- Why won't they just go away?
Now and then I am reminded of an old medicine I haven't heard about in a long time. I'm usually surprised they're still around as I thought they were made obsolete. Then again, such medicines still work and are used by loyal consumers with strong allegiances. For example, one of my neighbors confided in me she takes a tablespoon of Castor Oil on a daily basis. I was surprised by the admission as I hadn't heard of it since my youth, which I remember as some nasty tonic that doesn't go down too easily. My neighbor said the taste wasn't too bad after you get used to it. Actually, Castor Oil has several uses, one of which is medicinal in nature, primarily as a laxative "to keep you regular."
You can't mention Castor Oil without thinking of Cod Liver Oil at the same time, another ancient tonic. Cod Liver Oil though is an excellent source of Vitamin A and is actively used to relieve joint pain caused by arthritis. I understand it was also used as a base for a red paint used in the cod fishing towns of Newfoundland. I cannot vouch for its taste as I have never tried it, but I have heard mixed reactions. Nonetheless, it remains a viable product.
Another obscure laxative is Pluto Water which my father's side of the family used religiously for years as a means of "Spring cleaning." He always claimed it was quite strong and worked its magic effectively. Thankfully, he only had to "take the cure" once a year under the insistence of his mother. Pluto Water comes from French Lick, Indiana which I visited some time ago and smelled the springs where the water originates. It was a strong sulfur-like smell thereby causing me to well imagine the powerful effect of ingesting the water.
Tooth Powder is another item you don't see too much anymore. There was a time, years ago, when most Americans used tooth powder as opposed to paste. I grew up in such a household, and I remember all of my relatives using it as well. I'm told tooth powder is actually an ancient product that goes back to Roman times. I believe it is still sold in tins, but there are also some simple recipes for tooth powder you can make from home. I'm not too sure the people at Procter & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive would be too happy for you to know this though.
I bring up the subject of Straight Razors, which isn't a medicine, yet something commonly found in medicine chests, or at least used to be. Most people today use some form of a safety or electric razor, but it doesn't seem that long ago the straight razor was the predominant means for a shave. In fact, they are still actively used in most barbershops. I can still remember my great-grandfather sharpening his straight razor on a long leather strap early in the morning, something he was also known to use to discipline children, but that's another story. Straight razors haven't disappeared completely. Certain shaving aficionados still prefer them, but they have certainly become a rarity. So much so, I do not believe most men today would know how to use one.
Finally, my favorite, Rawleigh's Man and Beast Salve. Way before there were antiseptic sprays, ointments and Band-Aids, there were simple antiseptic salves, a universally applicable product for both humans and animals. Farmers always kept a tin nearby, as did most families for that matter, including yours truly. A salve was useful for cuts, scrapes, burns, rashes, poison ivy or any other skin irritation. Just a dab of salve on your skin and you were on the road to recovery. Interestingly though, it is almost impossible to find such salves in the drug stores anymore. Fortunately, I found a source through the Internet. When I called the woman to place an order we struck up a conversation about salves. Actually, she was more than just a distributor, she was an outspoken proponent of the salve and couldn't imagine life without it. Neither can I. When I mention it to my friends, they think it is some barbaric poultice, which can also still be found around barnyards.
Most of the aforementioned products have been fading from public view for many years, made nearly extinct by changing medical technology. The fact they haven't disappeared completely means they are still regarded as viable medicinal products. They may have disappeared from drug stores, but they are still around, they've just gone underground thanks in large part to the Internet.
Keep the Faith!
Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.
Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com
For Tim's columns, see:
timbryce.com
Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.
NEXT UP: HOW INFORMATION AFFECTS MICROMANAGEMENT - Information requirements gives us insight as to why people micromanage.
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:30-3:00pm ET), and KGAB-AM 650 "The Morning Zone" with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays. 6:00-10:00am MST). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.
Also look for Tim's postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen's Association, and throughout the Internet.
I recently read an article claiming Tango dancing was an effective means to eliminate stress and depression. Evidently there is something about the legendary South American dance exhilarating to the human spirit. Maybe it has something to do with restoring confidence. Afterwards, it occurred to me this might just be the tonic needed to lift the country out of the doldrums we are in.
