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- Title
- Kendall's Spavin Cure
- Description
- Trade card promoting B.J. Kendall Company, manufacturer of proprietary medicine and depicting a racist caricature of an African American man jockey portrayed with exaggerated features. The jockey sits atop a brown, galloping racehorse. He is attired in a red buttoned jacket, red and white striped pants and hat, and black boots. In the left, an African American groomsman portrayed with exaggerated features and attired in white pants and a collared yellow shirt with black dots, and black shoes, stands with one hand raised and another holding a white towel. He speaks in the vernacular that he "nebber will let dat pickaninny ride dat yar hoss agin unless he stops usin' Kendall's Spavin Cure." In the background, a fence marked in red writing "Kendall's Spavin Cure" runs alongthe track. In the right, behind the fence, a white man in a lookout tower holds out his arm and shows a paper marked, "4.17 1/4." Burney James Kendall (1845-1922) founded the B.J. Kendall Company in Enosburg Falls, Vermont in 1879. Kendall Company was incorporated in 1883. The success of Kendall’s Spavin Cure spurred the firms line of products to expand to proprietary medicines for other animals in addition to people. The Company declined and closed in 1957 following the invention of automobiles., Title from item., Date deduced from the history of the advertised business and the genre of print., Text printed on recto: "Golly! I nebber will let dat pickaninny ride dat yar hoss agin unless he stops usin' Kendall's Spavin Cure, 'cause it limbers him up so. In all my 'sperience in the hoss line I nebber seed sich 'provement in an animile afore. Facts am stranger dan friction." Advertising text printed on verso: Kendall's Spavin Cure. The most successful remedy ever discovered, as it is certain in its effects and does not blister. Also excellent for human flesh. Read proof below., Testimonial printed on verso:From Col. L.T. Foster. Youngstown, Ohio, May 10, 1880. Dr. B.J. Kendall & Co., Gents: I had a very valuable Hambletonian colt which I prized very highly; he had a large bone spavin on one joint and a small one on the other, which made him very lame. I had him under the charge of two veterinary surgeons who failed to cure him. I was only one day reading the advertisement of Kendall's Spavin Cure in the Chicago Express. I determined at once to try it, and got our druggists here to send for it; they ordered three bottles; I took them all and thought I would give it a thorough trial; I used it according to directions, and the fourth day the colt ceased to be lame, and the lumps have disappeared. I used but one bottle and the colt's limbs are as free from lumps and as smooth as any horse in the state. He is entirely cured. The cure was so remarkable that I let two of my neighbors have the remaining two bottles, who are now using it. Very respectfully, L.T. Foster. Kendall's Spavin Cure on Human Flesh. Waterloo, Ind., Sept. 7, 1881. Boyer & Campbell, Gentlemen: The bottle of Kendall's Spavin Cure I purchased of you has cured me of a very lame back, (after using almost everything else) the relief was almost instant. I put only a very little on at a time and rubbed it in well. I consider it the best liniment for man or horse extant. I would not do without it for ten times the amount it costs. Yours truly, Hiram Leib., Testimonial printed on verso: Wilton, Minn., Jan. 11, 1881. B.J. Kendall & Co., Gents: Having got a horse book of you by mail a year ago, the contents of which persuaded me to try Kendall's Spavin Cure on the hind leg of one of my horses, which was badly swollen and could not be reduced by any other remedy. I got two bottles of Kendall's Spavin Cure of Preston & Ludduth, druggists of Waseca, which completely cured my horse. about five years ago, I had a three years old colt swelled very bad. I used your remedy as given in your book without rowelling, and I must say to you credit that the colt is entirely cured, which is a surprise not only to myself, but also to my neighbors. You sent me the book for the trifling sum of twenty-five cents, and if I could not get another like it, I would not take twenty-five dollars for it. Yours truly, Geo. Mathews. Kendall's Spavin Cure is put up in two sizes. Refined, expressively for human flesh, in red wrappers, price $.50. In light wrappers, for animals, price, 1.00. That in light wrappers can be used with perfect safety on human flesh, if desired. B.J. Kendall & Co., Proprietors, Enosburg Falls, Vt., U.S.A. Sold by all druggists., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - BJ Kendall [P.2017.95.11]

