Ghostly impressions on this cement canvas in the corner of Regent Square give us tantalising glimpses of long-extinct medicinal products.

In the days before purpose-made billboards and long before neon and LED signs, this was how you advertised your wares - by painting on the side of a conveniently-placed building. I bet the planning rules wouldn’t allow that now :-(

The most recent ad (quite possibly painted at least 80 years ago) appears to have been for “[B?]ates’s Salve” which “Cures Wounds & Sores”.

Beneath that a constipation cure? “KINGS CITRATE OF MAGNESIA… THE ORIGINAL, SAFEST & BEST “.

I wonder if they worked??

Actually, given what we know about the placebo effect, I’m sure they probably did, even if they shouldn’t have done. The mind is wonderful like that!