Years ago I happened to see a copy of Amelia Earhhart's business card. It was actually quite simple and included nothing more than her name and title, "Aviator." There was no address or anything else, and I suspect it was used merely to introduce her to people, a "calling card" if you will. In an old CBS western starring Richard Boone, the main character also had a simple business card which included a reference to his line of work, "Have Gun, Will Travel," along with "Wire Paladin, San Francisco." Also included was an image of a chess piece, a knight to be precise, presumably a symbolic touch of class.
I hate colds. I can usually sense when they are coming on, be it in my throat, nose, eyes, ears, or even lips. I immediately take some preventative medicine. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If the cold really wants to bloom, I find there is no stopping it. I believe it has a mind of its own. I can go a long time between colds, but when I finally get one, it's usually a real beaut.
The concept of leaders and followers is as old as mankind where one person champions a path for others to follow. Leaders believe they possess the knowledge and skills to take their followers to the promised land. They do this for several reasons: compassion for others, ego, greed, or it is simply their job to do so, as in business. Followers are searchers, be it for knowledge, truth, direction, or because they have no alternative. People will follow leaders either willfully, reluctantly, or by coercion, such as by threat of punishment. It depends on the follower's perception of their leader. They either have confidence in the leader's ability and trust his judgement without question, they lack confidence but are willing to follow, or are resigned to their fate.
I was recently invited to bid on a technical writing project. The initial meeting was treated like a job interview to determine my qualifications and everything seemed to go smoothly. Evidently I passed the test as I was invited for a second interview to discuss the project assignment in more detail. I arrived at the company's offices a few minutes ahead of schedule (11:00am). Nobody was at the front desk so I took a seat in their waiting room along with another gentleman who I judged to be approximately the same age as myself. We exchanged pleasantries and I soon discovered he was also invited to bid on the same assignment. I was dressed in suit and tie for the appointment, and my competitor was dressed in "business casual." Actually, we developed a good dialog about who we were and where we were from. There was no animosity between us, just some friendly banter.
Aside from a few fillings when I was young, I have been blessed with some rather good teeth. Year-in and year-out I've dutifully visited my dentist for cleanings and have kept them in good shape. On a recent visit though, my dental hygienist found I had broken a back molar thereby requiring a crown. To dentists, this is like hitting pay-dirt as I discovered crowns can be an expensive proposition. It's not uncommon to pay in excess of $1,000 for a crown. Fortunately, I was covered by dental insurance, which brought the out-of-pocket expense down considerably, but I was mindful how expensive the procedure can be. Many years ago, it wasn't too expensive, but inflation and the technology of the 21st century changed all that.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently announced it is going to suspend Saturday deliveries of mail. Actually, we shouldn't be too surprised as paper based mail has been diminishing over the years, thanks to e-mail, electronic banking, and rising postal costs. I know many businesses who avoid the USPS as much as possible and prefer the service of other carriers instead. All of this adds up to a decline in revenues and an increase in expenses for the USPS who is now scrambling to reorganize themselves in order to survive.
As a small businessman, I haven't had to use a fax machine in quite some time. Like most people these days, I rely primarily on e-mail. If I have a lengthy document, I convert it to a PDF file and attach it to the e-mail. Many years ago, we relied heavily on fax machines to communicate with customers overseas (and TWX machines before that), but in recent times we have little use for such devices. We keep a fax machine in the office for "just in case" situations, but we mostly leave it unplugged to avoid the many spam faxes still plaguing the public. I am also able to interface with other systems to upload/download data in a variety of file formats with Delimited ASCII being the most prevalent.
I am a sucker for reruns. I love to watch an old movie, maybe because I'm not too impressed with what Hollywood is churning out these days. For example, I recently watched 
I have always been fascinated by the disparity between liberals and conservatives, particularly as witnessed in the last electoral cycle. The contrast is as sharp as black and white. It's as if two different races of people occupy the land with totally different perspectives and values. I'm not sure why this is, but I want to give my two cents on the subject.
On more than one occasion I have been complimented on my ability to get things done. As such, I am often asked my secret to success. I normally reply, "A little Stug," a rather simple expression requiring an explanation.
I have been a student of communications for most of my life, not just the media but how and why things are spoken. Not surprising, I am often asked who my favorite orators were. Most are politicians as the spoken word represents their bread and butter. I have six favorites who I would define as "Great Communicators": Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), Theodore Roosevelt, Clarence Darrow, and Ronald Reagan. All had witty one liners, but they also knew how to deliver an important speech. In addition, all believed in preparation and rehearsal, and all spoke from the heart. Here are my favorites: