A statue holding a cornucopia of wild flowers on a green ground, advertising Zeller's heart and nerve drops (medicine). Colour lithograph, 1959.

The firm of Zeller A.G. specializes in the manufacture of herbal remedies. It was founded by Max Zeller in Romanshorn, Thurgau, Switzerland, in 1864. Its heart and nerve-drops contain extracts from hawthorn leaves, flowers and berries (information from the website of the company, 2007). "Hawthorn extract can significantly ease the symptoms of chronic heart failure, research suggests. Researchers identified 14 trials that compared the effects of adding either hawthorn extract, or a placebo to conventional therapies. The results indicated that the extract increased the maximum workload that patients could endure. It also decreased the amount of oxygen used by the heart"--Daily telegraph, 23 January 2008

The antiquity and artistry of the grey statue statue illustrate the tradition and artifice behind the scenes, which turn colourful wild flowers into a medicine

[Switzerland] : [Zeller A.G.?], [1959] (Zürich : Impr. Hug et Fils S.A.)

1 print : lithograph, printed in colours ; sheet 100 x 70 cm

Les remèdes Zeller à base de plantes sont efficaces et garantis inoffensifs

Bears device: a circle with blue and white vertical stripes (livery of canton of Zürich) and a black sector on the right (device of designer of of the printer?)

Wellcome Collection 659495i