into being in 1906.

The Dewsbury Pioneers Industrial Society Ltd. (Pharmacy & Optical dept.) Regulators for the Bowels.  Dewsbury town records show that after the Pioneers Industrial Society the name was changed to the Dewsbury Co-operative Society in 1926 and the building shown was built in 1872 to house the original Pioneer  Industrial Society.  The building has been converted to luxury apartments and is now called the Pioneer Building which is on the top of the tin “Pioneer Brand”...full circle. 

The NYAL (New York and London) company made tons of stuff from the late 1800’s to the 1950’s including quite a few laxatives. They recommend giving this stuff to babies (I can’t imagine the possible damage to their delicate systems).

Regoids (again with the “oids”) from England and I think  from about 1900. Boots Drugs was formed in 1879 in England and is still going strong today throughout the world.   

A really old (1900?) A.D.S. tin and a newer one (1930?). From the older tin comes an interesting note on where Phenolphthalein comes from...wine...who knew?

Three tins from the 1920’s with funny names. “They keep your bowels on time” and one of my favorites, “pilgrims of the night” that’s priceless. I also wonder with Veritables, what exactly makes a laxative French?

Four tins from around 1900; all are relatively rare. Pura is a “liver tonic” and I like how Charles Chocolate treats “peevishness”.

As you can see , laxatives back in the early 1900’s were good for “liver complaints” “sick headaches”etc. Really nice to know Laxigen is “safe to take” too.

These are 2 1/2” x 3” and from 1890-1905. Note how the claims changed drastically on the newer one to the right. 1905 is when the Food & Drug Act came into effect in America (The Proprietary Medicine Act in 1909 in Canada). This is helpful in dating your tins.