Dr. Mile's Laboratories
Miles Medical CompanyThe Miles Medical Company was founded by Dr. Franklin Miles around the mid 1880's (1884?). He sold out of the buisness to his partners several years later, but the company kept his name. The company was very sucessful and sold a lot of 'medicine' like Miles Nervine, New Heart Cure, etc. I think a big part of that sucess was due to the frequent advertising. They put out a lot of almanacs, calendars, and various phamplets. The were involved in a landmark Supreme Court case in 1912 (still often refered to today) about who decides what the retail price of a product should be (the manufacturer or the retailer?). The result of which is why you often see "Suggested retail price..." and not "Retail price". This debate still lingers on. In the 1930's the Miles Medical Co. had a "rebirth" with their hugely successful Alka-Seltzer product, which is still being sold today. The Miles Medical Co. under went several name changes "Dr. Miles Medical Co.", then "Miles Medical Co.", then "Miles Laboratories", and then I think simply "Miles, Inc.". This Elkhert, Indiana based company is now owned by Bayer, AG of Germany.
This company was always known for its large presence in the advertising realm. in 40 years (between 1902 and 1942) the company published more than on billion advertisment publications.
Until the 1930's, the major part of the companies profits came from Dr. Miles Nervine Medicine which was a sedative. Early advertisment aimed primarily at the female following, promised relief from hysteria, blues, and melancholy. There are some sources that say that the Nervine Medicine contained Bromide as the sedative agent. (From a Medical Journal: “Bromide was once used as a sedative and an effective anticonvulsant, and until 1975 it was a major ingredient in over-the-counter products such as Bromo-Seltzer™ and Dr. Miles’ Nervine™. Bromism (chronic bromide intoxication) was once common, accounting for as many as 5–10% of admissions to psychiatric hospitals. Bromism is now rare, although bromides occasionally are used to treat epilepsy. Bromide is still found in photographic chemicals, as the bromide salt or another constituent of numerous medications, in some well water, in bromide-containing hydrocarbons (eg, methyl bromide, ethylene dibromide, halothane), and in some soft drinks containing brominated vegetable oil. Foods fumigated with methyl bromide may contain some residual bromide, but the amounts are too small to cause toxicity….”)
This company was always known for its large presence in the advertising realm. in 40 years (between 1902 and 1942) the company published more than on billion advertisment publications.
Until the 1930's, the major part of the companies profits came from Dr. Miles Nervine Medicine which was a sedative. Early advertisment aimed primarily at the female following, promised relief from hysteria, blues, and melancholy. There are some sources that say that the Nervine Medicine contained Bromide as the sedative agent. (From a Medical Journal: “Bromide was once used as a sedative and an effective anticonvulsant, and until 1975 it was a major ingredient in over-the-counter products such as Bromo-Seltzer™ and Dr. Miles’ Nervine™. Bromism (chronic bromide intoxication) was once common, accounting for as many as 5–10% of admissions to psychiatric hospitals. Bromism is now rare, although bromides occasionally are used to treat epilepsy. Bromide is still found in photographic chemicals, as the bromide salt or another constituent of numerous medications, in some well water, in bromide-containing hydrocarbons (eg, methyl bromide, ethylene dibromide, halothane), and in some soft drinks containing brominated vegetable oil. Foods fumigated with methyl bromide may contain some residual bromide, but the amounts are too small to cause toxicity….”)