To repay the war debt, one of the measures Congress took was to tax a variety of articles and documents. For example, each bank check that was written was taxed two cents. (One can see how this tax would quickly refill the governments coffers!) Certain proprietary (branded) articles were also taxed - matches, medicines, playing cards, and perfumes. Although the federal government issued revenue stamps that could be used to signify payment of the tax, these companies were also given the option of preparing, at the government's expense, individualized stamps that were to be affixed to the product in such a way that opening the product would destroy the stamp. The government would even pay for an engraver to prepare the design on a steel die.
Cook and Bernheimer were liquor dealers in New York City in the 1870's. They ran a saloon. Apparently, to add to their business, they came up with a medical nostrum called "Sunsmile." More than likely, this potion was largely alcoholic. This stamp was placed over the neck and mouth of the bottle, and was usually torn when the bottle was opened. The stamp indicated that four cents was paid to the government as a tax on a proprietary medicine, and all proprietary medicines (along with matches, playing cards and perfumes) were taxed after the Civil War to repay the war debt. The stamp was used a total of three months in 1883, then the revenue tax was repealed. The product disappeared after that, presumably because it would have been compelled to pay a rectifier's tax due to the large amount of alcohol in it. No one seems to have remembered what this product was sold for, and no advertisements have been found. All we are left with today is the smiling face on the sun.
Here we see a patient battling off death with a bottle of Hunt's Remedy.
Mr. Hunt was afflicted with Bright's Disease and dropsy, and came under
the care of Dr. David Hosack, a physician who practiced in the 18th century
and until 1835. He and the Dutch Brevoort family believed in the
curative powers of a mixture of a particular root and other vegetable substances.
This remedy cured many cases of liver, kidney and bladder disease; dropsy
always yielded. Or so it was claimed. Mr. Hunt took the medicine
about a year, and "his bloated flesh was reduced, and his vigor restored.
He remained portly, but until he died from another disease he was well
and happy." His remedy was used by both regular and homeopathic physicians.
It was perhaps New England's most popular product. This remedy came
into the possession of William E. Clarke of Providence, RI, who trademarked
the name in 1872 and advertised it for Bright's Disease and Diabetes. It
also "has cured every case of dropsy in which it has been given." This
3c stamp was used on a bottle which sold for 75 cents (a six cent stamp
was required for the $1.50 bottle), and the bottle was a blue glass, about
17.5cm tall and with raised letters embossed on the glass, "Hunt's Remedy"
and "William E. Clarke, Providence, R.I." Although the product was
advertised as "For sale by all druggists," more than likely it was hawked
by traveling salesmen.
Bitters were once a popular remedy for various stomach ailments.
I wonder what was in Moore's pilules - his "Sure Cure for Chills". Aspirin maybe. A picture of the good doctor C. Cathorne lends credibility to this patent medicine.
Dr. Soule's "Sovereign Balm of Life" sounds most interesting! According to the directions: "For sudden attacks of acute diseases, take from 2 to 5 pills, according to the constitution of the patient, and repeat the doses in 4 or 6 hours, as circumstances may require, until, a brisk operation takes place." I think the brisk operation refers to a bowel movement.
Swaim's Panacea was good for a lot of things. The design is of intertwined serpents or dragons and the stamp is quite scarce. Stamps of this shape were designed to be glued over the top of the bottle, as a seal of genuineness, as there were many counterfeits (generics?) in the 19th century. When the bottle was opened, most stamps were destroyed. Even after the stamp tax on medicine was repealed, many companies continued to use labels and seals that gave the aura of genuineness.