springs and gushers - Murray State University

SPRINGS AND GUSHERS:
VERNACULAR PROPRIETARY MEDICINES OF THE UPPER SOUTH
Ronald W. Deiss
Kentucky Historical Society
Frankfort, Kentucky
ABSTRACT
Many proprietary medicines exhibit a unique admixture of folk and
popular influences which can be called vernacular.
This form of
self-medication can be identified in the Upper South by
documentation and regional distribution.
As shown through
examples,
these
vernacular
proprietary
medications
provide
insights into regional consumption patterns, self-medication, and
material culture life ways.
This data aids in the interpretation
of archaeologically recovered specimens.
INTRODUCTION
This research identifies Blue Lick water and American Oil proprietary
medicines as vernacular products distributed in the Upper South and
surrounding region west of the Alleghenies. As vernacular products, use and
sales reflect folk and popular views of self-medication.
Until the 20th
century, professional diagnosis and care were primitive, infrequent, and
costly; as a result, self-medication was an accepted method for restoring
health (Deiss 1984:136).
Although the need for medications was brought
westward with settlement, the earliest proprietary brands were imported, often
difficult to obtain, and directed toward recognized symptoms.
By the 19th century, population growth and economic independence fostered
the distribution of proprietary medications to meet regional demands (Deiss
1984:136).
A generation later, thousands of brands were available for a
spectrum of consumer symptoms (Baldwin 1973; Devner 1968; Nielsen 1978).
These numerous medications reflect the unfamiliar maladies and pestilence
encountered in the new environments.
Vernacular examples utilized local
resource, such as traditional motifs, lore, and ingredients, to reaffirm
regional values and distribution (Deiss 1984:144). The development and use of
Blue Lick water and American Oil within the Upper South reflect vernacular
consumption patterns, view of self-medication, and material cultural life
ways.
It is maintained that the study of these materials contributes to the
interpretation of archaeologically recovered specimens.
BLUE LICK WATER
Blue Lick water is obtained from mineral springs in Nicholas County
within the Outer Bluegrass region of northern Kentucky (Figure 1).
The
topography of this region has high relief interbedded with limestone and shale
which restricts water circulation, thereby dissolving mineral salts within th9
rock (Boisvert 1984:9).
These geological conditions resulted in numerous
mineral springs which stimulated resort activity (Boisvert 1984; Goleman
1955). Until the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Blue Lick water flowed
145
into the Licking River from two l°'cations approximately 10 miles ( 16 km)
apart, the Blue Lick Spring and Upper Blue Licks.
Faunal remains from the
Pleistocene era have been discovered at Blue Lick Spring (Jillson 1949) with
Indian and Euro-American sites also being documented (Sanders et al. 1976:4).
The evidence for traditional use contributed to the vernacula;-status of the
mineral water.
FIGURE 1. W\P OF KENIDCKY SH(loJ]N; WE LOCATIONS OF
BUJE LICK SHUN:;, UPPER BLUE LICKS, AND 'illE AMERICAN OIL WELL
As a result of the salt industry, the Blue Lick area was one of the
earliest settled areas of the state and is of ten mentioned in pioneer lore of
Kentucky.
In the 18th century, Euro-Americans followed the numerous bison
trails leading to the mineral springs (Boisvert 1984:46, 48), naming them for
the surrounding blue-gray limestone that grazing animals licked for their
mineral content.
In the mid-18th century, the increasing commercial demand
for salt attracted salt prospectors (ibid.:53).
The most famous of these
early ventures was led by Daniel Boone in 1778, resulting in his capture by
the Shawnee (ibid.:53).
The discovery of higher saline brine deposits
elsewhere and improved transportation routes led to the demise of the Blue
Licks salt industry in the early 19th century (ibid.:53, 65).
The springs were utilized very early for their medicinal value and
traditional use was known to William Bartlett, who owned a portion of Blue
Lick Spring.
By the early 19th century, Bartlett began to sell the water and
develop a resort as salt production waned.
Tradition holds that Bartlett
recognized the importance of the water and willed half to the public, gratis
(Conley 1976:61, 64; Roe 1986, personal communication). First used within the
immediate vicinity, the fame of Blue Lick water spread, fostered in part by
its association with the famous Blue Lick Spring health resort and its
attributed medicinal value.
As the popularity of Blue Lick Spring increased, its patrons came from
ever farther distances and included Kentucky's elite.
