A Local Cure

Sometimes comments about products from far away places bring to light preparations which have a local story. In reply to the article on "Those Guaranteed Pills" I received in the mail a note and brochure from A.J. Zumbro of the Chalybeate Apartments. The note stated "What's wrong with local cures".

In reading the advertisement and testimonials; I was surprised to find Bedford County had its own famous "The Iron Salve" which was a 'cure' for skin diseases and piles. This product was registered in 1887 by J.H. Hafer of Bedford, Pa. The price was ten cents.

The principal ingredients were obtained from the famous Bedford Chalybeate Springs. The 'ad' continues to state "This spring has had a national reputation for three-quarters of a century and has been visited by thousands of people who, through the advice of their physicians, have drank and bathed in the waters with wonderful curative effects".

In addition to the salve, Mr. Hafer also prepared "Stop-ache" in tablet form. He stated this product "has been known locally since 1840 and thousands who have been relieved of Tooth-ache, Cold in the Face or Jaws, and face Neuralgia, can testify to its merits as a safe, harmless and effective remedy".

"Hafer's Celebrated Chalybeate Cure" was made of the mineral sediments of the famous Springs.

Mr. Hafer also included a complete analysis of the local waters, which are given as parts per million. He listed a total of 351.4229 parts per million gallons of liquid. They included carbonate of calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, and potassium, sulphate of calcium, chloride of sodium and silicic acid.

To elaborate more about his spring, Mr. Hafer further stated "This spring throws out a vast amount of mineral sediment, the local application of which for skin troubles had theretofore proved most beneficial, and it was the study of years of the proprietor of the spring how to manipulate this sediment in order to make its curative properties most effective. The consummation has now been reached in the preparation of a salve which is a positive and unfailing cure for Piles, all forms of Itching, Scaley, Pimply Diseases of the Skin and all Sores, Cuts and Bruises." In addition he lists no less than fourteen diseases which his ointment will cure.

Also in the brochure are many testimonials of those who have used this product. Eighteen are from private individuals. Eleven of these are from residents of Bedford County. One was from a President of a county industry, a cashier of a local bank, a bartender, a proprietor of a local factory and another from a local hotel proprietor. The others came from Brooklyn, N.Y., Baltimore, Md., Myersdale, Pa., Chicago, III., and Philadelphia, Pa.

There were testimonials from nine physicians. Seven came from Bedford and Bedford County. The other two were post marked from Altoona, Pa.

One county doctor testified he had never found anything for the treatment of certain skin ailments (which he listed) to equal this ointment. A very prominent Bedford physician gave testimony to the point that he had used this ointment made from the Chalybeate Spring and predicted that "it will come into general use as soon as the medical profession realize its medicinal value."

The earliest date of all these testimonials was July 7, 1886, and the latest was December 15 1902

Mr. Hafer on the bottom of his brochure states that if his product was not on sale at your store, you were to send ten cents and a two cent stamp for your sample.

I have reasons to believe a few cans of this ointment still exist in and around Bedford, perhaps in a box in the attic or cellar of some of the old homes.