“READ THE SIGNPOST. LOTS OF LAUNCESTON PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED TO READ IT CAREFULLY. Read the Sign-post correctly. The Sign-post of health is the back. You must read its aches and pains. You must know the language of the back. When you know it, the Sign-post reads: " Backache is kidney ache. Lame back is lame kidneys. Weak back is weak kidneys. To cure the back, cure the kidneys." Only one sure way to do this. Take Doan's Backache Kidney Pills. Mrs. George Bennett, 21 St. John-street, Launceston, says:.."[i]

Mary Ann Bennett certainly did read the sign post. She had been taking Doan’s pills since 1902. In fact, she was still endorsing them in 1925, even though she had been dead for several years! Not many medications can be that effective. She had inherited the opportunity to have her name coupled with these pills from her husband’s Uncle Henry.

Henry also found that they worked a treat, also after death. He committed suicide in Mary Ann’s home in 1899 by falling backwards onto a bradawl and severing his spine. One might have thought that that was enough to remove the pain but his advertisements continued for another twelve months!

Mary Ann’s sister in law Rose, preferred Dr Sheldon’s Magnetic Liniment. It not only cured her backache but also the gout of her adopted son. She then moved on to another product. Dr Sheldon produced ‘digestive tabules’ which really were a wonder, taking away all her stomach problems. After two years the advertisements stopped. Was she cured for life?

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[i] 1906 'READ THE SIGNPOST.', Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), 1 December, p. 8 Edition: DAILY., viewed 8 February, 2016,