"On the principal
turnpike between Ohio and Tennessee, the resort at Blue Lic~s did a booming
business through the 1840's and 1850's" (Boisvert 1984:65). As the settlement
at Blue Lick Spring grew, the three story, 300 room Arlington Hotel (Figure 2)
was built in 1845 to hold the 400 to 600 guests that would visit during the
146
height of the summer miasmatic season (Coleman 1955:49-50). The growth of the
towns of Blue Licks at Blue Lick Spring and Davidson at the Upper Blue Licks
increased dramatically, fostered by the reputation of the water which was said
to be beneficial for a wide range of illnesses, including cholera and yellow
fever (ibid.:64).
FIGURE 2.
m;RAVING OF 'IlIE ARLilGIDN H<JIEL,
BLUE LICK SPR:W;S
Although yellow fever was dreaded, the epidemic outbreaks of cholera
between 1833 and 1849 brought chaos to the Bluegrass where "crowds of
panic-stricken citizens ••• fled the cities and towns and flocked to Kentucky
watering places" (Coleman 1955: 33-34).
An 1851 article in the Frankfort
Tri-Weekly Yoeman stated that the Blue Lick Spring " ••• is one of the very
few places that has entirely escaped cholera in the last two years" (quoted in
Coleman 1955:65).
Since cholera "
was transmitted through polluted
waters, the move to the resorts was probably effective since at them the water
supplies were carefully maintained in contrast to the supplies in Bluegrass
cities" (Boisvert 1984:62).
With the pestilence, came printed testimonials and advertisements
espousing the miraculous nature of the water. The 1839 issue of The Kentucky
Gazette advertised the popularity of Blue Lick water and its distribution into
the surrounding region.
It has not been considered necessary to speak of the character of
Blue Lick water.
It is more extensively known as the finest
mineral water; conducing, in a more eminent degree, to the
restoration of health, and its preservation, than any other in the
United States.
As an evidence of this fact, it need simply be
told, that there is a constant supply of it kept in all the
principal cities, not only in Kentucky, but in the adjoining
States (quoted in Jillson 1945:27).
Testimonials concerning the medicinal value of Blue Lick Spring water were
supported by Dr. Robert Peter of the Transylvania · School of Medicine in
Lexington.
In a water sample in 1850, " ••• he found calcium carbonate,
magnesium carbonate, common salt, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride,
magnesium borate, magnesium iodine, calcium sulfate, alumina, phosphate of
lime, iron, and potash" (quoted in Boisvert 1984:61).
This analysis was
thought to confirm the attributed qualities and the presence of necessary
trace elements which contributed to the pioneer diet.
147
Bottled Blue Lick water was also free from infestations which plagued the
Bluegrass and soon the demand increased beyond traditional and resort
consumption and resulted in proprietary sal e s. Five years after Dr. Peter's
analysis, the first documented advertisement for the water was listed in the
Tri-Weekly Maysville Eagle.
In this 1855 newspaper, Messrs.
January and
Richeson advertised as distributors of Blue Lick water by the barrel or larger
quantity with " ••• families also supplied by the gallon, if sent to our
warehouse" (Tri-Weekly Maysville Eagle 1855: 4).
Blue Lick Spring resort was
unoccupied during much of the Civil War, and partially destroyed by fire
(Coleman 1955: 80-81).
Advertisements for Blue Lick water disappeared until
hostilities ceased.
FIGURE 3. BOTTLE USED BY JAMES W.
PIERCE, MAYSVILLE.
LJ....LJ
0 I l
J
In 1874, James W. Pierce on Front
Street and Hamil ton Gray and Company on
the corner of Second and North Sutton
Streets were both listed in Sheppard's
Maysville Directory as distributors of
Blue Lick water (Sheppard and Company
1874:67, 84).
Pierce distributed Upper
Blue Licks water in proprietary molded
containers (Figure 3). These amber glass
containers are square with applied-tooled
skirted oil finishes and were blown into a
two-piece mold embossed "UPPER BLUE LICK
WATER" with a running buffalo having a
1770 brand on one side and "JAS W PIERCE
PROPRIETOR MAYSVILLE KY" on the opposite
side.
Hamilton likely sold his water by
filling barrels, as a barrel stencil cut
"THE CELEBRATED BLUE LICK WATER NOW
Supplied by BEDINGER HEIRS Blue Lick
Springs, Ky HAMILTON GRAY AND CO Lease of
this water expires Jan 1, 1881" is in
possession of Blue Licks Battlefield State
Park.
