Two funny newspaper ads from 1919

While doing some research at the Minnesota Historical Society I found myself just skimming through the Pine City Poker from the town where my mom was born.

First ad is a great one for Hams Beer with a different take on settling down a new mom.

The second one is a pretty common one from many papers of the day for a remedy for nervousness brought on by monthly female problems.

the first one isn't as far fetched as you might think. Beer has always been given to nursing mothers to increase milk production--something about the yeast. I cultivated a taste for Guinness when I was nursing.

The second, well, "positively insane" may be a bit much, but eating your veggies might help some anyway.

If you're interested in this stuff, you might like the book on coffee I read, which has some really fascinating insight into the early ad men and marketing campaigns:

Uncommon Grounds

Lily the Pink is a song about Mrs Pinkerton's "cure".

Breastfeeding mothers were also advised to smoke (by cigarette companies, natch) because it was a relaxing activity and would soothe both mother and baby.

Laudanum. Works a treat.

Also remember this is 1919, so clean water was not a guarantee. Beer was often drunk instead of water for safety reasons.