‘You may have a Plaster and Water which takes off Hair from any part of the Body, so that it shall never come again. She has also a most excellent Secret to prevent the Hair from falling, causing it to grow where it is wanting in any part of the Head. She also shapes the Eye-brows, making them perfectly beautiful, without any pain, and raises low Foreheads as high as you please. And colours Grey or Red Hair to a lovely Brown, which never decays, changes, or smoots the Linnen. She has excellent Cosmeticks to anoint the Face after the _Small Pox_, which wears out any Scars, Marks, or Redness; and has great skill in all manner of sore Eyes.
‘She has a most excellent Dyet Drink which cures the worst of Consumptions, or any Impurity of the Blood: And an Antiscorbutick spirit, which, being taken one spoonful in the Morning, and another at Night, with moderate Exercise, cures the _Scurvy_, tho’ never so far gone, and all broke out in Blotches: with many other Secrets in Physick, which you may be satisfied in when you speak with her.... She has an approved Remedy for Barrenness in Women.’
Very late in the preceding century (he died May 12, 1691), there was a most famous quack, Dr. Thomas Saffold, one of whose handbills I give as a curiosity:
‘Dear Friends, let your Disease be what God will, Pray to Him for a Cure--try _Saffold’s_ Skill, Who may be such a healing Instrument As will Cure you to your own Heart’s Content. His Medicines are Cheap, and truly Good, Being full as safe as your daily Food. Saffold he can do what may be done, by Either Physick or true Astrology: His Best Pills, Rare Elixirs, and Powder, Do each Day Praise him Lowder and Lowder. Dear Country-men, I pray be you so Wise, } When Men Back-bite him, believe not their Lyes, } But go see him and believe your own Eyes; } Then he will say you are Honest and Kind, Try before you Judge, and Speak as you Find.
‘By _Thomas Saffold_, an Approved and Licensed Physician and Student in Astrology, who (through God’s Mercy), to do good, still liveth at the _Black Ball_ and Old _Lilly’s Head_, next Door to the Feather-Shops that are within _Black-fryers_ Gate-way, which is over against _Ludgate_ Church, just by _Ludgate_ in _London_. Of him the Poor, Sore, Sick, and Lame may have Advice for nothing, and proper Medicines for every particular Distemper, at reasonable Rates ready prepared, with plain Directions how to use them, to cure either Men, Women, or Children of any Disease or Diseases afflicting any Body, whether inward or outward, of what Name or Nature soever (if Curable); Also of this you may be sure, he hath Medicines to prevent as well as Cure.