Prevent a Cold with Alka-Seltzer (Mar, 1938)
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Mar, 1938
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This ad would probably be less effective if people realized that sodium acetyl salicylate is just aspirin.
Sneeze No. 1, The First Sign of a Cold
THIS EFFECTIVE WAY TO CHECK COLDS
AT the first sign of a cold, just drop one or two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water. When they bubble up and dissolve, drink the crystal clear, pleasant-tasting solution. Its beneficial action starts immediately. Continue using Alka-Seltzer according to the directions for colds as explained in the direction sheet in every package of Alka-Seltzer.
Since it is a recognized fact that most colds are accompanied by an over-acid condition which may be retarding nature in her battle against the complaint, Alka-Seltzer is especially helpful because it acts to restore your normal alkaline balance. And because Alka-Seltzer contains an analgesic (sodium acetyl salicylate) it gives prompt relief from the dull achy feeling of a cold. Thus Alka-Seltzer gives relief in TWO ways.
Actually, the selling point of Alka-Seltzer was that it was aspirin, only not in big bulky chalky foul-tasting pills.
We’ve become so used to small, coated pills that are easy to take that we forget it wasn’t always so.
Also, Aspirin was a trademark in the US at that time, so they couldn’t use the name anyway.
Comment by Blurgle — January 13, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
This, by the way, really does work. It is true that an overly-acidic system (due primarily to an acidic diet and to stress) makes it easier for the cold virus to flourish. If you alkalize, whether via Alka Seltzer, baking soda, citric acid (which is an alkali in the body), or some other way, your cold will be much shorter. If you generally keep yourself alkalized through good diet and exercise, it makes it much harder for the rhinovirus to even catch hold.
Comment by Matthew F — January 14, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
Ah yes, then there was the “Alka-Seltzer Cold Medicine” which contained phenylpropanolamine (PPA). The stuff really worked, too bad PPA was pulled from the market in 2000.
Comment by mlines — April 8, 2008 @ 11:56 am