What was patent medicine

In ancient times, such medicines were called nostrum remedium, "our remedy" in Latin, hence the name "nostrum. Patent medicines originally referred to medications whose ingredients had been granted government protection for exclusivity.

In actuality, the recipes of most 19th century patent medicines were not officially patented. Most producers often small family operations used ingredients quite similar to their competitors—vegetable extracts laced with ample doses of alcohol. Proprietary, or "quack" medicines could be deadly, since there was no regulation on their ingredients. They were medicines with questionable effectiveness whose contents were usually kept secret. Originating in England as proprietary medicines manufactured under grants, or "patents of royal favor," to those who provided medicine to the Royal Family, these medicines were exported to America in the 18th century.

Daffy's Elixir Salutis for "colic and griping," Dr. By the middle of the 19th century the manufacture of similar products had become a major industry in America.

Often high in alcoholic content, these remedies were very popular with those who found this ingredient to be therapeutic.

Many concoctions were fortified with morphine, opium, or cocaine. Time Traveler for patent medicine The first known use of patent medicine was in See more words from the same year. Style: MLA. Medical Definition of patent medicine. Legal Definition of patent medicine.

More from Merriam-Webster on patent medicine Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for patent medicine. Get Word of the Day daily email! Test Your Vocabulary. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? Love words? Need even more definitions? Just between us: it's complicated. Ask the Editors 'Everyday' vs. Others toed the line and went legitimate, eliminating dangerous products. Some didn't need to change in the least bit, and were all right from the beginning.

Coca Cola is an example of a patent medicine that eventually became a popular soft drink. As the above bottle suggests, patent medicines could fine their way a long ways away from where they were made. Some were traded coast to coast while others were made for local consumption While not as elaborate as some examples, the consumer might want to think just how universal this cough medicine really was.

Patent Medicine.