July 17: Pharmacy Fun Fact

What was the 19th century tonic that was meant to be a meat substitute for those who could not afford it?

Answer: Coca Beef Tonic!

In the late 19th century, cocaine was embraced as a cure-all by pharmacists. A tonic was created called Coca Beef Tonic, which contained not only cocaine but also alcohol, and had numerous celebrity endorsements.

REFERENCE

Kang L, Pedersen N. Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything. New York, NY: Workman Publishing; 2017.

Stay tuned each week for our Friday Pharmacy Fun Facts! Impress your friends and colleagues with useful facts about the history of pharmacy, inventions created by pharmacists, and more. If you have a fun fact to contribute, email AAntrim@pharmacytimes.com, and it may be included!