Over a century ago, “ patent medicine ” sellers pioneered this strategy during the U. Gilded Age opiate addiction epidemic. In fact, there is clear historical precedent for Purdue’s business plan. Opiates were some of the most commonly prescribed medicines in American history until the 20th century.
An early pioneer in the use of advertising to promote patent medicine was New York businessman Benjamin Brandreth, whose Vegetable Universal Pill eventually became one of the best-selling patent medicines in the United States. See more ideas about Medicine , Vintage medical, Vintage advertisements.
COOK Under the Direction of Jeffrey B. ROBBER BARON PARTIES – One rich lady gave a dinner party where the guests sat on horses at the dining table. The party cost $2per person. Most of the money was for the specially made trays that attached to the horses. At another party, the guests were shown into the banquet hall where a large table had a sand box on it. Increased government regulation brought about the end of the patent medicine era.
Although patent medicines continued to be produced after that date, new, stricter regulations demanded that ingredients be printed on labels, false claims be toned down, and advertising be more truthful.
