Tag Archives: tonics

Tonics and Restoratives

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Coca-Cola as a Health Aid

Coca-Cola as a Health Aid

When the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians first opened, its medical care was in line with what was available elsewhere in a custodial facility. Many of Canton Asylum’s patients suffered several health issues, along with whatever mental distress they endured. Canton Asylum’s doctor, John F. Turner, was not an alienist (see 3/11/10 and 3/28/10 posts) so he concentrated on addressing physical issues.

He prescribed tonics and restoratives for his patients, and unless he concocted his own, they probably contained a potent dose of alcohol at the very least. Beef and Iron Wine tonic (made from beef juice, iron citrate and medicinal wine) was considered a powerful blood tonic, and may have actually held a bit of nourishment. Other tonics in the early 1900s contained cocaine, opium, herbs and barks, and plenty of alcohol.

The pictures included here are representative only, and not necessarily what Turner gave his patients.

Dr. Teacher's Syrup

Dr. Teacher's Syrup

Beef and Wine Tonic

Beef and Wine Tonic

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It Cures What Ails You

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Blood, Liver and Stomach Renovator

Patent medicines reached out to a populace with little faith in, or access to, medical doctors. Manufacturers  generally leaned on heavy doses of alcohol and great advertising to move their products, which often promised to cure just about anything a patient could have. Promoters of these cure-alls favored personal testimonials that gave weight to their medicine’s powers. Many of the medicines also relied on an association with Native Americans.

Despite the cultural bias of the times, there did seem to be widespread respect for the centuries of medical wisdom that Native Americans had accumulated. Makers of patent medicine tried to establish a link to their potion and secret Indian recipes to give credibility to their concoctions.

 

Here are some popular patent medicines that linked themselves to Native Americans:

Patent Medicine Label

1. Indian Restorative Bitters.

2. Chief Wahoo Electric Tonic

3. Alacaster’s Indian Vegetable Jaundice Bitters

4. Goff’s Indian Vegetable Cough Syrup

5. Clements Indian Tonic

6. Dr. Morse’s Indian Root Pills