Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills was one of the most successful and enduring products to be manufactured and marketed in North America as part of the lucrative patent medicine industry, which thrived during most of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its manufacturer claimed the pills contained herbal ingredients that would help "cleanse the blood," as "impurity of the blood" was believed to be the cause of all disease.
Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills have their genesis with the father of William Henry Comstock, Edwin Perkins Comstock (1799–1837) who founded a drug company in New York City sometime before 1833. The Comstock patent medicine business was involved in the sale of a number of successful drugs, including Carlton's Pile Liniment, Oldridge's Balm of Columbia, Kline's Tooth Ache Drops and Judson's Worm Tea. Between 1833 and the time of the acquisition of the rights to Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills, the company remained under the control of the Comstocks through the additional involvement of Edwin's four brothers:
Lucius Samuel Comstock, (1806–1876)
Albert Lee Comstock (1802–1876)
John Carlton Comstock (1819–1853)
George Wells Comstock (1820–1889)
The Indian Root Pills were first formulated and manufactured in 1854 by Andrew B. Moore (born around 1821, New York), who was then operating under the name A.B. Moore in Buffalo, New York. Rights to the pills were then transferred through a number of different business partnerships under the control of Moore involving:
These reorganizations all occurred amid numerous disputes and lawsuits. During that long period of instability, the manufacturing operations moved from Buffalo to New York City and then to dual sites on opposite sides of the St. Lawrence River, one at Brockville, Ontario, and the other at Morristown, New York. Ownership of Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills finally stabilized in 1867 when it settled solely in the hands of William Henry Comstock, and thereafter business was carried out under the name W.H. Comstock Co. Ltd.
The front of a 19th or early 20th Century facsimile of a $20 Confederate note used for marketing Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills.
When William Henry Comstock died in 1919, control of the company passed to his son, William Henry Comstock II (1897–1959), known as "Young Bill." A year after William Henry Comstock II died, his widow liquidated the company, selling the assets and patents to Milburn Medicine Company.[1]
The subsidiary in Australia — W.H. Comstock Company Pty Ltd — had been headed by the former branch manager for the Comstocks. He acquired the rights for Australia and the Orient following the dissolution of the Canadian firm. The Australian firm distributed in New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong up until 1992. Packaging and directions are now modern, the pills being described as "The Overnight Laxative with the Tonic Action", but a reproduction of the old label and the facsimile signature of William Henry Comstock, Sr. were still portrayed.
The W.H. Comstock Co (Aust) Pty Ltd had registered in New South Wales as an Australian Proprietary Company, by Limited Shares, on July 31, 1971, but deregistered on February 27, 1992.
The reverse of the fake note where the marketing took place, naming W. H. Comstock as the "Sole Proprietor" at the time.
Succession of manufacturers in the 1800sedit
A.B. Moore & Co.
225 Main Street Buffalo, New York Andrew B. Moore, proprietor
An 1854 Buffalo directory list A.B. Moore & Co. as being the successor to (i) C.C. Bristol & (ii) Moore, Liebetrut & Co. and lists Andrew Judson White as a clerk at A.B. Moore & Co.
Comstock & Co. (1837–1841) Lucius Samuel Comstock, MD, partner Albert Lee Comstock, partner John Carlton Comstock, employee George Wells Comstock, employee
Comstock & Co. (11 January 1841 — 1846) Lucius Samuel Comstock, partner 21 Courtland Street Ann Moore (Lucius's mother-in-law), partner
Comstock & Co. (born 1841) 57 John Street (1841–1853) 45 Vesey Street (1853–1876), in the rear of the courtyard of St. Paul's Chapel New York, New York Lucius Samuel Comstock, MD, partner John Carlton Comstock, partner George Wells Comstock, employee William Henry Comstock (nephew), employee (son of Edwin) Note: Lucius continued to operate this firm after John & George left in 1849 over a dispute with Lucius. Lucius exited the patent medicine business and resumed his legal career, continuing until his death in 1876.
