Business Advertisement Card: Mrs. Winslows Soothing Syrup

As many Americans practiced self-medication and distrusted medical professionals, patent medicine companies were the largest distributors of domestic trade cards. Public ignorance of healthy habits and a lack of advertising regulations on trade cards allowed medical advertisers to make exaggerated and untruthful claims on the beneficial qualities of their products. This marketing approach resulted in great profits for the sellers, but also fostered the prevalence of disease and other illnesses. This card for Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup is an example of this trend because it includes the appealing imagery of a young mother holding a baby to convince consumers that the supposedly remedial syrup advertised produces effects which are, overall, positive and healing.

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