Pharmacy Ledger: Books (3 results)

Folio. 6.5 x 15.5 in. 252 pp., on blue & red ruled paper, filled out entirely in manuscript, bold firm hand throughout (some entries edited, crossed out, revised, and on p. 155 lower portion removed). Quarter-red calf over marbled boards, gilt ruling on spine (scuffing, edgewear, labels removed on front pastedown, tear to ffep.), still VG exemplar, w/ initials B.&D. in ink manuscript on front pastedown, as well as large printed label in red, detailing the prices of glass labels, size availability, and instructions on how to mount them. This remarkable original manuscript pharmacy/apothecary ledger serves as an essential primary document for American medicine as it evolved following the Civil War when Opium, Cocaine, Morphine, distilled liquor, and more were part of everyday household use, and in fact encouraged for health and longevity. As evidenced by the over 1400 separate prescriptions, topical medicines, and prescriptions to treat symptoms were the norm. Many of the popular pain relievers in tincture, pure form, and mixed in assorted elixirs include opium, morphine, Phenactine, and Acetanilid. Antipyretics for fever reduction including willow bark are listed within. In addition, opium seems to have also been used to counter diarrhea, camphor oil is frequently listed, possibly for rashes, as well as an antibacterial mixed with Resorscin. Alcohol is frequent ingredient, along with Aromatic Sulphate, Camphor Gum, Carbolic Acid, Benzoaic Acid, Hemlock Oil, Laudanum, Quinine, Strychnine, Sassafras Oil, Silver Salts, Orange Peel syrup, Rose Water, and more. Mixtures range from Dr. Quackenbush's "Blood Purifier" featuring Burdock Root, Wild Cherry Bark, Prickly Ash Bark, Refinec Suigars, Rocelle Salts, and poured within boiling water, and let stand for 24 hours; to a Rheumatism and Neuralgia prescription also featuring Sassafras Oil, Hemlock Oil, Wintergreen, Origanum, Myrh Gum Tincture, Cochicum Tincture, Guaiac Tincture, Camphor Gum, Chloroform, and Alcohol -- apparently taken mixed with water, or "as snuff up the nose." North Adams, MA at the time was a fast-growing mill town, serving as the entrance to the newly opened Hoosac Tunnel, whose 5 mile construction had resulted in 100's of deaths, and in fact the primary physician during construction was Nathan Snell Babbitt (1817-1889) whose prescriptions feature prominently in this ledger. His father was Snell Babbitt, a longtime prominent Berkshire Doctor, and Nathan had attended the nascent Berkshire Medical School. Another doctor who features prominently for the 2 years is Orland Jonas Brown (1848-1927), Civil War veteran and surgeon with the Massachusetts Militia, who had graduated from the Univ. of Vermont, before extended study in New York after the War before opening his practice. He was known for progressively staying abreast of the latest developments in surgery, medicine, and homoeopathic medicine, and maintained a wide clientele. Others listed include, Dr. William E. Brown, dentist on Fisher's Block, Dr. Clark C. Miles, Dr. Henry . Millard, Secretary to the Medical Association of Northern Berkshire, laid-in manuscript prescription by E.E. Potter, and many others. Burlingame & Darbys operated as a hardware store, chemical supply house, and dispensary for drugs and medicines in the North Adams, Berkshire County area. Founded originally by Burlginame (1800-1882), who also owned the local bank, was an active member of the Baptist Church, and has served in the Massachusetts legislature. Originally it operated as Burlingame & Ray, but after the Civil War, George M. Darby (1841-1923), druggist, and merchant bought out Ray, and changed the name. In addition, they hired the equally young William Franklin "Frank" Darby (1838-1921) who was a noted Civil war veteran, serving in the Union Army nearly the entire War, and survived 20 major battles, and would become frequent state legislator from 1870-1879. Burlingame's daughter Fannie Burlingame is well remembered as one of the teach.…

paperback. Condition: Good. TCM the brush Handsheets boutique - = a Republic ZTE pharmacy transceiver goods ledger - the word is very beautiful. full of a thick 1.3CM. size: 15.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. First Edition. Unpaginated, 100+ leaves. Large format ledger, 12x18" Spine rebacked with cloth archival repair tape. Pages remain bound together and intact, despite weakness of outer binding. Some brittleness to fore-edge of pages, which have prescription slips pasted to them, from top to bottom. Contents sound, though volume as a whole would benefit from a rebind of restoration. Each leaf prior to Prohibition Act contains 8-10 prescriptions on recto and 8-10 on verso. Prohibition Era pages contain 7 blanks per side, as a rule. Prescription records begin in 1917, but the book is unpaginated, and its plain that this was a functional, living record rather than explicitly a document for posterity. About a quarter of the way into the ledger, the records reflect, without pause to mention the change on the page, the coming of Prohibition to the US via the 18th Amendment, on January 17, 1920. Interestingly, one of the final recorded prescriptions before the arrival of Prohibition is for Browns Mixture (Chlorodyne), a product for cough and diarrhea, and which contained morphine. Volume contains numerous prescriptions for Spiritus Frumenti, a Latin term used to indicate spirits of grain (generally whiskey), 96 to 112 proof in strength. The term was used beginning in the 19th century to designate prescriptions for medicinal whiskey. With the onset of Prohibition, the number of such prescriptions skyrocketed, as there remained no other legal means to obtain the substance. This volume contains more than 1000 such prescriptions, many on prescription blanks reading, Prescription Blank/National Prohibition Act.These blanks came in books of 100, and this ledger indicates a thriving trade in the early years of Prohibition. Slips overwhelmingly from Seward Walrath Pharmacy in St Johnsville, NY. Walraths Pharmacy began on West Main Street in 1888. Walrath was one of the first merchants in St. Johnsville to install electric lighting in his shop, and the business carried on through his death in 1942, after which his widow took over operations. She sold the business in 1961, and it remained in business for another thirty years before finally closing its doors.Remarkable record of the early days of Prohibition in St Johnsville, and a microcosm of life in the Montgomery County of the day. Size: Thick Quarto. Book.…