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Greetings all,
The following is a list of the herbs and drugs Francis Tumblety bought from a local druggist with the intension to sell to his patients, at least in New Brunswick, Canada, in 1860 (as per Mr. Barker, a druggist deposed in court and reported in The Head Quarters, October 3, 1860.) I looked up the information within the brackets.
1. Irish Moss
[The Irish moss became associated with the Irish potato famine that occurred in the middle of the 19th century, the Irish moss was consumed as a food by thousands of desperate Irish people to ward off starvation. The starving population took to eating the bushy curly red, purple, or yellow-green seaweed known as Irish moss - botanical name Chondrus crispus. The Irish moss is also used as an herbal remedy by native peoples in times of plenty; this humble seaweed has been used as an effective laxative and as a home remedy to treat persistent sore throats and chapped skin during the winter.]
2. Compound extract of Sarsaparilla
[Sarsaparilla extract has been popular as a homeopathic herbal medicine for hundreds of years, particularly among the indigenous peoples of North and South America. Among its numerous medicinal uses, sarsaparilla has historically been valued as a treatment for syphilis. It has also served variously as a diuretic, an antibacterial and antiviral agent, and an appetite suppressant, though its efficacy in these cases is largely unproven. Its uses have been as eclectic as a treatment for rheumatism in Honduras and Peru, to a curative for leprosy among some Amazon tribes. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sarsaparilla was a popular and common ingredient in many quack medicines in the United States and Europe.]
3. Mandrake
[Excellent regulator for liver and bowels. In chronic liver diseases it has no equal. Valuable in jaundice, bilious or intermittent fever. Good physic; is often combined with senna leaves. It is very beneficial in uterine diseases. It acts powerfully upon all the tissues of the body. Native Americans and early settlers used the roots as a strong purgative, "liver cleanser", emetic, worm expellent, for jaundice, constipation, hepatitis, fevers, and syphilis. Resin from the root, podophyllin (highly allergenic), used to treat venereal warts. Etoposide, a semisynthetic derivative of this plant, is FDA-approved for testicular and small-cell lung cancer. The Old Testament recommended mandrake as a cure for sterility especially in women].
4. Balsam Copaiba and Sweet Spirits of Nitre, in equal proportions
[Traditional uses include applications to skin for treatment of cuts, bruises, burns and fungal infections. Taken internally copaiba is used to cure asthma, gastric ulcers, and gonorrhoea. Modern research (Soukup 1986) describes Copaiba's internal use against incontinence, syphilis, bronchitis and tuberculosis. Liver problems, Arthritis, Psoriasis, Stomach ulcers, Gonorrhoea, Hypertension, Uterus cancer, Tumors, spirits of nitre helps to avoid nausea when ingested]
5. A cough mixture composed of Balsam of Fir and Balsam of Tolu, with some other simple ingredients.
[Balsam of Fir: The resin is used to produce Canada balsam, and was traditionally used as a cold remedy]
[Tolu balsam or balsam of Tolu is the resinous secretion of Myroxylon balsamum. The resin, as well as the leaves and fruit, have been traditionally used by the people of Central America and South America to relieve coughs and asthma, and to treat wounds. The resin is still used in certain cough syrup formulas. However its main use in the modern era is in perfumery, where it is valued for its warm, mellow yet somewhat spicy scent. It is also used as a natural remedy for skin rashes. Ironically, it is a well known cause of contact dermatitis, a form of skin allergy.]
6. Cayenne Pepper, and Davis’ Pain Killer
[Cayenne is a favorite with herbalists from many countries, and in the U.S., it was the "number two" favorite remedy of Samuel Thompson of the early 1800s, who started a popular herbal multi-level marketing extravaganza with his patent formulas--sort of a 19th century Herbal Life. He used it especially for helping to ward off and even expel the contagion of serious infectious diseases. It was used to treat dropsy, rheumatism, restore ‘internal heat’, and treating alcohol and opium addiction]
[Davis’ Pain Killer, or "PAIN KILLER", was patented by Perry Davis in 1845. It is believed to be the first nationally advertised remedy specifically for pain - as distinct from a particular disorder. "Pain Killer" was distributed by Christian missionaries around the world. In its heyday, Perry Davis' "vegetable elixir" was widely regarded as a wonderdrug. Its ingredients, mainly opiates and ethyl alcohol, were entirely natural. The concoction was created Perry Davis in 1840. Since "Perry Davis Pain Killer" was a registered trade brand name, there was no legal requirement to make its ingredients public on the bottle.]
This shows that Tumblety was up with the times in nineteenth century herbal remedies. Today, he would have been considered an expert in homeopathic medicine. Many of these remedies are still used today. It is understandable why Tumblety could get testimonials from people. Even though they called these Indian Herb Doctors ‘quacks’, they weren’t ‘fakes’. Tumblety, though, called himself an MD and professed to have surgical expertise, so he could be considered a fake in those terms.