Comstock & Co. Brothers (March 1849 — 1 August 1850) Lucius Comstock, MD, partner John Carlton Comstock, partner George Wells Comstock, partner
Comstock & Brother (1 August 1850 — 17 September 1853) 9 John Street New York, New York John Carlton Comstock, partner George Wells Comstock, partner William Henry Comstock (nephew), clerk (son of Edwin) Note: This partnership was terminated at the death of John Carlton Comstock
Comstock & Brother (1 October 1853 — 1864) 9 John Street (1 October 1853 — 1855) 50 Leonard Street (1855–1864) New York, New York George Wells Comstock, partner (1/2) William Henry Comstock, partner (1/4) Baldwin Lake Judson, partner (1/4) Note: George retained exclusive possession to all trademarks, recipes, and rights to medicines Successor firm in 1864 was Comstock & Judson
A.J. White & Co. (10 August 1855 — ) 50 Leonard Street New York, New York August 10, 1855, Andrew Judson White, who had a 50% partnership with Andrew B. Moore to distribute Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills, entered into a contract (as individual) with Comstock & Brother to manufacturer and distribute the pills — White was to receive 1/4th of the profits and the firm 3/4ths. It is not clear why Moore was not included in the partnership. The Comstocks retained control of the firm bearing White's name. White claimed absolute ownership of the pills. Moore, who strongly disagreed, continued to produce the pills and published literature denouncing production by A.J. White & Co. as forgeries. Moore, however, accepted employment (not partnership) by A.J. White & Co. June 21, 1858, and agreed to cease producing the pills. But on January 1, 1859, White and Moore took books, account records and various assets from the firm's office and formed a business under the same name, A.J. White & Co., at 10 Courtlandt Street.
A.J. White & Co. (1 January 1859 — 1914) 10 Courtlandt Street New York, New York Andrew B. Moore, partner Andrew Judson White, partner
B. Lake Judson (born 1859) 106 Franklin Street George Wells Comstock, partner (1/2) William Henry Comstock, partner (1/4) Baldwin Lake Judson, partner (1/4) B. Lake Judson was formed to escape of having to compete selling the pills with the rebel company headed by the person bearing the manufacturer's name that Comstock had promoted for three years.
Comstock & Brothers 106 Franklin Street Baldwin Lake Judson, partner
Comstock & Judson (born 1864) 50 Leonard Street New York, New York George Wells Comstock, partner (1/2) William Henry Comstock, partner (1/4) Baldwin Lake Judson, partner (1/4) Note: George still retained exclusive possession to all trademarks, recipes, and rights to medicines This firm succeeded Comstock & Brother
W.H. Comstock Company Pty. Ltd. Farish Street Wellington, New Zealand
Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills and Comstock's Worm Tablets are still manufactured and sold by the W.H. Comstock Company Pty. Ltd., in Australia. The company was once a subsidiary of the Brockville, Canada. It is headed by the former branch manager for the Comstocks, who acquired the rights for Australia and the Orient following the dissolution of the Canadian firm.
The Australian firm distributes in New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Packaging and directions are now modern, the pills being described as "The Overnight Laxative with the Tonic Action," but a reproduction of the old label and the facsimile signature of William Henry Comstock, Sr., are still being portrayed. Thus, the Indian Root Pills have been manufactured continuously for at least 115 years and the Comstock business, through the original and successor firms, has survived for nearly 140 years.
The W.H. Comstock Co (Aust) Pty Ltd. had registered in New South Wales as an Australian Proprietary Company, by Limited Shares, on July 31, 1971, but deregistered on February 27, 1992.
