Dianna Edwards and Writing
  • About me
  • Short stories
    • Death in the Desert
    • Secrets
    • Airport Drama
    • Acacia
    • Two Chooks in December
    • A Darned Surprise
    • The Sunset Mermaid
    • Friend or Foe?
    • At Rainbow's End
    • Sisterly Love
    • Good Times to Come
    • Being Famous
    • Something Special for Dinner
    • Walter's Secret
    • The Visitor
  • Children's stories
    • The Red Silk Kite
    • The Singing Tree
    • Beatrice Barnfeather
    • Garth's bath
    • Little Dog Tambo
    • Flowers For a Special Day
  • Non Fiction
    • Letter to a Soldier
    • The Body
    • Autumn Saturday
    • A Year With Billy
    • Lunch
    • Harry's Story
    • 2007 bushfires
    • My Father's Kite
    • Death of a Chook
    • Gentle Heartache
    • Shopping with Sisters
    • When I am Old
    • Matilda
    • Fragments
  • Blog

BLOG

A War of Nerves

12/5/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Is anyone even old enough to remember Bourn Vita? How about Ovaltine?
I have in my hand, courtesy of a delightful gift from an old friend, a copy of (the British mag) PUNCH, from 1940.
The topmost banner on the front page, praises the goodness of a drink called ‘Bourn Vita’.
Inside the cover is a similar advertisement singing the praises of ‘Ovaltine’.
These were drinks, consisting of a sort of chocolate-y malt powder to be mixed with milk, “for sleep, nerves and energy” and “adequate reserves of nerve strength”.
Guaranteed to give you a “good night’s sleep” with “nerve building elements”.
Apparently, in 1940, everyone was having trouble getting “a good night’s sleep”.
(Don’t mention the war).
There are also ads for cigarettes and tobacco, one cigarette, “made specially to prevent sore throats” (True!)
And reminders to “save all wastepaper”. Frugality messages were clear!
Of course, in the magazines there are also short stories and poems – some serious, others humorous, mostly quaint, (as seen from a distance of 80 years) plus a few supposedly pointed, political excerpts gleaned from newspapers.
But the first fascination for me was the advertisements.
It seems that the populace in 1940 had many problems connected with health and the inability to sleep.
There were suggestions of a great need of nerve tonics and sleep aids.
The amazing thing is that the lack of sleep and the “nerve” worries is never directly – well, not in print, anyway – associated with the fact that people were stressed out and terrified due to being in the midst of the Second World War!
Perhaps some years later, Bourn Vita and Ovaltine could have been recommended to be consumed by the brave soldiers, sailors, and airmen when (if) they eventually returned from battle.
The promise of any help for “sleep, nerves and energy” must have had some appeal.
However, from what I gather, any courageous returned personnel mostly preferred beer – and possibly something stronger - than a milky chocolate drink, to dull the awful memories of war.
Nowadays we recognise post-traumatic stress as a likely condition in our returning military men and women.
Perhaps a mug of warm Bourn Vita would help them?
I think not.
Incidentally, I was also given a 1948 copy of PUNCH and you will be pleased to know that attitudes had changed to a more positive approach to life and, although smoking was still in evidence, the need for copious amounts of Bourn Vita and Ovaltine and other ‘nerve aids’ seem to be missing; Replaced by ads for clothes, cars and chocolate.
 

1 Comment

    Author notes

    I choose to comment on social issues and write creatively on a variety of subjects -  for a variety of audiences.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012

    Categories

    All
    Childhood
    House
    Kindness
    On Death
    Social Comment
    Writing

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About me
  • Short stories
    • Death in the Desert
    • Secrets
    • Airport Drama
    • Acacia
    • Two Chooks in December
    • A Darned Surprise
    • The Sunset Mermaid
    • Friend or Foe?
    • At Rainbow's End
    • Sisterly Love
    • Good Times to Come
    • Being Famous
    • Something Special for Dinner
    • Walter's Secret
    • The Visitor
  • Children's stories
    • The Red Silk Kite
    • The Singing Tree
    • Beatrice Barnfeather
    • Garth's bath
    • Little Dog Tambo
    • Flowers For a Special Day
  • Non Fiction
    • Letter to a Soldier
    • The Body
    • Autumn Saturday
    • A Year With Billy
    • Lunch
    • Harry's Story
    • 2007 bushfires
    • My Father's Kite
    • Death of a Chook
    • Gentle Heartache
    • Shopping with Sisters
    • When I am Old
    • Matilda
    • Fragments
  • Blog