Kingsport: Turn of the Century Medicine

I have been busy all week preparing for a lecture I am giving on Monday, September 9 at 9:30 am for the Kingsport Historical Society on the Muriel C. Spoden Collection. You are all invited!

While examining a volume from Series IV, Journals, Ledgers and Receipt Books, I came across the following in James D. Bowman’s Store Ledger, 1851-1869.

A sales agent for the Blood Globule Co. of New York claims the pills cure blood poisoning, sick headache, and neuralgia.

The back side of the ad mentions “many thousand voluntary testimonials” sent to the company praising their product. Users claimed to be cured of lame back, kidney trouble, and “untold misery.”

Love the line, “I believe people would eventually become immortal…”
I am not sure why this 1902 advertisement was located inside of an 1869 ledger, but the fact that someone saved it and read it provides some insight into what was considered to be a medical treatment at the time. Enclosures found in journals help us to determine ownership, time frame, and location. Sometimes, they are just entertaining.

If you are interested in the Spoden Collection lecture, I’ll see you at the Kingsport Chamber Building in the Eastman Boardroom, Monday morning!