Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root (patent medicine)

Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root (Kidney, Liver & Bladder Cure)
Bottle illustration, c. 1904
Creator(s)	S. Andral Kilmer
Vendors	Dr. Kilmer & Co.

Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root was a patent medicine, originally developed by S. Andral Kilmer (for whom it is named) and later manufactured by Dr. Kilmer & Co. (Binghampton, N.Y.), which was sold as a remedy for kidney, liver, and bladder complaints.

Composition

The National Museum of American History offers one formula as: alcohol (10%); buchu leaves; scullcap leaves; golden seal root; colombo root; valerian root; cinnamon; oil of juniper; oil of birch; balsam copaiba; balsam tolu; venice turpentine; peppermint herb; rhubarb root; mandrake root; sassafras; cape aloes.

Advertising

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  "A MEDICAL VICTORY! Cures Brights' Disease, Catarrh of the Bladder, Torpid Liver. It dissovles Gall-Stones and Gravel. [...] IT IS A SPECIFIC. Every dose goes to the spot. Relieves and Cures internal Slime-fever, Canker, Dyspepsia, Anaemia, Malaria, Fever and Ague, [etc.]" (1886)

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  "THE DISCOVERER OF SWAMP-ROOT. A GREAT TRIUMPH OF MEDICAL SCIENCE. What a Great and Living Physician Has Accomplished by Devoting a Life to the Study and Relief of Disease." (1894)

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  "Kidney and Bladder Troubles Quickly Cured. You May Have a Sample Bottle of the Great Discovery, Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root Sent Free By Mail." (1897)

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  "WONDERFUL CURES BY SWAMP-ROOT. Deacon Pollard Finds Swamp-Root Certain Help in Time of Trouble." (1900)

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  "NATURE'S GREATEST CURE. An interesting letter to our readers from Hon. H. L. Dunham, Ex-Mayor of Dover, N.J." (1904)

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  "ARE YOUR KIDNEY'S WEAK? Thousands of Men and Women Have Kidney Trouble and Never Suspect It" (1904)

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  "Nature's Greatest Cure for Men and Women; Swamp-Root is the Most Perfect Healer and Natural Aid to the Kidneys, Liver and Bladder Ever Discovered." (1904)

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  "THOUSANDS HAVE KIDNEY TROUBLE AND DON'T KNOW IT." (1905)

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  "OLD FRIENDS ARE BEST." (1921)