Sometimes, ideas for blog posts are sitting on the desk just waiting to be written about! This tiny, 8-page pamphlet advertising Dr. M. Brandom was found among photos and ephemera in a box being processed by Norma B.
Norma wrote “It is a little scary.” It sure is, especially for 1872. I found a listing in the Wiggins and Co.’s City Directory of Decatur, Illinois, 1871 & 1872 for “Brandom, M., oculists and aurists”, who apparently also had cures for all types of cancer as well. Dr. Brandom states, after describing cause and symptoms of cancer, that “These are the most prominent symptoms of carcinomatous diseases, as we shall refer to the different forms as we characterize them under different names, will give the symptoms of each in their turn, and endeavor to describe every form of the disease in a plain manner, void of all technical terms and easily understood by all.” He goes on to describe various forms of cancer as Readily cured by my treatment and Easily cured or even My method of curing this disease is invariably certain, if not delayed too long.
Curious to read more? Visit the Archives on the second floor of The Urbana Free Library and immerse yourself in Local History and Genealogy.