Dr. Wright's Rapid Relief - Wright's Hatchery - Part 2

The patent medicine industry is still regarded as a pioneering force in modern advertising and sales strategies. It became routine to include client testimonials in newspaper ads and there was no such thing as an exaggerated or false claim when it came to the drug's effectiveness. You could pretty much make any claim you wished. And as the formula increased in popularity, it became necessary to adapt and develop a more efficient distribution system: a system that included pills, capsules, syrups, liquids, ointments, pellets and a variety of containers.

Dr. Wright negotiated deals to offer his products at grocery stores, to be sold by door to door salesmen and to be supplied by other wholesalers. He always included information about the benefits of using his mixtures and heavily promoted the supply locations.

A major change came in 1906 with the adoption of the U. S. Government's Pure Food and Drug Act. Public controversy had developed over the inclusion of what some considered dangerous ingredients, such as opium, cocaine, and even alcohol.

In some instances, death was believed to have been caused by a toxic substance in the solution. Since the patent medicines were sold over the counter, there was very little control over what remedy was taken, when it was taken, how much was taken, who was taking it, what other substances could have been used and what the reaction(s) might be. Sometimes the cure was truly worse than the illness.

In one account, three main ingredients were revealed by family members: oil of sassafras, filtered white gasoline and grain alcohol. The original recipe was said to have passed along at Dr. Wright's death in 1919. However, it wasn't until a little later that Wright's Rapid Relief was completely obsolete.

A few events came along that had major effects on the world as well as the patent medicine industry. The war to end all wars began in 1914 and continued through 1918. New military technologies were used that brought unheard of destruction and the slaughter of more than 16 million soldiers and civilians. Domestic supplies, particularly fuel and food were at an all time low. From 1920 to 1933, the Eighteenth Amendment was in effect. It was illegal to manufacture, transport and sell alcohol: three activities necessary for the success of patent medicines. From 1929 to 1939 the Great Depression brought widespread business failures and reset economic priorities.

Farming communities saw crop prices fall by as much as 60 percent. For a lot of people to survive, they had to learn to raise their own crops and animals for food. Particularly, in Peebles, there was a growing interest in raising chickens. Dr. Wright's Rapid Relief evolved into Wright's Hatchery and Feed Store.