Sincerely,
Mike
The following is a list of the herbs and drugs Francis Tumblety bought from a local druggist with the intension to sell to his patients, at least in New Brunswick, Canada, in 1860 (as per Mr. Barker, a druggist deposed in court and reported in The Head Quarters, October 3, 1860.) I looked up the information within the brackets.
1. Irish Moss
[The Irish moss became associated with the Irish potato famine that occurred in the middle of the 19th century, the Irish moss was consumed as a food by thousands of desperate Irish people to ward off starvation. The starving population took to eating the bushy curly red, purple, or yellow-green seaweed known as Irish moss - botanical name Chondrus crispus. The Irish moss is also used as an herbal remedy by native peoples in times of plenty; this humble seaweed has been used as an effective laxative and as a home remedy to treat persistent sore throats and chapped skin during the winter.]
2. Compound extract of Sarsaparilla
[Sarsaparilla extract has been popular as a homeopathic herbal medicine for hundreds of years, particularly among the indigenous peoples of North and South America. Among its numerous medicinal uses, sarsaparilla has historically been valued as a treatment for syphilis. It has also served variously as a diuretic, an antibacterial and antiviral agent, and an appetite suppressant, though its efficacy in these cases is largely unproven. Its uses have been as eclectic as a treatment for rheumatism in Honduras and Peru, to a curative for leprosy among some Amazon tribes. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sarsaparilla was a popular and common ingredient in many quack medicines in the United States and Europe.]
3. Mandrake
[Excellent regulator for liver and bowels. In chronic liver diseases it has no equal. Valuable in jaundice, bilious or intermittent fever. Good physic; is often combined with senna leaves. It is very beneficial in uterine diseases. It acts powerfully upon all the tissues of the body. Native Americans and early settlers used the roots as a strong purgative, "liver cleanser", emetic, worm expellent, for jaundice, constipation, hepatitis, fevers, and syphilis. Resin from the root, podophyllin (highly allergenic), used to treat venereal warts. Etoposide, a semisynthetic derivative of this plant, is FDA-approved for testicular and small-cell lung cancer. The Old Testament recommended mandrake as a cure for sterility especially in women].
4. Balsam Copaiba and Sweet Spirits of Nitre, in equal proportions
[Traditional uses include applications to skin for treatment of cuts, bruises, burns and fungal infections. Taken internally copaiba is used to cure asthma, gastric ulcers, and gonorrhoea. Modern research (Soukup 1986) describes Copaiba's internal use against incontinence, syphilis, bronchitis and tuberculosis. Liver problems, Arthritis, Psoriasis, Stomach ulcers, Gonorrhoea, Hypertension, Uterus cancer, Tumors, spirits of nitre helps to avoid nausea when ingested]
5. A cough mixture composed of Balsam of Fir and Balsam of Tolu, with some other simple ingredients.
[Balsam of Fir: The resin is used to produce Canada balsam, and was traditionally used as a cold remedy]
[Tolu balsam or balsam of Tolu is the resinous secretion of Myroxylon balsamum. The resin, as well as the leaves and fruit, have been traditionally used by the people of Central America and South America to relieve coughs and asthma, and to treat wounds. The resin is still used in certain cough syrup formulas. However its main use in the modern era is in perfumery, where it is valued for its warm, mellow yet somewhat spicy scent. It is also used as a natural remedy for skin rashes. Ironically, it is a well known cause of contact dermatitis, a form of skin allergy.]
6. Cayenne Pepper, and Davis’ Pain Killer
[Cayenne is a favorite with herbalists from many countries, and in the U.S., it was the "number two" favorite remedy of Samuel Thompson of the early 1800s, who started a popular herbal multi-level marketing extravaganza with his patent formulas--sort of a 19th century Herbal Life. He used it especially for helping to ward off and even expel the contagion of serious infectious diseases. It was used to treat dropsy, rheumatism, restore ‘internal heat’, and treating alcohol and opium addiction]
[Davis’ Pain Killer, or "PAIN KILLER", was patented by Perry Davis in 1845. It is believed to be the first nationally advertised remedy specifically for pain - as distinct from a particular disorder. "Pain Killer" was distributed by Christian missionaries around the world. In its heyday, Perry Davis' "vegetable elixir" was widely regarded as a wonderdrug. Its ingredients, mainly opiates and ethyl alcohol, were entirely natural. The concoction was created Perry Davis in 1840. Since "Perry Davis Pain Killer" was a registered trade brand name, there was no legal requirement to make its ingredients public on the bottle.]
This shows that Tumblety was up with the times in nineteenth century herbal remedies. Today, he would have been considered an expert in homeopathic medicine. Many of these remedies are still used today. It is understandable why Tumblety could get testimonials from people. Even though they called these Indian Herb Doctors ‘quacks’, they weren’t ‘fakes’. Tumblety, though, called himself an MD and professed to have surgical expertise, so he could be considered a fake in those terms.
Sincerely,
Mike
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