HANDY CYCLOPEDIA ***

Produced by Don Kostuch

[Transcriber's Notes]

This is one of the first books I remember reading as a child. Some of the items are thoughtfully written, like how to write checks. Many others are just rumors or careless opinions. Some are "racy" ads. Many articles are lead-ins to the advertisements. Whatever their truth, they are interesting reading, calculated to draw the attention of drug store customers of 1910.

The text of the advertisements have been reproduced along with the accompanying graphics. Correct grammar and punctuation has been sacrificed to preserving the original format of the ads.

"Mother's Remedies, Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada" (Gutenberg EText 17439) is a book for a similar audience, but without advertisements.

Here are the definitions of some unfamiliar (to me) words.

aperients Laxative.

averment Assert formally as a fact.

biliousness Peevish; irritable; cranky; extremely unpleasant or distasteful.

bill of attainder Legislative determination imposing punishment without trial.

bodkin Small, sharply pointed instrument to make holes in fabric or leather.

carnelian Pale to deep red or reddish-brown.

catarrhal Inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the respiratory tract, accompanied by excessive secretions.

cholera morbus Acute gastroenteritis occurring in summer and autumn; symptoms are severe cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.

conspectus General or comprehensive view; survey; digest; summary.

copperas Ferrous sulfate.

cumulation Accumulation, heap, mass.

diathesis Constitutional predisposition.

disseised Dispossess unlawfully or unjustly; oust.

emercement (amercement) Fine not fixed by law; inflicting an arbitrary penalty.

emoluments Payment for an office or employment; compensation.

Erebus Greek Mythology; the dark region of the underworld through which the dead must pass before they reach Hades.

erraticism Deviating from the usual conduct or opinion; eccentric; queer.

histologist One who does anatomical studies of the microscopic structure of animal and plant tissues.

impecuniosity Having little or no money; penniless; poor.

indurated Hardened; obstinate; unfeeling.

inheres Inherent or innate.

intendent Title of various government officials or administrators.

Irondequoit Town of western New York on Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay, near Rochester.

lees Sediment settling during fermentation, especially wine; dregs.

luxation Displacement or misalignment of a joint or organ.

Marque (letter of) Commission granted by a state to a private citizen to capture and confiscate the merchant ships of another nation.

meerschaum Fine, compact, usually white clay-like mineral of hydrous magnesium silicate, H4Mg2Si3O10, used for tobacco pipes, building stone and ornamental carvings. Also called sepiolite.

Orfila Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853). Chemist, founder of toxicology.

pearlash Potassium carbonate.

prosody Study of the ...

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