University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Archival
Pharmacy
Pharmacy, General
Home Health
Classification
Archival, Advertisements
Pharmacy
Pharmacy, General
Home Health
Accession Number
1977.12.200
Description
An advertising almanac for Zam-Buk and Zam-Buk Soap; gives advertisements, testimonials, and cooking tips; stapled twice down the spine; 15 pages total, pages 5-20 present.
An advertising almanac for Zam-Buk and Zam-Buk Soap; gives advertisements, testimonials, and cooking tips; stapled twice down the spine; 15 pages total, pages 5-20 present.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine.
Maker
Zam-Buk
Dates
1930
1950
circa 1930-1950
Material
paper: cream
ink: black
metal: grey
Inscriptions
Printed on first page: "3 WORLD - // FAMOUS // SCIENTISTS", "Cured after 15 Years' Suffering // HAVE YOU A BAD COLD? SEE PAGE 24"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-G Academy of Medicine Pharmaceutical Advertising Binder A
Length
20.1 cm
Width
12.5 cm
Depth
0.2 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Paper has severely yellowed and embrittled; much staining on interior; many areas of loss around edges; pages 1-4, 21-24 are missing; metal has corrosion present
Copy Type
Original
Research Facts
Zam-Buk was a patent medicine produced by the Zam-Buk Company of Leeds, England, founded by Charles Edward Fulford. It was first sold by his Bile Beans company in 1902, as a herbal balm and antiseptic ointment; the use of a complementary Zam-Buk soap was recommended to augment the treatment. The ointment was advertised as being effective against a wide range of conditions, including cuts, bruises, sprains, ulcers, bleeding piles and even colds and toothache. It could also be used as an embrocation by rubbing it into the muscles of the back, legs or feet.
The source of the name is uncertain, but a link to South Africa has been suggested. The brand name was at one time used to refer to ambulance-men and first aiders at rugby league matches in Australia and New Zealand.
The product is still manufactured today, often by Bayer, who now owns the trade mark in some, but not all, countries. It is available in Southern Africa.
In the early 20th century it was reported that the formulation comprised 66% paraffin wax, 20% pale resin (colophony), and 14% eucalyptus oil, with small amounts of other ingredients. More recently, the composition was given as 5% eucalyptus oil, 1.8% camphor, 0.5% thyme oil, and 0.65% sassafras oil. The English and Thai varieties do not contain Sassafras Oil. A 1908 report published in The British Medical Journal estimated that the cost of ingredients for a standard 0.6-ounce (17 g) box was one farthing, yet its retail price was 1s 1½ d, a markup of 5,200%, equivalent to a gross margin of more than 98%.