In the late 1800's there was an explosion of advertisements for various substances produced for pharmaceutical purposes. This is a vintage advertisement for Dr. Batty's Asthma Cigarettes. These cigarettes possess unknown contents and claim to provide relief for everything from asthma, to colds, canker sores, and bad breath. Of course, now we view this advertisement as invalid and possibly even comical. It is easy now to see the obvious irony of this particular product. Sadly, this is one of a multitude of products concocted during this era that promised to provide relief and cures to anything from chronic coughs to serious illnesses.

This advertisement could be used by teachers in any elementary, middle, or high school classroom discussing health. I think students would be very interested to learn what individuals used to perceive as healthy and what we know to be healthy today through medical science and increased awareness. This advertisement could also be used in 5th and 8th grade classrooms as an example of 19th century propaganda.