UPDATE: BABY SOOTHER

In an October 9, 2008, we referenced the Bullis book, Wayne County Directory, 1867-8. This is another volume in the collection that is fun to look through because it lists shopkeepers, blacksmiths, farmers, and other business people in towns, villages and hamlets that existed in this county almost 150 years ago. In that post, we mentioned an entry in the directory of advertisers for Mrs. Bristol's Baby Soother (which sold for 25 cents a bottle).

Now, almost six years later, in this month's issue of the Newark Arcadia Historical Society and Museum (NAHSM) newsletter, we found more details about this product as well as a photo of "one of the oldest bottles known from Newark," an embossed Mrs. Bristol's Baby Soother, made of aqua glass, 5 inches high and 1 3/8" in diameter. The author of the article speculated that the bottle was blown at the Clyde Glass Works in Clyde, NY.

The article also states that this baby soother was stated to be "The Great Remedy for Children...It will absolutely afford immediate relief for sudden pains or sickness...it will quickly cure griping in the bowels and wind colic...a dose given at bedtime will insure calm and pleasant sleep to both mother and child...for children teething nothing can equal it." All of this was part of the promotion for this product.

However, the author of the NAHSM newsletter also points out: "The problem was this medicine probably contained a high level of opium or morphine. Predating the 1906 Pure Food & Drug Act, it gradually became known that baby medicines did more harm than good, often resulting in death."

"Mrs. Bristol's Baby Soother was manufactured by Arbuckle & Co., owned by Joseph N. Arbuckle of Newark. The product was sold at D.C. Bristol's Drug Store, and possibly others."

So there you have it--an update.  And also a reminder that, although we sometimes become frustrated with current health and safety rules and regulations, they do protect us from products like the baby soother that was once thought to be "The Great Remedy for Children."

(And another reminder: You are invited to stop by the Bullis Room and look through the Wayne County Directory, 1867-8,  as well as other books in the collection. Just give us a call.)