At an unknown date, Pierce formed a
partnership with a Mr. Stanton.
Although
little is known about this company, their
glass containers are cobalt blue with
applied-tooled skirted round finishes and
were blown into an oval three piece
plate-bottom mold.
The containers are
also embossed "UPPER BLUE LICK WATER" on
one
side
and
"PIERCE AND
STANTON
PROPRIETORS MAYSVILLE KY" on the opposite
side (Figure 4).
A maker's mark on the
base identified the containers as products
of the William McCully Glass Company of
Pittsburgh (Toulouse 1972:351), with the
ttcCully maker's mark and manufacturing
attributes suggesting an 1858 to 1886 date
range (Deiss 1981:93; Kendrick 1966:27;
Toulouse 1972:351).
148
FIGURE 4. BOTTLE USED BY STANTON AND
PIERCE, MAYSVILLE.
'-'--LJ
0 I l J
FIGURE 5. BOTTLE USED BY THE BLUE
LICK WATER COMPANY, MAYSVILLE.
After the mid-19th century, the Blue
Lick Water
Company
was
formed
in
Covington, Kentucky, on Eighth and Madison
Streets by James W. Pierce with Messrs.
Band and Pahls. Containers (Figure 5) from
this company are embossed with "BLUE LICK
WATER Co KY", have applied-tooled skirted
oil finishes, and improved pontils. These
quart
containers
are
cylindrical,
of
emera ld green or amber glass, and were
blown in three piece plate-bottom molds.
This type of mold was patented in 1858 and
applied-tooled cork finishes were being
phased out by the mid-1870s (Deiss
1981:93).
A circular from this company
advertises that sales were in quart
bottles, barrels, half barrels, and kegs
for " ••• the treatment of chronic and
glandular disease~ (Figure 6).
In 1884, John T. Flemming and
Company were selling "The Celebrated
Blue Lick Water" on the southeast
corner of Front and Sutton Streets
(Emmerson
1884:94,
186)
in
Maysville. Little is known of this
company, except that Robert Cartmell
was a partner, bottler, and shipper
(ibid.:93). In the 1880s, a revival
of the Blue Lick Springs resort
occurred.
The Arlington Hotel had
been rebuilt (Jillson 1945:40) and
the Pavilion Hotel was renovated and
reopened (Conley 1976:63).
kF:N'TUCltY
Hlm· l .it k\\"11t<"r"'
, . , ........, ...,. II
:·:~·:..·::·::..:.:.-::.::·.::
:=-~-~::
I
I
--·-----, --:: -,- -, "
--·L_ ----:__
---=~~-~- --
r .:::
.....l>th•••·I-"-·
'--·---...~:''.::::...1
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FIGURE 6. CIRCULAR DISTRIBUTED BY
THE BLUE LICK WATER COMPANY,
COVINGTON.
Soon after 1887 Messrs. Hawkins and Sparks were sole proprietors of "Blue
Lick Water'' located in Nicholas County. These containers were labeled with a
lithographed trademark depicting Daniel Boone and dated 1782 (Blue Licks
Battlefield State Park Development Study Commission 1979:4) (Figure 7).
The
1782 date was the year of the Battle of Blue Licks, where British troops and
their Indian allies fought Ke ntucky settlers (Sanders~~· 1976:8). In this
fight, one of Boone's sons was killed near the springs. The use of the Boone
trademark provided a symbol of originality and the traditional importance of
Blue Lick water.
The label also shows the mark of the Kentucky Lithograph
Company of Louisville which began operation in 1887 (Smith 1986, personal
communication).
It is not known upon what types of container these labe ls
were placed, but Blue Lick water bottles distributed during this period onward
are cylindrical and without brand embossing.
The Blue Lick Springs Company was incorporated in 1889 (Conley 1976:64)
at Blue Lick Springs. At an unknown date, the Daniel Boone trademarked labels
were altered to read "Blue Lick Springs Co., Successor to LINDSAY, HAWKENS, &
CO.".
These labels advertised " ••• for disorders of the stomach, liver and
kidneys ••• 11 (Figure 8).
All glass containers used by this company were
149
unembossed, olive green, and shaped in a turn-mold.
In half pint, pint,
quart, and half gallon sizes,
these bottles have improved- tooled or
applied-tooled champagne or crown finishes.
