Cures and tonics from 1914

By Joan Janzen

A 1914 issue of The Kindersley Expositor, found in the archives at the Kindersley Museum, displayed an ad for Dr. Chase’s Nerve Food, described as “the greatest of spring restoratives,” which claimed to form new red corpuscles in the blood. An Ontario woman gave a glowing report of the tonic’s effectiveness. Here’s what she wrote:

“Early last fall I became greatly run down, could scarcely eat anything and could not sleep at night. I was so nervous I could hardly bear to have anyone talk to me and was in this extremely nervous condition for five months. I read in the almanac about Dr. Chase’s Nerve Food and bought three boxes. Before completing the first box felt the benefit and now believe the cure to be thorough and complete. I am feeling fine and eat, and sleep well thanks to the wonderful good accomplished by Dr. Chase’s Nerve Food.”

This wonderful cure-all cost 50 cents for one box, or six boxes for $2.50. Although the ingredients were not listed, alcohol may have been one of the primary ingredients used to help cure brain fog, fainting, dizziness and heart failure.