Caught a cold? Impure breath? No problem, just ask your druggist for Sweet Stephania Cigarettes. Stephania offered instant relief and "A Pleasant and Effective Remedy." Late 19th Century Americans hoping to cure their ailments could choose from a large selection of mostly useless concoctions commonly known as snake-oil. Any dubious remedy is the phrase that author A. Walker Bingham used to describe "patent medicine" in his classic book The Snake-Oil Syndrome, Patent Medicine Advertising. There were occasions when the different ingredients in "patent medicines" did have some medical value, but oftentimes these products contained alcohol, morphine, cocaine, and other dangerous substances. The Sweet Stephania box pictured below is a very early patent medicine cigarette with a 'Series of 1879' revenue stamp glued to the back. By-the-way, if you're suffering from catarrh, you have a runny nose.