ANTIQUE QUACK MEDICINE BOX DR HAINES GOLDEN TREATMENT LIQUOR HABIT ALCOHOLISM

Description

Please email with any questions. 4" by 3" by 1 1/2" paper-covered cardboard box that once held 40 powdered doses of Dr Haines Golden Treatment for the Liquor Habit, prepared by Golden Specific Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. James Wilkins Haines was a Quaker minister and homeopathic doctor.. In the late 19th century, Haines promoted a popular false theory that ingesting bichloride of gold cured alcoholism.Dubbing his powder the Golden Treatment, the tablets contained benign substances and trace amounts of ipecac. Medicinal cures for alcoholism were popular during the Temperance movement but in 1917 the AMA denounced the Golden Treatment as a humbug. I found this empty box at a local estate, holding some old sewing machine attachments. A previous owner must have thought the box was a handy size but they were obviously embarrassed about the original contents since they scratched through the words LIQUOR HABiIT. Lid split on two corners, soiling and wear to paper covering.