Crown finishes were first
patented and used for commercial sale in 1892 (Dei s s 1981: 94).
Variants of
the quart size also exhibit applied-tooled blob or improved-tooled patent
finishes and the half gallon size have an applied-tooled blob finish.
In 1892, the Blue Lick Springs
Company was sold to E. T. Calvert of
Louisville for $50,000 (Ci:rr.
1 ley 1976:64).
d ~ ..
During
this
period,
container
labels
distributed by the Blue Lick Springs
Company include a new Daniel Boone
trademark and were also slightly altered
to read "GENUINE Blue Lick QUEEN OF HEALTH
WATERS", deleting "Successor to LINDSAY,
HAWKENS, & CO" (Figure 9).
These more
recent labels are found on containers used
by the company since incorporation in
1889, as well as on early 20th century
machine made olive green and amber
half-pint and pint bottles with crown
finishes. Machine made variants in olive
green glass have a champagne finish.
Machine made containers such as these were
first produced for commercial sale in 1903
(Deiss 1981:94).
FIGURE 7. LABEL USED BY HAWKINS AND
SPARKS, NICHOLAS COUNTY.
FIGURE B. LABEL AND
BOTTLES USED BY THE
BLUE LIGK SPRINGS
COMPAN?, BLUE LICK
SPRINGS.
seal@ not knovn
r
LJ-LJ
(• I 2 J
,J. I,
( ,'
1
Eventually, a new label was
printed to read "THE BLUE LICK WATER
CO. CARLISLE, KY." (Figure 10).
This unembellished label made no
medicinal claims and may date after
the Food and Drug Act of 1906 which
attempted to regulate spurious forms
of self-medication.
The Carlisle
label is found on the olive green
and amber unembossed containers used
by the company since 1889 and on
amber
containers
with
improved-tooled finishes which were
blown in three piece plate-bottom
molds having the maker's mark of the
American Bottle Company of Chicago,
Illinois.
This maker's mark was
used between 1905 and 1916 (Toulouse
1972:30).
FIGURE 9 LABEL AND BOTTLES USED BY
E. T. CALVERT OF THE BLUE LICK
SPRINGS COMPANY, BLUE LICK SPRINGS.
0
LLL.J
0 I 2 J
•
A cache of approximately 1,800 unembossed containers was recovered from
the abandoned Pavilion Hotel in the early 1970s (Letcher 1986, personal
communication). These glass bottles we re in large wooden cases marked in blue
paint with a Blue Lick Springs Company stencil.
An unknown number of the
bottles had the Blue Lick Water Company label distributed from Carlisle
(ibid.).
Portions of the cache were analyzed and revealed unlabeled
150
containers attributed to the Blue Lick Springs and Blue Lick Water Companies,
Red Raven Split, and unidentified breweries.
The late 19th and early 20th
century Red Raven Split medicine (Devner 1968: 79) and brewery bottles are
amber three piece plate-bottom molded with improved-tooled crown finishes.
The analysis of this cache suggests that the Blue Lick Water Company refilled
their own bottles as well as pirated containers.
In the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, "UPPER BLUE LICK MINERAL
WATER" was bottled and distributed
by the Upper Blue Lick Springs
Company of Davidson, Kentucky, by D.
M. Curry (Boisvert 1984:title page).
This medication was advertised for
disorders of the stomach, liver, and
kidneys (Figure 11).
Some examples
are labeled with a 1903 copyrighted
lithograph of an Indian shooting
buffalo across the springs.
The
label has the printers mark of the
W. H. Stanage and Company of
Cincinnati.
William Stanage formed
this company in 1890 (Williams and
Company 1890:1,273) and did a
lucrative printing and lithography
business until his death in 1914
(Wright 1918:314).
FIGURE 10. LABEL USED BY THE BLUE
LICK WATER COMPANY, CARLISLE.
l....L.J_J
Q I
0\
0
2 3
'
The Curry copyrighted label has
been identified with two types of
amber and olive green bottles.
The
amber glass containers were blown in
unembossed pint and half pint sizes
and have improved-tooled crown
finishes with the maker's mark of
the Streator Bottle and Glass
Company of Streator, Illinois.
