History of the Comstock Patent Medicine Business and Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills by Robert B. Shaw
page 19 of 84 (22%)
page 19 of 84 (22%)
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and valor.
[Footnote 4: Young, James Harvey, _The Toadstool Millionaires, A Social History of Patent Medicines in America before Federal Regulation_. Princeton University Press. 1961.] Judson's Mountain Herb Pills, a companion product of the Indian Root Pills, had an even more romantic origin--so remarkable, in fact, that the story was embodied in a full-scale paperback novel published by B.L. Judson & Co. in 1859. According to this book, the remedy was discovered--or at least revealed to the world--by a famous adventurer, Dr. Cunard. Dr. Cunard's career somehow bore a remarkable similarity to that of Dr. Morse. He was also the scion of a wealthy family who spent much time traveling throughout the world, and in this process becoming fluent in no less than thirty languages. Eventually he encountered an Aztec princess about to be tortured and sacrificed by Navajo Indians; he interrupted this ceremony only to be captured himself, but by virtue of successfully foretelling an eclipse (happily he had his almanac with him) he won release for himself and the princess. Thereafter he led her back to her home, in some remote part of Mexico, and lived among her people for a year. As a boon for having saved the princess, he was given possession of the ancient healing formula of the Aztecs. Upon returning home Dr. Cunard, in an experience very similar to Dr. Morse's, found his mother on her death bed, but he effected an instant cure by the use of the miraculous herbs he had brought with him. The news spread, soon a wide circle of neighbors was clamoring for this medicine, and in order that all mankind might share in these benefits, Dr. Cunard graciously conveyed the secret to B.L. Judson & Co. These stories were told entirely straightforwardly, with the intention |
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