Brown’s Instant Relief for Pain was made in Norway, ME in 1887 by a company started by George W. Brown and L.F. Pike. In 1889, Brown sold the company to Fred W. Sanborn, the owner of a local newspaper, the Norway Advertiser. Along with Norway Medicine Co., the main producer of the drug was Cook, Everett & Pennell, wholesale druggists of Portland, ME. It is likely from 1888 and sold for 30 cents. An advertisement from 1889 shows an old patient throwing away his cane and sling and dancing in happiness, with a label “Brown’s Instant Relief Did It” written across the bottom. It claimed to provide a “speedy cure for coughs, colds, chills, cuts, croup, cramps, colic, cholera morbus, dysentery, neuralgia, rheumatism, toothache, sore throat, asthma, diphtheria” and to be “equally good for man or beast.” Although no composition is provided, the product contained 50% alcohol, chloroform, ether & narcotics, not controlled at the time. The product was still made in well into the 1930s. Description by Andrew Spielman
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