needs to be studied
Radway & Co. took out a large spot to promote its products. The ad seems kind of modern. Here’s bits of it.
From The New-York Times October 23, 1861:
A FREE GIFT; TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHAT THE FEDERAL TROOPS ARE FIGHTING TO SUSTAIN. HOW OUR SOLDIERS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO FIGHT. DRS. RADWAY & CO. RADWAY & CO., NO. 23 John-st., New-York. HOW OUR SOLDIERS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO FIGHT. Health and discipline are the most important elements. RADWAY’S READY RELIEF. IN DR. RADWAY’S REMEDIES RADWAY’S READY RELIEF IN HIS KNAPSACK, WHEN SICK, DUTY OF CIVILIANS. ARMY INDORSEMENT. NOT ONE IN THE HOSPITAL. IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES. DR. RADWAY’S PILLS. RADWAY’S REGULATING PILLS RADWAY’S RENOVATING RESOLVENT. IT CURES, WITH ASTONISHING RAPIDITY. HUMORS AND SORES OF ALL KINDS, LADIES NOTICE.
It is a singular fact that a large majority of the people of the United States are unacquainted with the great importance of the cause for which the soldiers of the Union are fighting. Let every man and woman throughout the United States carefully read and study the Constitution of the United States, they will become convinced of the holiness of our cause and of the wickedness of those who are striving to overthrow this grand palladium of freedom.
We truly believe that had the reading of the Constitution been adopted as a daily lesson in every school throughout the United States, the doctrines of secession and States rights would never have attained the position of a political question; nor would the country have been called upon to mourn for the unfortunate wrangling and misconstructions that have arisen, and which so many of our statesmen have lost their time in attempting its interpretation.
Millions of our citizens have never thoroughly studied the constitution, and even at the present time, when it is the duty of every citizen of this country to inform himself of the rights and privileges secured to him, under its protecting arm, it is not in one household in five hundred. In view, therefore, of correcting this great oversight, and to furnish every man, woman and child throughout the United States with the means of studying this great palladium of liberty, and to protect us against future false doctrines and political disasters.
Honest Abe defends Constitution
[We?] present to the American public, free of charge, the Constitution of the United States of America, neatly bound, together with an improved Almanac for the year 1862, called “Dr. Radway’s Constitution Almanac.” As soon as practicable, Dr. Radway’s agents, in every village and town throughout the Union, will be furnished with a supply for free circulation. A copy of the same will be sent to all who will inclose a stamp for the payment of postage.
DRUGGISTS, BOOKSELLERS, NEWSDEALERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, DESIROUS OF AIDING US IN DISTRIBUTING TO THE PEOPLE THE CONSTITUTIONAL ALAMANAC, ARE INVITED TO SEND IN THEIR ORDERS. NO CHARGE WILL BE MADE FOR THE SAME.
We also invite the people of the Canadas, British Provinces, and, in fact, all who can read the English language throughout the world, to accept as gifts from us our Constitutional Almanac.
WE WILL SEND TO ANY ONE WHO IS WILLING TO PAY THE POSTAGE ON IT A COPY; OR IF THE CITIZENS OF ANY TOWN OR VILLAGE WILL ACCEPT FROM 100 TO 500 COPIES, WE WILL FURNISH THEM FREE OF CHARGE, BEING CONVINCED THAT IF OUR FOREIGN FRIENDS WILL CAREFULLY READ THE CONSTITUTION, THEY WILL BECOME SATISFIED THAT OUR PEOPLE, IN SUPPORTING OUR GOVERNMENT IN WIPING-OUT THIS FOUL BLOT OF SECESSION FROM OUR ESCUTCHEON, ARE NOT ONLY RIGHT, BUT ARE ESTABLISHING ON A SOUND BASIS THE FREEDOM OF THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
Health and discipline are the most important elements in an army to insure success. Discipline without health will prove as ineffectual as shot without powder. Health is the propelling force of the army, and is the symbol of victory.
It is, therefore, of the greatest importance, that the system of medication best adapted for the protection of soldiers against sickness, as well as that known to be the most speedy and effectual in restoring the sick to health without regard to professional prejudice, be adopted.
This is no time for medical martinets to quibble about professional dignity. All the dignity the profession can bring to bear will neither prevent sickness among the troops, for cure those afflicted. Our armies to be successful, must be kept in a healthy condition; and the most sure means of securing this desideratum is through the remedial powers of [Dr Radway’s drugs?]
which has already proved itself in over fifty regiments now at the seat of war near Washington, to be a positive preventive against sickness in the form of
CHILLS AND FEVER, FEVER AND AGUE, [and many more sicknesses] …
Rush Hawkins swears by the stuff
Civilians having friends or relatives in the army should send them a few bottles of Radway’s Ready Relief and a box of Radway’s Pills. The Government makes no provision for these valuable remedies in the medical stores. The soldier depends upon his friends for a supply of these invaluable medicines. A bottle or two of the Ready Relief may save the life of your soldier friend.
We have received a large number of letters from army surgeons, officers and privates who have derived benefits from the use of RADWAY’S READY RELIEF. Among the great number we have on file we refer to the following:
…
Col. Rush C. Hawkins, Ninth Regiment, N.Y.V.
We have the assurances of officers of over fifty regiments of the volunteer forces, that there has not been a single man in their regiments who has used RADWAY’s READY RELIEF that has been sent to the hospital, nor has there, out of the great number of sick who have used this invaluable medicine, a death occurred.
Every family should keep a bottle of RADWAY’s READY RELIEF in the house. …
Rush Hawkins was the only name I recognized in the testimonials section.
You can see an example of a Radway’s trade card at Remember When Postcards (under the kissing section!).
The following photo is a damaged negative from February 13, 1920. “Children of the Washington Public schools were today given an oportunity [i.e. opportunity] to see the original constitution of the United States in the State Dept. Photo shows the children passing by the famous document.” It kind of gets me in the mood for Halloween with it’s spectral forms.
Viewing the original in 1920 - Boo!
