Vern, Thanks a bunch for that info, interesting that it was manufactured in VT. I had no idea what it was, nor where it came from. It was an interesting ad in an old paper and gave a lot of local business names. Ruth I thought some might be interested in who Greene was and what the ingredients in Greene's Syrup of Tar were. Greene's Syrup of Tar.?Lester H. Greene Co., Montpelier, Vt., manufactured and sold a cough syrup, "Greene's Warranted Syrup of Tar." The Bureau of Chemistry reported that analysis showed the preparation to contain alcohol, chloroform and heroin with tar and potassium salts present. It was sold under the claim that it was an effective remedy for all throat and lung affections, would break up la grippe and prevent pneumonia. These claims were declared false and fraudulent and applied knowingly, recklessly and wantonly. The company was fined $50.?[Notice of Judgment No. 4522; issued Feb. 8, 1917.] I find it interesting what some of our ancestors used to cure their ailments. Vern -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

Hi Ruth, There are probably many people who are not aware of the history of this plant / drug. It goes back to 3,000 B.C., and is part of the history of the U.S. in 1700's and 1800's. See this timeline of "opium history." http://www.heroinaddiction.com/heroin_timeline.html And chloroform is part of the history of US in 1800's: http://www.general-anaesthesia.com/chloroform.html (It sometimes was fatal when first used.) Betty (near Lowell, MA) (FYI: Even today there are people who are highly allergic to anesthesia. In the 1980's I "knew" 2 women in MA who died on the operating table because of it.) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ruth Barton" <mrgjb@sover.net> To: <vermont@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 1:42 AM Subject: [VERMONT] Greene's Warranted Syrup of Tar Ad April 17,1908 > Vern, Thanks a bunch for that info, interesting that it was manufactured > in VT. I had no idea what it was, nor where it came from. It was an > interesting ad in an old paper and gave a lot of local business names. > Ruth > > > > I thought some might be interested in who Greene was and what the > ingredients in Greene's Syrup of Tar were. > > Greene's Syrup of Tar.?Lester H. Greene Co., Montpelier, Vt., manufactured > and sold a cough syrup, "Greene's Warranted Syrup of Tar." The Bureau of > Chemistry reported that analysis showed the preparation to contain > alcohol, > chloroform and heroin with tar and potassium salts present. It was sold > under the claim that it was an effective remedy for all throat and lung > affections, would break up la grippe and prevent pneumonia. These claims > were declared false and fraudulent and applied knowingly, recklessly and > wantonly. The company was fined $50.?[Notice of Judgment No. 4522; issued > Feb. 8, 1917.] > > I find it interesting what some of our ancestors used to cure their > ailments. > > Vern > -- > Ruth Barton > mrgjb@sover.net > Dummerston, VT > >