The American Indians, since they supposedly knew the hidden secrets of native botanical cures, were often used in patent medicine advertisements. Scientific discoveries and controversies also were used by the cleaver pitchmen to sell their patent medicines. Here we see a product exploiting the PA discovery of oil to be turned into a cure all medicine. Even the controversy over evolution and Darwin was manipulated by the quack to push his product, in this case Merchant’s Gargling Oil. There were drugs targeted at specific audiences, such as children. Too heavy but afraid to go on a strict diet-no problem as this ad for weight loss promises quick, easy results. Not satisfied with what mother nature has proved you, the quack has always been willing to help, as in this before and after ad for breast enhancement. Cancer and other deadly diseases spawned an entire group of patent medicines for a fearful public. In many cases the cleaver quack used the lure of the past, linking their medicines with such names as Aesculapius, Galen, or a more modern medical hero, Joseph Lister, who did not give us Listerine. Another favorite approach was to link these quack products, be they drugs or devises, to distant places, such as this ad for a so-called healing devise from India.