Turlington's Balsam

Turlington's Balsam

Bottles of Turlington's Balsam

Turlington's Balsam was a patent medicine developed in the 18th century by English merchant Robert Turlington. It was marketed as a cure-all remedy, particularly for kidney and bladder stones, but was also claimed to be effective for a wide range of ailments.

History

Robert Turlington, a London merchant, patented his "Balsam of Life" in 1744. The patent was granted by King George II, and Turlington began to market his product aggressively. The balsam was sold in distinctive bottles, which were often embossed with the name and claims of the product. Turlington's Balsam became one of the most popular patent medicines of the 18th century, and its success inspired many imitations.

Composition

The exact composition of Turlington's Balsam was a closely guarded secret, but it was known to contain a mixture of herbal ingredients. Common components included benzoin, balsam of Peru, styrax, and aloe. These ingredients were believed to have medicinal properties that could treat a variety of conditions.

Uses

Turlington's Balsam was advertised as a remedy for numerous ailments, including kidney and bladder stones, colic, coughs, and wounds. It was also claimed to be effective for "all inward decays" and "weaknesses." The balsam was typically taken orally, but it could also be applied externally to wounds and sores.

Legacy

Turlington's Balsam remained popular well into the 19th century, even as the medical community began to question the efficacy of patent medicines. The distinctive bottles have become collectors' items, and they provide insight into the marketing and consumption of medicine in the 18th century.

Related pages

• Patent medicine
• History of medicine
• Herbalism

References

• Roy,

 Quacks: Fakers & Charlatans in English Medicine, 
  
 Tempus Publishing, 
 2000, 
  
  
 ISBN 978-0752417737,

• Young, James Harvey,

 The Toadstool Millionaires: A Social History of Patent Medicines in America before Federal Regulation, 
 Princeton University Press, 
 1961,