Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-02-23
SOME SECRETS OF
PATENT MEDICINES
The History Of the Origin Of Many
Of These Remedies Has
Been Peculiar.
VISIT TOA LABORATORY
Process of Manufacture as Seen in
an Establishment Known as
BufialO's Seventh Wonder.

II we could trace the origin of the
many things which enter into our daily
life we would doubtless be greatly sur-
priced at what we would learn. In some
Instances we would find that thew had
their beginning in mere accident In
other cases we would find that thew
originated in some stroke of genius In
still others we would find that they are
the direct outgrowth of patience and per-
sistence. In others we would discover
that some article which is of constant
and almost universal use was known to
only the few until some man decided
TO give what he knew to be of great
benefit to the whole world.
The history of the origin of propri-
etary, or as they are more commonly
known, patent medicines, has in some
instances been peculiar. For instance.
a certain tonic which is dispensed at
all soda water fountains and is found
most refreshing by thousands of per-
sons, and which is used constantly by
many brain workers, was originated
by a Harvard professor 1t was found
to be so beneficial that this professor
atterward determined to put it upon the
market in shape for use by all who de-
sired. The result has been that not only
is this tonic used with benefit by almost
untold numbers but the professors
family is in receipt of a large income
from the sale. There is certainly moth
ing wrong in this, The professor con-
ferred a benefit upon mankind and he
was surely entitled to reap the reward
of his labors. q
Many other patent medicines have a
similar history. For instance, again,
Dr. Pierce's Family edicnes-known
throughout the world as the "Favorite
Prescription and the "Golden Medical
Discovery"-were first used by Doctor
Ray V, Pierce, in his private practice,
with great success. He finally deter
mined that he could do more good to
suffering humanity by placing them on
public sale where they could be OBJ
tanned without the expense of a ply
sician's prescription, than he could by
simply retaining them in private prac-
tice. And so he defed the ethics of
his profession, which deny physicians
the right to advertise, and he is now
known as not only the proprietor of one
of the best of the many patent medi-
cines but as one of the world greatest
advertisers. Because he has been a
liberal patron of the newspapers for
over one-third of century, DR., Pierce
has never suffered any in the estima-
ton of his fellow townsmen at Buffalo,
where his mammoth establishment is
located, for they have given him many
honors, sent him to Congress and State
Senate, and he is recognized as a pro-
gressive and public-spirited citizen.
Many attacks have been made upon
patent medicines of late. For some
reason certain persons have felt them
selves called upon to decry their use, to
throw doubt upon their efficacy, to
question their honesty as well as the
honor of those who have spent life
time in perfecting them and making
their value known to the public. But
in answer to these attacks an investiga-
ton was demanded and it was proven
that these medicines which for nearly
forty years had retained the confidence
of the public did have merit and hon