Treatise on the Diseases of Women by Lydia Estes Pinkham

Fascinating insight into the world of medicine and health at the turn of the 20th century. Lydia Pinkham was certainly a pioneer in her frank discussions with women regarding their health. Essentially a collection of the advertising material created for her medicines, this book presents the most up-to-date (for the time) science regarding women’s health in a way that’s accessible and candid, with none of the squeamishness so often attendant upon discussions of such. Some parts are incorrect, some parts questionable (it’s basically an advertising tract, after all,) but on the whole, a valuable trove of material on the times.