University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Archival
Pharmacy
Pharmacy, General
Home Health
Classification
Archival, Advertisements
Pharmacy
Pharmacy, General
Home Health
Accession Number
1977.12.209
Description
An advertising booklet for Warner's Safe Remedies; 12 pages; folded with two staples on the spine; gives a paragraph on the kidneys and liver, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, nerves and safe pills.
An advertising booklet for Warner's Safe Remedies; 12 pages; folded with two staples on the spine; gives a paragraph on the kidneys and liver, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, nerves and safe pills.
0010-G Academy of Medicine Pharmaceutical Advertising Binder A
Length
21.2 cm
Width
14.0 cm
Depth
0.1 cm
Dimension Notes
Length 21.2 cm x Width 14.0 cm x Depth 0.1 cm
Condition Remarks
Paper is yellowed and slightly embrittled; bottom corner severely creased and is half detached; metal shows signs of corrosion
Copy Type
Original
Research Facts
Hulbert H. Warner apprenticed to tinsmith at 15, opened a hardware store in Michigan at 18, went bankrupt, and at 28 became a dealer in Rochester for a predecessor of the present Mosler Safe Co. In 1879, founded at 37 years of age, his medicine co.; by 1884 had offices in London, Toronto and Rangoon; in 1888 reputed to have the largest proprietary medicine business in the world; Safe Kidney & Liver Cure played on the fear of Bright's disease (a wasting kidney disease), but the alcohol and potassium nitrate (principal active ingredients) were kidney irritants and would hasten death from Bright's; also made Safe Kidney & Liver Cure, Safe Diabetes Cure, Safe Nervine, Safe Bitters (later called Tippecanoe), Safe Asthma Cure and Safe Rheumatic Cure (probably no difference between them); built observatory for Lewis Swift, amateur astronomer who discovered several new comets; organized Rochester Chamber of Commerce and was its first president in 1887; in 1893 (year of The Panic) lost all his assets in bankruptcy and it was sold (the American Branch) to the distillery which made Duffy's Malt Whiskey.
In 1906 (Food & Drug Act) it became Warner's Safe Remedies and lost a lot of its alcohol, but lived on until 1946; originally had 35.7% alcohol.
Hulbert H. Warner turned from manufacturing proof safes to proprietary medicines in 1870; his trademark of an iron safe (1879) appeared embossed in bottles and printed in his labels.