Hadacol and Musterole Memories

When I was growing up there were painted ads for Hadacol all over the place. You'd see them painted on the sides of buildings, on retaining walls, just about any odd blank space that someone was willing to let them paint. I remember their signs as being just about as easy to spot as the "See Rock City" ones. It was constantly being advertised on the radio, too.

Hadacol was a highly touted medicine that was good for just about anything that ailed you. I don't have any idea how much the dose of this yucky tasting brown liquid was supposed to be, as I never took any, as far as I know.

What I do know is that it was pulled off the market when I was about 8 years old. The government made them stop selling it, because of deceptive advertising, and because it was something like 50 proof ALCOHOL!! I guess you would be feeling no pain after taking that!!

What got me to thinking about Hadacol, as an extinct "medicine", was something my 101 year old Daddy said to the Hospice nurse the other day. She was talking to him about what she thought the Orthopedist might do to stop his arm from hurting. And he asked her if he should be using Musterole on it. She had no idea what he was talking about, but I did. I remember the pungent odor of the Musterole ointment. It came in a jar, and many was the time that Mama would slather it all over my chest to try to break the congestion of a bad cold, or worse. I'm not sure if I remember correctly that the skin got hot with it or not, but I think it did. It was greasy and smelly, but it did help relieve aches and pains, and it did break up congestion.

I have no idea why Musterole stopped being sold ... maybe it still is?? I guess people just didn't like the idea of stinking, eh??

Speaking of stinking ... how about the old Assafedity Bag?? I know I'm not spelling it right, and unless you're from the rural South, I doubt you've ever heard of this home remedy. I haven't a clue what went into this little cloth bag, but I can tell you from personal experience that it stunk to high heaven. When I first started teaching elementary school in the little rural town we live in, there were still children coming to school with an Assafedity Bag tied around their necks, so they wouldn't get sick!! Phew .. and I had to lean over their desks to help them with their work. You just don't forget an odor like that.

Hadacol, Musterole, and Assafedity Bags have all gone away, replaced by high powered prescriptions and over the counter medicines promoted with more and more annoying TV ads. Maybe we're not so far removed from the old time Snake Oil Salesman as we think we are??