I have taken photos of this sign at Morpeth, New South Wales, a few years ago and thought I would post another photo when we visited the area recently.
Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills have their genesis in William Henry Comstock's father, Edwin P. Comstock, who founded a drug company in New York City in 1833.
The Indian Root Pills were first formulated and manufactured in 1854 by Andrew B. Moore, who was then operating under the name A.B. Moore in Buffalo, New York. Rights to the pills were then transferred through a number of different business partnerships under the control of Moore, Andrew J. White, Baldwin L. Judson, George Wells Comstock and his nephew, William Henry Comstock.
Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills became one of the most successful and enduring products to be manufactured and marketed in North America as part of the lucrative patent medicine industry, which thrived during most of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its manufacturer claimed the pills contained herbal ingredients that would help "cleanse the blood," as "impurity of the blood" was believed to be the cause of all disease. WIKIPEDIA
Stories suggesting that the origin of the medications formula lay in native American folklore were first disseminated as early as the late 1850's, but in fact were entirely fabrication. There never was a Dr. Morse. The originator of these pills was Andrew B. Moore.
Prescription of Dr Morse's Root Pills continued until at least the 1940's but mostly declined soon after World War 1.
The Root Pills were recommended as a cure for biliousness, dyspepsia, constipation, sick headache, scrofula, kidney disease, liver complaint, jaundice, piles, dysentery, colds, boils, malarial fever, flatulence, foul breath, eczema, gravel, worms, female complaints, rheumatism, neuralgia, la grippe, palpitation, and nervousness.
Originally the formula was of course a closely guarded secret but by the 1930's it was revealed to be a concoction of Aloes, Mandrake, Gamboge, Jalap and Cayenne Pepper.
Interesting information and a good shot to go along with it. That's quite a list of complaints the pills supposedly cured, a couple of which I've never heard off.
Super advertising building for this wonder pill claimed to cure anything under the sun it seems -- who needs a Dr if you have a couple of these pills to hand !! :)
With such a long list of cures, Im sure everyone would have some in their bathroom cabinet. I love the bold advertising. I wonder how long it will continue to shout out to the world.
