Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
January 31, 1988
By Helen Fagg Mitchell
Vigo County Historical Society
Few pellets a day designed to keep doctor away
“We hope that Dr. Humphreys’ benign countenance will shed a light of comfort and good cheer over a myriad of people who have depended on his remedies for nearly three-quarters of a century.”
These are the words which preface the 3 by 4 1/2 inch, 96-page “Humphreys’ Manual for The Administration of Medicine and Treatment of Disease.” These remedies, if used according to directions, should cure or help most of the ills which befall mankind.
A family plan for the use of Dr. Humphreys’ remedies recommends the purchase of a “polished wood” box containing 36 vials of pellets, complete with Dr. Humphreys’ Mentor and a lock and key for safe keeping.
Each vial was numbered and the use of the pellets inside was specifically stated. The selling point of this plan of medication was that by careful diagnosis of the symptoms, the average layman could act as efficiently as a physician, and by following the instructions for treatment, the condition could be improved or even alleviated.
An example for the use of the remedies is the one for colic in an infant. The symptoms of colic are prolonged crying and the drawing up of the legs to the abdomen while the belly is hard and distended. The treatment was this: “give two pellets of No. 3 and soothe the baby by carrying it about. If not better in half an hour give two more pellets and carry about. Repeat this until baby is relieved.”
The small manual contains treatment for such ailments as diseases of infants and children, fevers, inflammations, diseases of various organs, diseases of the skin, and female disorders.
Fourteen pages near the back are given over for the treatment of “every living thing on the farm.” It suggests the wisdom of purchasing the large veterinary box of remedies that also included a jar of veterinary oil and a medicator to administer the prescribed dosage.
The veterinary box sold for $30 and the box of remedies to help humans cost $20. As the vials of remedial pellets were used they could be purchased individually. The pellets were guaranteed to remain potent for a long time. They also were guaranteed to contain no substance which could be harmful.
The manual was distributed by Ury’s Pharmacy, which was located for many years at the corner of Third Street and Washington Avenue. We assume that the remedies could be purchased at that place and that they also could be obtained by ordering through the mail.
The manual was published in 1917 by the Humphreys Homeo. Medicine Co., located at the corner of William and Ann Streets in New York City. It was printed in five languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
Since Dr. Frederick Humphreys was the late Dr. Humphreys at the time of publication of this manual, it might seem that the good doctor neglected to take the prescribed dose of No. 24 pellets for general debility. This interesting little manual is found among the treasures of medicine in the museum.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.