4. The Patent Medicine Craze
The boom in patent medicines swept the West, as companies marketed bottled concoctions as cures for virtually every ailment—colds, aches, and even cancer. These mixtures often contained a mix of harmless herbs, but some included dangerous substances like opium, alcohol, or mercury. With minimal oversight, sales flourished and bold claims went unchecked. It wasn’t until federal laws required labeling and safety standards that the patent medicine era waned. Discover more in the FDA: History of the FDA.