These attributes suggest a 1903 to
1905
distribution
(Toulouse
1972:461). The olive green bottles
were turn-molded with applied-tooled
crown finishes. During this period,
demand for Upper Blue Lick Mine r a l
Water remained high and a part owner
cl a imed " ••• that in one of their
best years, a gross income of
$60,000
was
realized"
(Conley
1976:142).
FIGURE 11. LABEL AND BOTTLE USED BY
THE UPPER BLUE LICK SPRINGS COMPANY,
DAVIDSON.
The Blue Lick Spring stopped flowing entirely in 1896 (Boisvert 1984:73).
Tradition claims provid~ntial interference, since the local populace desir ed
half of the water accorded by Bartlett's will, which the bottling company
ignored (Conley 1976:64).
In 1896, the Blue Lick Well was dug to provide a
new source for the water, although the water supply was not sufficient for
151
bottling purposes (Boisvert 1984:73; Conley 1976:64-65).
In 1909, the Upper
Blue Licks spring began to weaken, which also was claimed to be an act of
providence and attributed to its widespread use in saloons (Conley 1976:142,
143).
Wells were also dug at Upper Blue Licks although the quality was
considered poor (ibid.:143).
By the 1920s, Blue Lick water, was no longer being bottled (Roe 1986,
personal communication).
Coal and gas exploration may have eventually led to
the commercial failure since the pressure which had originally brought the
water to the surface was lessened (Conley 1976:64, 143).
People of the
surrounding vicinity continued to use the water that they could hand pump from
Blue Lick Well until the late 1930s (Roe 1986, personal communication).
Mineral springs still play an integral part in the lifestyle of the Upper
South.
In Kentucky alone, over 622 place names of salines have been
documented (Boisvert 1984:8) and many still provide water as evidenced by
active spring houses which dot the Kentucky countryside.
AMERICAN OIL
The second vernacular proprietary medicine to be discussed is a natural
rock petroleum called American Oil. This petroleum was discovered by drilling
upper Ordovician deposits in the Mississippian Plateau region of southern
Kentucky (Figure 1). The well was " ••• situated on the lower waters of Little
Renox Creek near the Cumberland River about 2.5 miles [4.0 km] of Burkesville
in Cumberland County ••• " (Jillson 1950:8).
It was accidentally discovered by
salt prospectors that hand drilled brine for salt.
Within the Mississippian
Plateau region, large oil deposits, such as the American Oil Well, provided a
commercial source for medical petroleum for approximately forty years.
The
attributed curative qualities, phenomenal discovery, and regional demand for
American Oil contributes to its identification as a vernacular medication.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, crude petroleum was discovered
in small amounts as surface deposits and referred to as Seneca Oil, due to its
ascribed use by Indians (Allen 1963:143; Jillson 1951:20; Odell 1977:86).
Pioneers recognized its use for " ••• many kinds of ills ••• " and was " ••• of some
service in ridding hogs and other farm animals of vermin" (Jillson 1920:5).
Nevertheless, surface deposits in the eastern United States were rare and
quickly depleted by local demand. In 1818, subsurface drilling operations for
high saline brine were conducted in McCreary County near the Big South Fork of
the Cumberland River by Marcus Huling and Andrew Zimmerman (Perry 1983:140).
In that year, petroleum was struck, spilling into the South Fork River.
Huling decided to barrel the crude for its medicinal value.
The remote and almost inaccessible nature of the South Fork well resulted
in Ruling's use of sure-footed mules as the only mode of transporting the oil
barrels to market (Perry 1983:139). In 1819, Huling:
exported a thousand barrels of it to Europe. The patent medicine
manufacturers in the United States were especially pleased with
the South Fork crude.
They ceremoniously turned the petroleum
into Mustang Liniment, Seneca Oil, and other cure-alls
(ibid.:140).
152
By 1820, Huling decided to abandon the well and return to salt exploration as
a result of the threats received from local farmers over the oil spill which
ruined livestock water (ibid.: 137).
Difficulties encountered during
transportation of the crude and the inaccessible nature of the well also
contributed to the demise of what is now ref erred to as the first commercial
oil well in the world (Anonymous 1955:8; Perry 1983:140).
Although
short-lived, the sales of medicinal petroleum from Mc.Creary County indicated
that demand was present at an early date.
