“Cure the disease but kill the patient”

                                                Francis Bacon,  Painter   1909-1992

                                            By Jesse J Elliot 

  In an age where few people believed or knew the existence of bacteria, Bacon’s quote was most appropriate.  Some of the medications in the Old West were medicinal herbs that had been used for millenniums, while others were concoctions of various chemicals that were put together by well meaning or in some cases, charlatan quacks. Prior to 1943 and the discovery of penicillin, physicians, healers, and quacks used a variety of methods to cure a patient: herbs, poultices, and various procedures—some that cured the ailment, but in the long run killed the patient.  

Mercury, perhaps, was one of the most common medicines used—especially for curing venereal diseases. The mercury ointments caused great pain and even killed the patient. Sweat baths were also used, as some healers believed sweating could actually purge the patient of his disease.  Unfortunately, though mercury was used for centuries, it didn’t cure the patient. 

Another common disease was gonorrhea or “the clap.”  This disease was also treated with mercury as well as silver nitrate, arsenic, bismuth and even gold. These metals were administered as irrigations or injections into the urethra (OW!). Ingredients derived from animals and minerals were also added sometimes to treat the symptoms of gonorrhea. Sadly enough, none of these deadly applications cured the disease.

Prior to the first use of penicillin against syphilis in 1943, mercury had a prominent position in the medical practice despite its tremendous toxicity and a questionable efficiency. In fact, for 450 years mercury remained the drug of choice.  

Other “must have” medicines included turpentine, borax, and cream of tartar. In fact, the pony express riders during their short existence were only allowed these three items in their first aid kit in order to keep their weight at a minimal amount. Turpentine, though useful as a topical item to avoid infection, was unfortunately used too often for other ailments and taken internally. Yes, it killed the worms for which it was drunk, but also it also killed the poor patient. Ingestion is often toxic, causing kidney damage and bleeding in the lungs.

White willow bark was boiled and used for headaches and to reduce fever.  Sound familiar? That’s because the bark contained aspirin qualities, salicin—the main ingredient of aspirin. The use of this bark can be traced back 3500 years. The use of white willow is found throughout the world. Interestingly, the bark of white oak was also used for headaches and fevers, but it contains little salicin.

Many of the processed medicines used contained lead acetate, a white crystalline compound of lead with a sweetish taste. Known as “sugar of lead.” Similar to other lead compounds, it is very poisonous and soluble in water. FYI: the Romans used it to sweeten their food in spite of recognizing its toxicity.

If you were going west, you stocked up on a long list of medical supplies:

Laudanum: a tincture of opium mixed with alcohol. A cure all for everything from surgical patients to women’s menstrual cramps to babies teething.  A lot of opium addicts in the 19th Century.

    Castor Oil: Castor oil is used to treat constipation. It may also be used to clean out the intestines before a bowel examination/surgery.  Its use dates back to the Egyptians.

Blue Mass: concoction of mercury and chalk

Quinine: By 1850, quinine was widely used around the world to fight fevers from malaria and other diseases.

Sugar of Lead:  lead acetate

Coal oil: Coal oil is a shale oil obtained from the destructive distillation of cannel coal, mineral wax, or bituminous shale, once used widely for illumination. 

Coal oil was once used as an internal and topical home remedy as a general cure-all for many ailments, including coughs, flu, cuts, abrasions, and wounds.

Ipecac: Used to create vomiting in case of poisons. Also used for croup and bronchitis.

Paregoric: anhydrous morphine—used to stop diarrhea. (Check ingredients in modern Imodium.)

Epsom salts: Magnesium sulfate, sold as Epsom salt, is a mineral compound that's used for different health and medical purposes. It's taken orally for occasional constipation, and it's also used as a soaking solution to help relieve pain caused by soreness, muscle aches, sprains, bruises, or other ailments.

Mustard Seed: Black mustard oil is used for the common cold, painful joints and muscles (rheumatism), and arthritis. Black mustard seed is used for causing vomiting, relieving water retention (edema) by increasing urine production, and increasing appetite.

Cream of Tartar: Also known as potassium bitartrate, cream of tartar is the powdered form of tartaric acid. Often used for indigestion.

Blue Stone: Copper sulfate, Copper has shown to have strong antimicrobial properties, with the ability to kill various bacteria. It has also been shown that copper promotes new blood vessel formation and therefore enhances wound healing.

Heartshorn:  a precursor to baking soda

An identified doctor sent a list of treatments for well, almost everything to his friends who were going west on a wagon train. These are the directions to treat colic. 

Oral medication for COLIC– Give a double dose of Castor Oil with ½ teaspoon of turpentine—repeat every three hours. As soon as it acts, the colic is gone.

Poultices were used to treat any respiratory disease, however, it was also used for indigestion and other inflictions. The most popular seem to have been made of bread, linseed, or mustard mixed with water. The use of bran, flour and starch was also common, and medical preparations, or herbs such as comfrey and horseradish root, were often added to the mix. The good thing is, no one died from a poultice. 

Considering that most of the medications were poisonous, it’s amazing anyone lived. And, if perchance they did survive the disease, the continued intake of the medicine would either kill you or turn you into an addict.