Secret 18Th Century Ointment Formula Goes Nether The Hammer

A cure for aches as well as pains, The Poor Man's Friend was formulated yesteryear Dorset apothecary Giles Roberts dorsum inwards 1790. Its formula, till forthwith a secret, has simply been auctioned together amongst other papers as well as items formerly belonging to Dr Roberts for £480. The formula as well as other items were acquired yesteryear the museum at Bridport, Dr Roberts' dwelling family town. They volition instruct on display inwards 2004 to grade the 170th anniversary of Dr Roberts' death. Roberts opened the store every bit an unqualified doc inwards 1788 but was licensed afterwards studying medicine at London hospitals. Among his patent medicines was i labelled 'Anti-Venereal Specific Drops'. In 1797, Edinburgh University awarded him an honorary degree. His customers were grateful plenty for his gravestone to live on inscribed "His Memory is Cherished Especially yesteryear the Poor amongst Grateful Feelings."

The cloak-and-dagger formula was constitute inwards a sealed envelope marked "private" yesteryear a chemist who bought Roberts' old store inwards the 1970s. The primary gene of a vat of The Poor Man's Friend was 50lb of Waterford lard, cutting into pieces as well as steamed amongst 6lb of English linguistic communication beeswax, so strained through cheesecloth. Other telephone substitution ingredients include calamel, carbohydrate of lead, zinc oxide as well as lavender. Leading London dermatologist Dr Frances Lawlor is quoted yesteryear the Education Guardian every bit saying: "It would create quite a lot, would live on quite helpful inwards soothing the peel as well as helping amongst eczema. Calamel was an antiseptic used inwards treating syphilis. Zinc oxide would live on soothing as well as could live on anti-infectious. It could accept a reasonable trial on tike peel infections. But I can't function upwards much enthusiasm for its properties against headaches as well as gout".

observes: "this shows that merchandise secrets may possess, inwards add-on to their commercial value, a balance curiosity value".

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Lyrics for Dr Robert here