Referencesedit
General references
Morse's Indian Root Pill — Almanac, W.H. Comstock, Morristown, New York OCLC 18337701, 185102745
History of the Comstock Patent Medicine Business and Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills, (alternate link to text) (another alternate link to text) by Robert B. Shaw, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. (1972) OCLC 251877, 595215741, 102918677 OCLC 252407470
An Annotated Catalogue of the Edward C. Atwater Collection of American Popular Medicine and Health Reform, Vol. III, Supplement: A–Z, compiled and annotated by Christopher T. Hoolihan (born 1949), University of Rochester Press, pg. 165 (2008) OCLC 47716505
^Brockville: The River City, by Russ Disotell, Natural Heritage Books (1997) OCLC 287540453, 815757409
December 18, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Dr Morse s Indian Root Pills was one of the most successful and enduring products to be manufactured and marketed in North America as part of the lucrative patent medicine industry which thrived during most of the 19th and 20th centuries Its manufacturer claimed the pills contained herbal ingredients that would help cleanse the blood as impurity of the blood was believed to be the cause of all disease William H Comstock circa 1905History edit nbsp Advertisement for Dr Morse s Indian Root Pills in East Maitland New South Wales AustraliaDr Morse s Indian Root Pills have their genesis with the father of William Henry Comstock Edwin Perkins Comstock 1799 1837 who founded a drug company in New York City sometime before 1833 The Comstock patent medicine business was involved in the sale of a number of successful drugs including Carlton s Pile Liniment Oldridge s Balm of Columbia Kline s Tooth Ache Drops and Judson s Worm Tea Between 1833 and the time of the acquisition of the rights to Dr Morse s Indian Root Pills the company remained under the control of the Comstocks through the additional involvement of Edwin s four brothers Lucius Samuel Comstock 1806 1876 Albert Lee Comstock 1802 1876 John Carlton Comstock 1819 1853 George Wells Comstock 1820 1889 The Indian Root Pills were first formulated and manufactured in 1854 by Andrew B Moore born around 1821 New York who was then operating under the name A B Moore in Buffalo New York Rights to the pills were then transferred through a number of different business partnerships under the control of Moore involving Andrew Judson White MD 1824 1898 paternal uncle of publisher and poet James Terry White 1845 1920 Baldwin Lake Judson 1832 1867 son of Edwin s sister George Wells Comstock William Henry ComstockThese reorganizations all occurred amid numerous disputes and lawsuits During that long period of instability the manufacturing operations moved from Buffalo to New York City and then to dual sites on opposite sides of the St Lawrence River one at Brockville Ontario and the other at Morristown New York Ownership of Dr Morse s Indian Root Pills finally stabilized in 1867 when it settled solely in the hands of William Henry Comstock and thereafter business was carried out under the name W H Comstock Co Ltd nbsp The front of a 19th or early 20th Century facsimile of a 20 Confederate note used for marketing Dr Morse s Indian Root Pills When William Henry Comstock died in 1919 control of the company passed to his son William Henry Comstock II 1897 1959 known as Young Bill A year after William Henry Comstock II died his widow liquidated the company selling the assets and patents to Milburn Medicine Company 1 The subsidiary in Australia W H Comstock Company Pty Ltd had been headed by the former branch manager for the Comstocks He acquired the rights for Australia and the Orient following the dissolution of the Canadian firm The Australian firm distributed in New Zealand Singapore and Hong Kong up until 1992 Packaging and directions are now modern the pills being described as The Overnight Laxative with the Tonic Action but a reproduction of the old label and the facsimile signature of William Henry Comstock Sr were still portrayed The W H Comstock Co Aust Pty Ltd had registered in New South Wales as an Australian Proprietary Company by Limited Shares on July 31 1971 but deregistered on February 27 1992 nbsp The reverse of the fake note where the marketing took place naming W H Comstock as the Sole Proprietor at the time Succession of manufacturers in the 1800s editA B Moore amp Co 225 Main Street Buffalo New York Andrew B Moore proprietor An 1854 Buffalo directory list A B Moore amp Co as being the successor to i C C Bristol amp ii Moore Liebetrut amp Co and lists Andrew Judson White as a clerk at A B Moore amp Co Comstock amp Co 1837 1841 Lucius Samuel Comstock MD partner Albert Lee Comstock partner John Carlton Comstock employee George Wells Comstock employeeComstock amp Co 11 January 1841 1846 Lucius Samuel Comstock partner 21 Courtland Street Ann Moore Lucius s mother in law partnerComstock amp Co born 1841 57 John Street 1841 1853 45 Vesey Street 1853 1876 in the rear of the courtyard of St Paul s Chapel New York New York Lucius Samuel Comstock MD partner John Carlton Comstock partner George Wells Comstock employee William Henry Comstock nephew employee son of Edwin Note Lucius continued to operate this firm after John amp George left in 1849 over a dispute with Lucius Lucius exited