One of the keepsakes I inherited from my grandmother is a 40 page pamphlet entitled 80 Famous Prescriptions. The price, as imprinted on the front cover, was $5 in the late 1800s. Translated to today’s dollars, that would be approximately $141.
So this $5 purchase in 1899 was a whopper. I figure that 1899 is a good bet for purchase as the last page of the pamphlet has handwriting in pencil that reads, “Luther Hepner, his book, December 14, 1899.”
According to the website prescriptiondrugs.procon.org, “Prescriptions for any drugs were not required until 1951 with the Durham-Humphrey amendments to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” (Fun fact: the amendments were co-sponsored by then Senator Hubert Humphrey who would later go on to serve as Vice President under President Lyndon Johnson. Humphrey had been a pharmacist in South Dakota before launching his political career.)
This book gives a fascinating and unique view of America by showing us what their health-related concerns were if we can base that on what they focused on curing!
Ailments such as asthma, earaches, jaundice, colic, blood purification, and constipation are addressed. Then lesser problems like foul breath and dandruff are given their due.
Prescription #52 helps us cure sweaty feet because, “There is nothing more disgusting than the odor from sweaty feet.” If that statement is true, then being around my dog Riley after he’s eaten ribs is a close second.
Rx #53 is a “special remedy for hysterics and nervousness and quieting the nerves. Very highly recommended.” The first ingredient in this prescription is valerian. Being unfamiliar with that, I checked it out to find that valerian root is still used today as a way to ease tension. So 120 years ago, they may have been on to something.
Without warning or segue, the prescriptions switch over from helping human conditions to curing animal issues. There are fifteen prescriptions relating to horse ailments, one for dog mange, and one each for hog cholera and chicken cholera. #78 is a “welcome prescription” for a powder to make hens lay better eggs.
I don’t know if folks simply took this pamphlet to pharmacists and ordered as if from a Chinese menu. “I’ll have a #8, #17, and #23…and that would be to go.”
The final prescription, #80, is the “best bed bug exterminator known.” Give me a shout if you want me to email that one to you. Your secret will be safe with me. Unless, of course, you decide to request it in the comment section; all bets are off then.
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Here’s a link to further reading if you’re interested:
How come you got all the good stuff from Grandma Elizabeth? Some years back, I could have used the remedy for dogs who had mange. Our new neighbors have 10 chickens so they could probably use prescription #78. I will have to inform them about the powder to make their hens lay better eggs.
Would you like me to add to my will that you get this booklet?
ABSOLUTELY! You never know, I may get another dog someday! And our neighbors’ chickens will not need any powder to make them lay better eggs. We have been the recipients of a dozen brown eggs so far – and were told they get 7 go 10 eggs a day now from the chickens. YUMMY!
OK. I’ve added a sticky note to the front cover: “To whom it may concern. Should my sister Beverly outlive me, I, by own desire and sound mind, do herewith bequeath this booklet to her.”
I think your sister is jealous. What did she inherit?