In 1829, Colonel Emmerson began drilling for high saline brine on the
farm of Lemuel Stockton (Jillson 1950:8) on the Cumberland River,
approximately 40 miles (64.4km) from the McCreary County well. On March 15 of
that year, Emmerson hit a vein of oil (Jillson 1951:5) which reportedly,
" ••• spout out fifteen feet [4.6 m] above the top of the ground as large a
stream as a man's body perfectly pure" (ibid.: 11). Thirteen days later, the
gusher was still flowing into the nearby Cumberland River and the first news
story of the incident was printed in the Lexington newspaper, the Public
Advertiser (Jillson 1950:2). This newspaper warned that:
Falling into the Cumberland River, the volatile oil, covered a
considerable portion of the surface of the stream, for many miles
below.
If ignited, it would present a magnificent, if not an
appalling, spectacle (quoted in Jillson 1950:13).
At an unknown date between the discovery and the newspaper article, numerous
second hand accounts state that the oil spill ran downstream for 30 or 40
miles (48.3 or 64.4km) and, when accidentally ignited, burned for two weeks
(Jillson 1920:5; 1950:12-14).
Referred to as the Lemuel Stockton No. 1
(Jillson 1950:Forward), the National Well (Allen 1963:144), and the Old
American Well (Jillson 1920:5), this source " ••• is now generally regarded not
only as the first gusher and oil well of commercial importance in America, but
one of the largest deposits ever produced in Kentucky" (Jillson 1950:10).
The first documented proprietor of American Oil was Daniel Trabue, Jr. of
Burkesville.
In 1843, Trabue placed an advertisement in The Dollar Farmer
with a drawing of an embossed American Oil bottle. This advertisement stated
that American Oil:
••• is now offered to the public by the proprietors, after a long
and thorough trial throughout the Western country, with the
fullest confidence that it will be found on using it, a most
certain, speedy, and effective cure ••• (Office of the Louisville
Journal 1849:80).
This medicinal oil was recommended for human and equestrian use and the
announcement mentioned Kentuckians in Adair, Cumberland, and Jefferson
counties " ••• who have witnessed some of its astonishing cures in a variety of
diseases, and especially severe Burns, Rhuematisms, Wounds, and Scalds, and
diseases in Horses, generally" (ibid.).
It is interesting to note that the
first documented American Oil advertisement mentioned trial use throughout the
"Western country" and was aimed at rural Kentucky farmers.
Three aqua rectangular containers formed in two piece molds with blowpipe
pontils and embossed on three sides, may have been distributed by Trabue or a
153
company which included him in partner s hip.
The first example has a
fire-polished finish and embossed "AMERICAN/MEDICINAL OIL/BURKESVILLE, KY"
(Figure 12).
Another version of this embossed bottl e i s larger and has an
applied-tool ed collar finish (Nielson 1978:3). The third variety has a folded
finish and embossed "CUMBERLAND RIVER/ AMERICAN OIL/HALL & CO".
This example
is similar to the printed Ame r i can Oil bottle in Trabue's 1849 advertisement.
An American Oil labe l attributed to the 1850s (Figure 13) states that Trabue,
Reed, and Hall were partners in di s tributing this "celebrated" product from
Burkesville for human and equestrian use (Jillson 1950:21; 1951:9, 37).
: , t~/
:.
FIGURE 12. BOTTLE
ATTRIBUTED TO DANIEL
TRAUBE, JR.,
BURKSVILLE.
~
stale not known
FIGURE 13. BOTTLE
ATTRIBUTED TO TRABUE,
REED, AND HALL WITH A
LABEL OF THIS
PARTNERSHIP.
LJ..._j_J
0 I 2 3
"
It is not known how Norton or Moses
distributed their American oil, but a
possible prospect for either company is an
aqua
rectangular
bottle
with
an
applied-tooled collar finish and a
blowpipe pontil.
This example was blown
in a two piece mold and embossed on three
sides
with
"CUMBERLAND
RIVER/ AMERICAN
OIL/KENTUCKY" (Figure 14).
Another
American
Oil
container
on
which
documentation is lacking, has the same
manufacturing attributes as the previously
described container, but embossed on two
sides "JOHN YOUNGSTON/EXTRACT OF AMERICAN
OIL" (Nielson 1978:131).
154
George W. Norton, a leading
Lexington,
Kentucky,
apothecary,
began Jistributing American Oil from
his
drugstore
for
"Cholic,
Flatulency,
Sour
Stomach,
Gout,
Rheumatism,
Sprains and Bruises"
(quoted in Jillson 195l:title page).
