A 19th-century trade card that came by me today:
Yes, Eclectric Oil, apparently with a portmanteau of eclectic and electric, both fashionable terms in the 19th century.
From a website with another Eclectric Oil trade card:
Information from this site:
Dr. Thomas’ Eclectric Oil was a liniment formulated by Dr. S.N. Thomas in the late 1840s.
… Dr. Thomas homemade Eclectric Oil was a smashing success. In the 1880s, he sold the name and formula to Excelsior Botanical Company. Dr. Thomas’ Eclectric Oil then appeared in the Farmer’s Almanac as Excelsior Eclectric Oil. When Foster, Milburn & Co., of Buffalo acquired Excelsior Eclectric Oil a few years later, it was again marketed as Dr. S.N. Thomas’ Eclectic Oil. It became successful in both domestic and international markets.
A formulation of spirits of turpentine, camphor, oil of tar, red thyme, and fish oil — kin to Ben Gay, except that it was advertised as “The Great External and Internal Remedy”. As in this photo from the National Museum of American History site, after Eclectric had become simply Eclectic:
Here we learn that the stuff was indeed
For external and internal use. For coughs due to colds and common sore throat; for lameness and soreness of the muscles; to relieve the pains of simple neuralgia, earache and toothache; to allay inflammation in superficial bruises, cuts, burns and scalds, minor sprains, nonvenomous insect bites, frostbites, chapped hands, corns, bunions, and warts.
I’m not sure I’d want to drink such a concoction, even if I had a really bad cold and sore throat. (Compare Dr. Miles’ Nervine, here.)
OED2 has eclectic in two main senses: an older sense for philosophical schools and individual philosophers who combine elements from various sources; and then
More vaguely: That borrows or is borrowed from diverse sources. Also, of persons or personal attributes: Unfettered by narrow system in matters of opinion or practice; broad, not exclusive, in matters of taste.
(with cites from 1847 — Disraeli — on). Then the relevant sense of electric, from OED3 (November 2010):
fig. Suddenly exciting, thrilling, or intense, as if caused by an electric charge or shock; stimulating; charged with tension.
(with cites from 1789 on).
In any case, Eclect(r)ic Oil was apparently hot stuff back in the day, of diverse ingredients and intense effects.
February 24, 2011 at 12:08 pm |
Yegads. Did people really drink that stuff?
February 24, 2011 at 9:00 pm |
Apparently so, for many decades. An appalling idea.
February 28, 2011 at 5:01 pm |
[…] By arnold zwicky Another 19th-century trade card that came by me […]
March 27, 2014 at 10:31 am |
I would like to get my hands on dr Thomas electric oil where can I get some
November 15, 2015 at 5:39 am |
I have an original, unopened bottle of this wonderful elixir still in the box. I would entertain offers to sell.
November 16, 2015 at 3:48 am
i have an original one, box included
November 5, 2014 at 4:19 am |
Drink, no: we used to put 2 or 3 drops on a spoonful of sugar and let it melt gradually. I have a very old bottle! I keep it as a souvenir, but I don’t think I would use a drop today…
January 15, 2016 at 8:09 pm |
This oil was sold into the 1970s I myself would take a few drops on a spoon of sugar- and it worked wonders from coughing and not sleeping to calming the throat so the tickle was gone. A few more drops rubbed on the neck and chest helped further. My mom had terrible sinus problems and would snuff a few drops up her nostrils to clear them. My brothers used it as liniments for sore muscles. I would like the recipe although. I believe the later versions used pine oil rather than turpentine – I hope🙀 A Dr. My family met from Trinidad, said it was called Canadian Healing Oil there.
July 4, 2016 at 7:25 pm |
Where we can find this eclectric oil please?
July 4, 2016 at 7:38 pm |
See the other comments. Otherwise, consider inquiring on the net.
April 26, 2017 at 8:36 am |
Where can I buy this?
April 26, 2017 at 8:40 am |
See previous comments.
November 2, 2018 at 3:42 pm |
My grandmother and mother would put it on a spoon with sugar. It tasted awful . I thought it was for my tummy but maybe it was for colds. I also had castor oil and some god awful strawberry something or other that was for my tummy . Yuck. I hated the strawberry bitter concoction. But they worked.
December 5, 2018 at 3:31 pm |
I’ve used Dr Thomas electric oil back in the late 50s and it does every thing it claims and more. I have a little bit left. Bought it about 25 years ago have a back ache rubbed a little on worked great. Where can I buy some more?
December 5, 2018 at 3:42 pm |
See previous comments.