today i acquired a copy of "lydia e. pinkham's private text-book," lydia
pinkham being a lady who founded a vast empire selling her tonic and other
patent medicines (beginning in 1873). for those not familiar with this
fascinating bit of american medical history, the reason the tonics were so
popular had to do with their alcohol content (and perhaps other drugs, i don't
recall). this book was written for ladies, in the 1920s or 1930s and is
prefaced by this "caution to the owner":

"this little book treats of delicate subjects, and has been sent to you only
by request. it is not intended for indiscriminate reading, but for your own
private information."

in other words, womanly things. here is what is said about breasts:

"during pregnancy the breasts are gradually being prepared for their office in
furnishing nutriment for the child. care should early be taken to assist this
process. the clothing should be loose and not allowed to so press upon the
breasts as to prevent their enlarging and rounding out. if the nipples are
somewhat flat, they should be pulled out gently each day with the fingers. at
the entrance upon the last month of pregnancy, a beginning should be made at
hardening the nipples, in order that they may not be too tender when the child
begins to nurse, and that fissures and cracks may not form in them. for this
purpose apply to them each morning, with absorbent cotton, a mixture of one
fluid ounce of glycerite of tannin with one fluid ounce of pure water."

i find it curious that lydia does not have a pitch for one of her remedies
here, as the rest of the little book touts various compounds as the cure for
everything else. wonder where we would find that glycerite of tannin? (some
ideas seem to be very old).

carol b. historical scribe