Page 15 - Pharmacy History 32 July 2007

Not to be outdone by the colonials in America and Australia, British manufacturers came up with
their own ‘miracle’ cure...
Ladies and gentlemen I give you the famous Grasshopper Ointment
Grasshopper Ointment was originally manufactured by Grasshopper Ltd of London ‘for the treatment of bad legs, simple ulcers, abscess, carbuncle, boils, piles, scalds, burns, insect sting, ringworm, broken and unbroken chilblains’.
It is now manufactured by Vet-Medic, an online veterinary pharmacy service The ointment was listed in Martindale. until the 29th edition published in 1989.
The formula given in of that edition is:
colophony 31.68%, yellow beeswax 7.94%,
larch oleoresin 23.74%, arachis oil 15.84%,
white soft paraffin 19.81% and copper acetate 0.99%.
The recommended uses and the formula suggest that the ointment had an
astringent action. This caused denaturing of protein and was intended to kill bacteria
and also form a protective layer over damaged skin.
The name of the ointment is intriguing. Perhaps the copper acetate, admittedly itself an astringent, was included in the formula in order to impart a green colour to the ointment and thereby convince the user that it really contained grasshopper derived material!
1. http://www.vet-medic.com/about.asp. Accessed 26/10/2007
2. The Extra Pharmacopoeia (The Pharmaceutical Press, London) page 1638
Surfing the web
A site for collectors
From Eric Jentsch
The Smithsonian Institution is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, Balm of America. This web site documents the National Museum of American History’s collection of historic patent medicines. The first group posted consists of 294 objects; searchable by keyword, maker, place made and therapeutic use. A short history of patent medicines has been provided, as well as the opportunity to submit questions or comments. Additional objects will be added in the near future. The address is:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/group_detail.cfm?key=1253&gkey=51 It can also be reached through NMAH’s webpage at: http://americanhistory.si.edu Go to the collections page & click ‘object groups’ on the left hand side.
jentsche@si.edu
volume 3 ■ no 33 ■ NOVEMBER 2007 Pharmacy History Australia ■ 15