In an advertisement in the 1845
edition of the Lexington Observer
and
Reporter,
Norton
also
recommended that " ••• the American
Oil is also one of the best
Medicines for HORSES-Certain cure
for the Botts, Cholic, Galled Back,
Sores, and almost every complaint
horses are liable to" (quoted in
Jillson 195l:title page).
In 1848,
Job Moses decided to purchase the
well from the Baker Family, who were
then in possession of the Stockton
farm
and
oil
source
(Jillson
1950:23).
Moses " ••• proceeded to
fill to no e nd of half pint bottles
at fifty cents ••• " (Jillson 1950:23)
equal to " ••• about $350 per barrel"
(Jillson 1920:6).
FIGURE 14. AMERICAN OIL BOTTLE OF
UNDOCUMENTED ATTRIBUTION.
The presence of blowpipe pontils on all of the described American Oil
bottles reflects a manufacturing process rarely used by 1860 (Kendrick
1966:27).
This attributed end date of manufacture is supported by
documentation which states that the Old American Well had stopped flowing by
this date, although several unsuccessful drilling attempts were made (Jillson
1951:18-20, 27, 30).
"During the latter part of the 19th century, a great
demand for crude oil for the purpose of kerosene refining, as well as for a
growing list of by-products, restimulated field activity ••• " (Jillson 1920:7)
and throughout much of the Upper South prices fell dramatically.
Although proprietary sales of petroleum diminished as numerous wells were
drilled, its medicinal use continued. During the 1920s oil drilling projects
within the Mississippi Plateau region of southern Kentucky, one oil rig
operator recalled:
they struck oil about 850 feet [259m] down in the Lever sand they
called it then; they call it the oil shale now.
The last well
they drilled there, hit stood up in the hole a way up.
Well, I
tuk one a these balls of wrappen' twine and put me a cup on it and
got me oil out to put on hogs (quoted in Howell,~ al. 1981:136).
In 1955, the Courier-Journal Magazine mentioned that in McCreary County near
an abandoned drilling shaft " ••• the few local people who work their way to the
well usually take some of the oil to use in treating hogs for lice and other
parasites" (Anonymous 1955:94).
Crude petroleum was recommended by the United States Department of
Agriculture for most livestock mange until at least the 1940s (Department of
Agriculture 1942:592, 738, 1,055).
In areas of the Upper South where
professional diagnosis is out of the economic range of many and
self-medication is preferred, the use of petroleum for pets and livestock
vermin is still a recent observance (Bryan 1986, personal communication).
Through the reputation of the American Oil Well and related oil discoveries in
the early 19th century, the medical properties of petroleum achieved a
recognition in the Upper South which still persists.
SUMMARY
The proprietors of Blue Lick water and American Oil capitalized on
traditional medications to increase regional sales.
These examples had their
highest distribution in the Upper South and surrounding regions west of the
Alleghenies.
As demand increased beyond traditional use, proprietary sales
ensued advertising the "celebrated" or popular nature of the medications.
Vernacular distribution included traditional motifs,
lore, and implied
originality. Assuring a genuine supply eventually determined the fate of Blue
Lick water and American Oil, due to the fact when the springs and gushers were
abandoned, proprietary sales were terminated.
Although the original Blue Lick water and American Oil sources were
depleted and unsuccessful digging and drilling attempts occurred, the regional
use of medicinal water and petroleum continues.
The lore and legends
concerning Blue Lick water and American Oil persevered in the Upper South,
contributing to their recognition well into the 20th century.
One historian
published over 200 references to Blue Lick Springs and the American Oil Well
155
(Jillson 1945; 1951) which documents numerous traditional and popular
concepts.
In conclusion, the research of vernacular proprietary medications
provides a viable recourse into the exploration of consumption patterns,
material culture life ways, and regional views of self-medication.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author appreciates the help of Alice Cooper of the Kenton County
Library, Covington, and Sam Devine of the Blue Licks State Park, Mt. Olivet,
in photographing examples from their museum collections.
Frances Forman,
Reference Librarian at the Cincinnati Historical Society, provided information
about W. H. Stanage and Company. I am also grateful to Jerry Phelps and Mrs.
Eugene J. Blasi of Lexington, June H. Roe of Maysville, Randall Smith of
Burkesville, and Carl Letcher of Mt. Olivet, for granting permission to
photograph and study the glass containers in their collections.
The drawn
illustrations were provided by William Conner of Beason, Illinois.
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1 57
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