Daylesford Hospital was established in 1862 by the community, initially to serve the growing population during the gold rush era. Today, it is part of the Central Highlands Rural Health Service and provides a range of health services, including urgent, acute, and aged care, and community health services.

When it was first built in the late nineteenth century, however, its services to the Daylesford community were much more limited, and the residents often chose to rely on other sources to maintain their health. The Daylesford Advocate regularly published advertisements touting remedies for all manner of illnesses. Here are a sample from the paper on Saturday 11 February 1882.

HOW IT IS DONE. – The first object in life with the American people is “to get rich”; the second to regain good health. The first can be obtained by energy , honesty, and saving; the second (good health), by using GREEK’S AUGUST FLOWER. [Editor’s note: Even in those days it seems the Australian media relied at times on American advertisements!] Should you be a despondent sufferer from any of the effects of Dyspepsia, Liver Complaints, Indigestion, &c, such as Sick Headache, Palpitation of the Heart, Sour Stomach, Habitual Costiveness, Dizziness of the Head, Nervous Prostration, Low Spirits, &c, you need not suffer another day. Two doses of GREEK’S AUGUST FLOWER will relieve you at once. Sample bottle, 9d; regular size 4s.6d. Positively sold by all first-class Druggists in Australia. Wholesale: Rocke, Tompsitt, & Co., Melbourne
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THROAT AFFECTIONS AND HOARSENESS – All suffering from irritation of the throat and hoarseness will be agreeably surprised at the almost immediate relief afforded by the use of “BROWN’S BRONCHIAL TROCHES”. Those famous “lozenges” are now sold by most respectable chemists in this country at 1s1½d per box. People troubled by a “hacking cough”, a “slight cold” or bronchial affections cannot try them too soon, as similar troubles, if allowed to progress, result in serious Pulmonary and Asthmatic affections. See that the words “Brown’s Bronchial Troches” are on the Government Stamp around each box. – Prepared by John L. Brown and Sons, Boston, United States. European depot removed to 33 Farringdon Rd., London.
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ADVICE TO MOTHERS! – Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of MRS WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste, it produces natural, quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes “as bright as a button”. It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. MRS WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP is sold by medicine dealers everywhere at 1s1½d per bottle.
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VALUABLE DISCOVERY FOR THE HAIR. – If your hair is turning grey or white, or falling off use “THE MEXICAN HAIR RENEWER”, for it will positively restore ineverycase Grey or White hair to its original color, without leaving the disagreeable smell of most “Restorers”. It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as well as promoting the growth of the hair on bald spots. , where the glands are not decayed. Ask your chemist for “THE MEXICAN HAIR RENEWER”, sold by Chemists and Perfumers everywhere at 3s6d per bottle.

From the Daylesford and District Historical Society. https://daylesfordmuseum.net/