19th Century Patent Medicine with Local Connections

 

J. Mark Lowe

As we approach the end of the year, we often look over our collections of items.  Many folks that I know have collected brightly colored bottles.  One of my cousins actually makes a bottle tree. 

Some of the many old bottles collected over the years are patent medicine bottles. The term "patent medicine" has become particularly associated with drug compounds in the 19th century, sold with colorful names and even more colorful claims. In ancient times, these compounds were called nostrum remedium, or our remedy  in Latin.  Also known as proprietary medicines, these mixtures were trademarked medicines but not patented.

Most manufacturers (often small family operations) used ingredients quite similar to their competitors. These were vegetable extracts laced with ample doses of alcohol. They were medicines with questionable effectiveness whose contents were usually kept secret and occasionally were deadly.

Originating in England as proprietary medicines manufactured under grants, or royal patents, to those who provided medicine to the Royal Family. These medicines were soon exported to America. Daffy's Elixir Salutis for colic and griping, or Dr. Bateman's Pectoral Drops were some of the first English patent medicines to arrive in North America. The medicines were sold by postmasters, grocers and other local merchants.

By the Civil War the manufacture of similar products had become a major industry in America. Often high in alcoholic content, these remedies were very popular with those who found this ingredient to be therapeutic. Many concoctions were fortified with morphine, opium, or cocaine. Unfortunately, parents seeking relief for their babies from colic or fussiness often administered these remedies with tragic results.

Remedies were available for almost any ailment. These remedies were openly sold to the public and claimed to cure or prevent nearly every ailment known to man, including  tuberculosis, colic in infants, indigestion or dyspepsia, and female complaints. This final category of medicines was very popular

offering hope for women to find relief from monthly discomforts. Consider J. Bradfield’s Female Regulator.

Dr. Josiah Bradfield was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee in 1829. He was the son of Daniel and Mary Bradfield of Murfreesboro. After farming for several years, Bradfield moved to West Point, Georgia near his in-laws, the Clarks. He became a merchant and began to be interested in patent medicines and became a druggist. He moved to Atlanta during the Civil War and began to manufacture patent medicine on a large scale. His remedies were Bradfield's Female Regulator, Mother's Friend and Pryor's Ointment. He advertised these products across the country extensively.

An 1881 Atlanta magazine describes his store. “Dr. Josiah Bradfield drug store is located at No. 26, Whitehall. The name is at once recognized as familiar, in connection with a noted female remedy. Dr. Bradfield, the compounder of the medicine, is proprietor of this drug establishment, and has a fine line of pure drugs and medicines and all the popular patent remedies. He keeps a large assortment of colognes and toilet goods. He furnishes the trade, or single orders from a distance, promptly. His prescription department is carefully conducted, and the drug store is first-class in all its appointments. His business in this line has grown very rapidly on account of the satisfaction of customers.”

Bradfield ran advertisements in newspapers using letters from satisfied customers. Henry D. Featherston from Robertson county was one of those customers.

November 27, 1880.

Sir: My daughter has been suffering for many years with that dreadful affliction known as “Female Disease,” which has cost me many dollars, and, notwithstanding I had the best medical attendance, could not find relief. I have used many other kinds of medicines without any effect. I had just about given her up, was out of heart, but happened in the store of W. W. Eckles several weeks since and he, knowing of my daughter’s affliction, persuaded me to buy a bottle of your Female Regulator. She began to improve at once. I was so delighted with its effects that I bought several more bottles.

The price - $1.50 per bottle – seemed to be very high at first, but not I think it the cheapest preparation on the globe; and knowing what I do about it, if today one of my family was suffering with that awful disease, I woiuld have it if it cost $50 a bottle; for I can truthfully say it has cured my daughter sound and well, and my wife and self do most heartily recommend your Female Regulator to be just what it is recommended to be. Respectfully, H. D. Featherston.

Henry D. Featherston was the son of William and Elizabeth Jones Featherston. According to the family bible, Henry was born the 13^th of June 1823 in Robertson County.  He married Mary Draughon in April of 1846.  Mary died shortly after giving birth to a daughter, Nora, who lived 14 days.  Mary died in July 1851.

According to the U.S. Census taken in 1880, Henry D. Featherston and his family are living in Springfield. Henry is listed as a Census Enumerator. In his household are his wife, Margaret; daughter, Bell; son, McKinnin; and son, James.  The advertisement mentions his daughter, which according to this other record is Bell Featherston, who is seventeen years of age at the time.

Dr. Josiah Bradfield died in Atlanta on 5 August 1885 at age 56. He left a wife, two married sisters, and his brother, Dr. L. H. Bradfield (an Atlanta druggist). The brother, Lewis H. Bradfield, left Atlanta to engage in the wholesale drug business in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1898 with failing health he moved to Abilene, Texas where he died.

In 1909 the company started by Dr. Josiah Bradfield was charged by the Food and Drug Act of mislabeling product.

”This is one of the greatest comforts to those expecting to become confined. It is a remedy upon which confidence can be placed, one that will assist in the safe and quick delivery, and that shortens the duration of labor. Such is Mother's Friend. Try it. It is a blessing to suffering women." and on the other side of said carton: "Mother's Friend has been used by hundreds of ladies throughout the country. It has been prescribed by many of our best physicians, and all pronounce it a success, giving relief from the dreadful pains and suffering of this trying time. Every woman expecting to become a mother should use it."

The finding of the court showed that the label above set out was false and misleading in claiming for the said drug properties and powers which it did not possess. The product was removed from the market along with many other patent medicines.

Source: Atlanta illustrated (Clarke, 1881); 1880 Census; Elmwood Cem Records; Featherston Bible Records; 1910 Report of FDA Cases.