Father John's Medicine is a

cough medicine Cold medicines are a group of medications taken individually or in combination as a treatment for the symptoms of the common cold and similar conditions of the upper respiratory tract. The term encompasses a broad array of drugs, including a ...

that was first formulated in the United States in a

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, United States. Alongside Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge, it is one of two traditional county seat, seats of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in ...

pharmacy in 1855 by Carleton and Hovey to give relief to ailing Father John O'Brien. The tonic was a

non-alcoholic An alcohol-free or non-alcoholic drink, also known as a temperance drink, is a version of an alcoholic drink made without alcohol, or with the alcohol removed or reduced to almost zero. These may take the form of a non-alcoholic mixed drink or non ...

mix made of

cod liver oil Cod liver oil is a dietary supplement derived from liver of Atlantic cod (''Gadus morhua''). As with most fish oils, it contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and also vitamin A and vita ...

and had a

licorice Liquorice (Commonwealth English) or licorice (American English; see spelling differences; ) is the common name of ''Glycyrrhiza glabra'', a flowering plant of the bean family Fabaceae, from the root of which a sweet, aromatic flavouring is ...

taste. Mr. Carleton and Mr. Hovey, using Father John as the spokesman, began to manufacture and mass-produce the medicine in Lowell, until the company was sold and moved to

Cody, Wyoming Cody is a city in and the county seat of Park County, Wyoming, United States. It is named after Buffalo Bill Cody for his part in the founding of Cody in 1896. The population was 10,028 at the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census, making Cod ...

in the early 1980s. Today, as sold, the

active ingredient An active ingredient is any ingredient that provides biologically active or other direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease or to affect the structure or any function of the body of humans or animals. ...

in Father John's Medicine is dextromethorphan hydrobromide. Many of Father John's Medicine Company Records are housed at the

University of Massachusetts Lowell The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell and UML) is a Public university, public research university in Lowell, Massachusetts, with a satellite campus in Haverhill, Massachusetts. It is the northernmost member of the University of M ...

's Special Collections.

History

In the 19th century, Priest John O'Brian along with his brother Timothy immigrated to the United States from Ireland. In 1855, John became ill and Timothy died of pneumonia. John reached out to Carleton and Hovey, who then gave him what we now call Father John's Medicine. Father John believed the tonic to be heavily effective and recommended it. Soon the medicine spread across the country.

Uses

The medicine is used to treat the symptoms of common colds, the flu, and allergies and is not meant to cure the cold or flu. There are many side effects that may occur when using this medicine. These side effects can include nausea, dizziness, and an upset stomach.

References

{{Reflist Patent medicines