The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-04-06
SOME SECRETS OF
PATENT MEDICINES
The History OF the Origin of Many
of These Remedies Has
Been Peculiar.
VISIT TO A LABORATORY
Process of Manufacture as Seen in
an Establishment known rs
ButlalO's Seventh Wonder.

Y
/ 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-
ctary, or as they are more commonly
| known, patent medicines, has in some
| instances been peculiar. For instance,
a certain tonic which is dispensed mt
all soda water fountains and is found
most refreshing by thousands of per-
sons, and which is used constantly hy
many brain workers, was originated
by "A Harvard professor. 1t was found
to be so beneficial that this professor
aitcrWard 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-
fcrred a benefit upon mankind and he
was surely entitled to reap the reward
! of his labors.
Many other patent medicines have
similar history. For instance, again,
DR.. Pierce's Family Mcdicincs-kn
throughout the world as the oFavorte
Prescription and the Golden Medical
Discovery" were first used by Doctor
Ray Y. 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 ply
scian's prescription, than he could by
simply retaining them in private prac-
tice. And so he deicd 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 mcdi-
cnes but as one of the worlds greatest
advertisers. Because he has been a
liberal patron of the newspapers for
over onc-thrd of a century, DR.. Pierce
has never suffered any in the cstima-
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 IA pro-
grcssive and public-sprtcd citizen,
Many attacks have been made upon
patent medicines of late. For some
reason certain persons have felt them
selves called upon to dccry 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 pcricCting them and making
thor N1III1 IL a tho Mic Rpt
in answer to these attacks an invcstga-
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
esty behind them. The thing which
is of no value in this world has short
existence, and il the Pierce Family
Medicines were not what they are
claimed to be they would not have a
proved record Of millions of cures in
the period during which they have
been upon the market.
One of the most interesting pstab-
lishmcnts in Buffalo is the Worlds
DlSpcnsary, where these medicines are
mHuuIactured. Here DR.. Pierce main
tans a great laboratory for the manu-
tacturc of the remedies which bear his
name. He also has n hospital adjunct,
known as the lnyalids Hotel, where
thousands of persons have gone for
special treatment. This laboratory and
hospital are visited by many curious
persons to whom the name Of Doctor
Pierce is known and who desire to see
the establishment which he has built
up because of the efficacy of his rem
edlcs. 1t is worth a visit. 1t employs
force of about $50 persons, including
PHYSICIANS surgeons, chemists bac-
tcrlologlsts, pharmacists and other pro-
icSslOnal men.
To the observer, perhaps the most
interesting department Of this place is
the laboratory, where the Pierce Family
Remedies are made. The difference
between the maker Of patent mcdi-
cine and private practitioner is
simply that while the latter buys the
medicines which ne gives his patient or
gives HIM a prescription which he takes
to the druggist and which the latter
puts up IN Il small dose, behind par
tltlon, where you can not see him. the
patent medicine maker takes the in
gradients which he knows will produce
certain desired effects and puts them
together IN large quantities. But the
latter does his work Just as carefully
and just as scientifically as do the ply
stefan and the druggist. At least that
is the rule in Dir. Picrce's establish
mpnt
The Pierce Medicines are made OF
roots and herbs and banks Of known
and tried properties These are gath
cred IN the woods and fields by experts
and are brought to DR.. Picrcc's estab-
lishmcnt in large quantities. There are
bins and bins Of these roots and herbs
and banks, ready for the use Of the
chemists when needed. Let us suppose
that it is time to make up quantity
OF the "favorite Prescription. The
necessary Ingredients are taken from
the storage bins and carried to the
mill, where they are ground. Then
they are taken to the laboratory, where
they are mixed in the proper proper
tlOns and put to steep IN great watts
containing 500 gallons. This labor
atory is just as cleanly as woman's
kitchen, All the machinery is run by
electricity and there is entire absence
Of anything to create dust and dirt.
When these ingredients have been
properly combined the medicine is
rapidly bottled, the bottles corked and
sealed, then Tabled, then wrapped and
then packed for shipment to almost
every point IN the world.
Another interesting department in
this establishment il that devoted to
printing the familiar little yellow COW
errd memorandum books which bear
the Pierce name. Something like Is, 900
Of these are printed and sent out every
day. The hospital, or lnyalids Hotel,
is patronized by hundreds OF sufferers
from various ills who come there be-
cause they are assured Of the most
scIeMtIllC treatment lnrnn AinN Of