the patent medicine business and resumed his legal career continuing until his death in 1876 Comstock amp Co Brothers March 1849 1 August 1850 Lucius Comstock MD partner John Carlton Comstock partner George Wells Comstock partnerComstock amp Brother 1 August 1850 17 September 1853 9 John Street New York New York John Carlton Comstock partner George Wells Comstock partner William Henry Comstock nephew clerk son of Edwin Note This partnership was terminated at the death of John Carlton ComstockComstock amp Brother 1 October 1853 1864 9 John Street 1 October 1853 1855 50 Leonard Street 1855 1864 New York New York George Wells Comstock partner 1 2 William Henry Comstock partner 1 4 Baldwin Lake Judson partner 1 4 Note George retained exclusive possession to all trademarks recipes and rights to medicines Successor firm in 1864 was Comstock amp JudsonA J White amp Co 10 August 1855 50 Leonard Street New York New York August 10 1855 Andrew Judson White who had a 50 partnership with Andrew B Moore to distribute Dr Morse s Indian Root Pills entered into a contract as individual with Comstock amp Brother to manufacturer and distribute the pills White was to receive 1 4th of the profits and the firm 3 4ths It is not clear why Moore was not included in the partnership The Comstocks retained control of the firm bearing White s name White claimed absolute ownership of the pills Moore who strongly disagreed continued to produce the pills and published literature denouncing production by A J White amp Co as forgeries Moore however accepted employment not partnership by A J White amp Co June 21 1858 and agreed to cease producing the pills But on January 1 1859 White and Moore took books account records and various assets from the firm s office and formed a business under the same name A J White amp Co at 10 Courtlandt Street A J White amp Co 1 January 1859 1914 10 Courtlandt Street New York New York Andrew B Moore partner Andrew Judson White partnerB Lake Judson born 1859 106 Franklin Street George Wells Comstock partner 1 2 William Henry Comstock partner 1 4 Baldwin Lake Judson partner 1 4 B Lake Judson was formed to escape of having to compete selling the pills with the rebel company headed by the person bearing the manufacturer s name that Comstock had promoted for three years Comstock amp Brothers 106 Franklin Street Baldwin Lake Judson partnerComstock amp Judson born 1864 50 Leonard Street New York New York George Wells Comstock partner 1 2 William Henry Comstock partner 1 4 Baldwin Lake Judson partner 1 4 Note George still retained exclusive possession to all trademarks recipes and rights to medicines This firm succeeded Comstock amp BrotherW H Comstock Co Ltd 1867 1960 Morristown New York amp Brockville Ontario In April 1867 the processing of Morse s Indian Root Pills moved from New York City to Morristown New York on the Saint Lawrence River in northern New York on the Canada US border This was not the firm s first move to the area Three or four years earlier William Henry Comstock had taken over an existing business in Brockville Ontario directly across the river from Morristown The Indian Root Pill plant remained in Morristown for the next ninety years Manufacturing amp distribution in Australia W H Comstock Company Pty Ltd 23 Lang Street 58 Pitt Street Sydney AustraliaW H Comstock Company Pty Ltd Farish Street Wellington New Zealand Dr Morse s Indian Root Pills and Comstock s Worm Tablets are still manufactured and sold by the W H Comstock Company Pty Ltd in Australia The company was once a subsidiary of the Brockville Canada It is headed by the former branch manager for the Comstocks who acquired the rights for Australia and the Orient following the dissolution of the Canadian firm The Australian firm distributes in New Zealand Singapore and Hong Kong Packaging and directions are now modern the pills being described as The Overnight Laxative with the Tonic Action but a reproduction of the old label and the facsimile signature of William Henry Comstock Sr are still being portrayed Thus the Indian Root Pills have been manufactured continuously for at least 115 years and the Comstock business through the original and successor firms has survived for nearly 140 years The W H Comstock Co Aust Pty Ltd had registered in New South Wales as an Australian Proprietary Company by Limited Shares on July 31 1971 but deregistered on February 27 1992 References editGeneral references Morse s Indian Root Pill Almanac W H Comstock Morristown New York OCLC 18337701 185102745 History of the Comstock Patent Medicine Business and Dr Morse s Indian Root Pills alternate link to text another alternate link to text by Robert B Shaw Smithsonian Institution Press Washington D C 1972 OCLC 251877 595215741 102918677 OCLC 252407470 An Annotated Catalogue of the Edward C Atwater Collection of American Popular Medicine and Health Reform Vol III Supplement A Z compiled and annotated by Christopher T Hoolihan born 1949 University of Rochester Press pg 165 2008 OCLC 47716505 William H Comstock Company papers University of RochesterInline citations Brockville The River City by Russ Disotell Natural Heritage Books 1997 OCLC 287540453 815757409 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dr Morse 27s Indian Root Pills amp oldid 1179618902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
