Dr Ray Vaughn Pierce (pictured, courtesy of Project Gutenberg) was an über-quack whose laboratory in Buffalo, NY, produced millions of dollars worth of patent remedies. As well as the Pleasant Pellets shown below, there were Dr Pierce’s Anuric Tablets, Dr Pierce’s Favorite Prescription, Dr Pierce’s Vaginal Tablets, Dr Pierce’s Extract of Smart-Weed and Dr Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery – a licorice-flavoured tonic that reportedly contained quinine, opium and alcohol and was advertised as giving men “an appetite like a cow-boy’s and the digestion of an ostrich.”
Pierce ran an opulent hotel for invalids, the first incarnation of which burnt down in 1881. The rebuilt hotel is said to have included among its guests the Sundance Kid and Etta Place in 1901.
His company, the World’s Dispensary Medical Association, gave away freebies such as calendars and notebooks to advertise the products, and Pierce’s own book, The People’s Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English, was a vehicle for recommending his own medicines. As well as the laboratory in Buffalo, the company had a British branch at Great Russell Street, London.
Dr Pierce was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1878 and served one term. After his death in 1914 his son, Dr Valentine Mott Pierce, continued the business and Pierce products were still available as late as the 1970s.
Falling Off A Log.
“As easy as falling off a log,” is an
old saying. When it was first uttered
nobody knows. Nothing is easier, un-
less it is the taking of a dose of Dr.
Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets. These act
like magic. No griping or drenching
follows, as is the case with the old fash-
ioned pills. The relief that follows re-
sembles the action of Nature in her hap-
piest moods; the impulse given to the dor-
mant liver is of the most salutary kind,
and is speedily manifested by the disap-
pearance of all bilious symptoms. Sick
headache, wind on the stomach, pain
through the right side and shoulder-
blade, and yellowness of the skin and
eyeballs are all remedied by the
Pellets.
Source: The Daily Gazette (Xenia, Ohio) Friday 8 April 1892
I aquired a “vial” of Dr. Pierce’s pleasant pellets around 10 years ago from some odds and ends family items my aunt had saved for many years. I would love to know in what year(s) they were produced.
KL in Mpls
I was given a copy by a friend ” The Peoples Common Sense Medical Medical Adviser ; by R. V. Pierce M. D. There were many testimonials in the book praising his medications . I did not realize he was considered a quack till I just looked him up trying to find out what was in his prescriptions . I did not expect to find anything .Some of those old remedies really did help .
Can somebody tell me the ingredients of “DR. PIERCE’S FAVORITE PRESCRIPTION”?
Hi Joe,
The Favorite Prescription contained savin (a species of juniper), cinchona, agaric, cinnamon, acacia, sugar, anise oil, tincture of digitalis, opium, alcohol and water. This is according to a recipe given in the Western Druggist and quoted by Charles Oleson in his book Secret Nostrums and Systems of Medicine.
Best wishes,
Caroline
I have a Dr. Pierce’s Anuric Tablets bottle in perfect condition. The short bio on him leads me to believe he was a perfect candidate for congress!!!!! Thanks. Charlie Scott.
I have a copy of an advertisement for Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets, from the May 22, 1919 Toledo Weekly Blade. In the ad it says Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets contain May-apple, leaves of aloe, and root of jalap.
I have an 1800’s copper printing plate.
I have been looking on the internet for day’s, and can’t find anything on it.
It has indented in it, backwards……..
For Constipation
Dr.Pierce’s
Pleasant Pellets
AT ALL DRUG STORES
Where can I find more information on it ?
Thank you for your time,
Tam
I put the wrong e-mail address on the first comment sumited.
Sorry
I have an 1800’s copper printing plate.
I have been looking on the internet for day’s, and can’t find anything on it.
It has indented in it, backwards……..
For Constipation
Dr.Pierce’s
Pleasant Pellets
AT ALL DRUG STORES
Where can I find more information on it ?
Thank you for your time,
Tam
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I have a blue glass bottle that is labelled Dr.Pierces Anuric tablets. What is the value of the bottle?
A Dr. Hager analyzed this remedy as well as Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery & could well have been in error of his analyses by claiming either one of these remedy’s contained opium. Dr. Pierce met an affidavit declaring ” there is not at the present time, nor has there ever been, any alcohol,opium,chloral cocaine or other narcotic used as ingredients in Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery or Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription”.
I have a pamphlet of ladies handbook with the advertisement of the doctors smart weed in it, along with some helpful remedies of the time, mostly quackery but very interesting to see what people used to rely on for illness…the year on the cover is 1887
Faced with the lack of The Great Physician, I’d also turn to Doc Pierce… Amen-Ra?
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