Hi Jeremy,
I have found these two sources to be very useful for discovering the
ingredients of patent meds:
Hiss, A. Emil (1900) Thesaurus of Proprietary Preparations and
Pharmaceutical Specialties, including "patent" medicines,
proprietary pharmaceuticals, open-formula specialties, synthetic
remedies, etc. Chicago: G.P.Engelhard & Co.
Oleson, Charles (1896) [1889] Secret Nostrums and Systems of
Medicine. Chicago: Oleson & Co. Publishers.
I've also been making a little database of patent meds relevant for
what's turned up at Irish-American sites in the NYC area (with
ingredients, advertisements), etc. and I'm pasting below what
I have in terms of ingredients for worming and dysentery meds.
What site/ region/ time period are you looking for?
Worming meds:
1.Fahnestock vermifuge-
A."This is said to be similar to the patent preparation: take of-
Castor oil 48 parts, oil worm-seed 48 parts, oil anise 24 parts,
oil turpentine 1 part, tincture Myrh 3 parts mix. (according to
National Druggist) (Oleson 1896: 61)
B. Fahnestock vermifuge- The following makes a similar prep
(according to New Idea): castor oil 1fl oz, santonin 2 gr, oil of
chenopodium 30 m..dissolve the santonin in the castor oil by the
aid of heat, and when cool, add the other oil (Hiss 1900: 130)
2. Brown's Male Fern Vermifuge:
A. The following makes a similar prep (according to New Idea) fluid
extract of male fern 3 fl oz, simple syrup 5 fl oz, oil of
wintergreen 1 drop (Hiss 1900: 63)
-In general, strong cathartics like castor oil, aloes, and senna
were used in patent preparations for worming and they overlap with
prescription meds for the same aliments. That said, some patent
meds also include folk cures for worms [like wormseed
(Chenipodium)in Fahenstock's used in African American folk
medicine].
Anti-Dysentery:
1. Tobias’ Venetian Liniment:
Advertisement:
“NO PAY, if Dr. Tobias' Venetian Liniment does
not cure (when first taken) Cholera, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Croup,
Colic, and Sea Sickness. Taken internally, warranted perfectly
harmless, (see oath accompanying each bottle,) and Chronic
Rheumatism, Sore Throats, Mumps, Bruises, Old Sores, Pains in the
Limbs, Back, and Chest. Externally, this Liniment has been
warranted for over 26 years, and not one bottle returned. Many
families have used it for years, and state if it was $10 per bottle
they would not be without it. Depot, 10 Park Place, New York.”
(Harper’s Weekly Oct 11, 1873: 902) a few other variants- see also
(Harper’s Weekly 7.27.1867:479) & (Harper’s Weekly 8.10.1867: 511)
Ingredients:
Take of spirits of ammonia 5 parts, camphor 2 parts, tincture of
capiscum 5 parts, alcohol 34 parts, water 10 parts mix them (Oleson
1896: 179)
Tobias' Venetian Liniment: Ammonia Water 5 parts, camphor 2 parts,
tincture of capiscum 30 gr, alcohol 200 parts, water 6 parts (Hiss
1900: 257)
2. Dr. S.P. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla :
Ad: “Great American Remedy… scrofulous affections, bilious eruptions
of the skin, salt rheum, scurvy, summer complaints, female
complaints, effects of mercury, fever sores, dysentery, and all
IMPURITIES OF THE BLOOD.. Dr.James R. Chilton’s certificate on each
bottle. Wholesale and retail 41 Fulton St. (Harper’s Weekly
6.30.1860:414)
Ingredients probably similar to these preparations recommended as a
duplicate for Ayer’s Sarasparilla:
A. Take fluid extract of sarsparilla 3oz., fluid extract of
Stillingia 3oz. Fl ext of yellow dock 2oz, Fl ext of may apple 2
oz, sugar 1oz, Iodide potassium 90 gr, Iodide iron 10 gr (according
to Chicago Druggist ) (Oleson 1896: 10)
B. The following has similar properties- fl ext of sarsaparilla 3 fl
oz, fl ext of stillingia 3 fl oz, fl ext of yellow dock 2 fl oz, fl
ext of podophyllum 2 fl oz, sugar av. Oz. 1, potassium iodide 90
gr, iron iodide 10 gr (Hiss 1900: 42)
Hope this helps! I'd be interested in hearing more about your
project.
Meredith Linn
Quoting Jeremy Pye <[log in to unmask]>:
> Greetings all,
>
> Sorry to interrupt the recent deluge of button emails,
> but I wanted to ask if anyone might know of references
> that discuss ingredients of 19th century patent
> medicines. Specifically, I am interested in
> ingredients that went in to worming medications, and
> those medicines which claimed to cure dysentery.
>
> Thanks,
> Jeremy Pye
>
>
>
>
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